The Rowing Agenda

I'm finally back to give updates on my crew training life, as I've been sidetracked by other personal things (hence the unusual delay in updates). I ended up not doing the final 2K of my solo training. I don't like admitting that I'm scare of it; so I won't.

But, upon the return of the crew came a first week of erg tests: 10K, 6K, 2K. For the 10K and 6K, I was able to hit my PRs (set during my solo training) with relative ease. [Not to say that it didn't hurt, but it felt really controlled]. My 2K, done on Friday morning, was a bit disappointing though: 7:31.8 overall. It did not feel easy, but it felt strangely quick though. By quick, I mean a feeling like I might have mentally passed out completely somewhere in the middle of the piece, as opposed to feeling good and fast. That was roughly 7 seconds off my 2K PR, but during the time when I had my before-mentioned "personal things", I put off training.

Overall, my slightly modified Pete-plan seemed a great success. I made vast improvements on my distance erg pieces. If anything, I stayed in great physical shape. I'll try to keep going with this plan (alone I think, my crew is too fearful of the plan) and push that 2K time down.

It's my senior year; it's now or never. PUSH ON.

The weather in Binghamton has been getting much better since yesterday. Sunny, clear and felt like the upper 30s, lower 40s (°F). Looks like spring is starting to pop its head out, though pretty early for a place like this.

Everyone knows that great weather is the catalyst that makes for a happy start of anyone's day. Today was just that day. A great start to the anticipated all-out 6K erg workout of the day.

My original tentative plan was to have an all-out 5K every Friday. But last night and this morning, I had been contemplating the extended version of the devilish 5K. I hadn't done a 6K in well over a year and so my previous times were probably well outdated (my entire 1st year of rowing). The 6K seems to be a more legitimate erg distance than the 5K anyway (according to what many rowing coaches for ask anyway). So I thought why not do it today while I was feeling more upbeat.

As far as my personal improvement was concern, the 6K was a complete success. I was able to pull a 24:22.7 (2:01.8 split at 26 spm). A clear personal record (PR). That was a 30-second total time cut from my last 6K. I'm going to think that, for a 141 pound (64 kg) guy, this isn't so bad.

Next Friday, the anticipation of the gruesome 2K. My PR is currently 7:24 established last April. It probably would be a huge stretch, but I'm hoping for a 7:20 at the very least. This would be the conclusion of my 3-week training regiment and will be the ultimate test for the success of my program. Not sure how much more power this little body can squeeze out but I guess we'll see.

So as promised, I've decided to keep some updates on my solo training (which will last for another week until the winter break ends and the crew returns).

It was roughly 9:10am when I arrived onto the erg-room on-campus. Above is a snapshot of that hellishly beautiful place where agony meets pure self-empowerment. Today's workout: a steady-state 8k (18 to 22 spm). Took it moderately easy today with a 2:09.5 split. Yesterday was a hard day ( 4 x 2000m). I've been trying to alternate "easy" and hard days just so I don't burn out too much.
After the ergo workout came food shopping (my frig. that morning was completely EMPTY!), studying, and napping. Then came the evening gym session with full-body, low-moderate weight training exertion. Just enough to stimulate the muscles.

I've been trying to gain some muscle mass (140 pounds is a bit too light even for collegiate lightweights). This morning, I weighed in at 142 pre-erg workout (140 after). This comes after weighing in at 139 pre-erg workouts for the pass 8 days. For the last 3 years, I've been fluctuating anywhere from 136 lbs up to 140 lbs. I'm praying this up-trend continues a bit more to make a tiny bit easier for cutting my erg times. I know erg times do NOT translate into rowing success, but facing the facts...I'm too light and below average rowers' height (5'8'') and I need to make up that difference in power.

But after all this serious work work work talk, I like to end my day on a light note. So, on a rare occasion, I decided to cook up something I've never cooked up before. Some nice baked ziti. I promise this isn't my usual diet, I SWEAR! But, can't hurt so much to indulge a bit now and then.

Today marks the 8th. day of my winter training this month. While it's winter school break, and everyone's decided to take this time to relax and do other stuff, I've taken the challenge of coming back and starting my training early...SOLO.

At the onset of coming back to the erg room, I was intent on following the Pete Plan (http://thepeteplan.wordpress.com/the-pete-plan/). The goal was to hit the bricks early on the erg so that I can hopeful hit a 7 minute 2K on the erg. Right now, after 3 years of rowing, my best 2K time is 7:24. But I've never pushed myself as insanely as I was planning to.

Right now, I must say it's gotten much harder every single day. In addition to following the plan 5 days a week (since last week) I've been adding 3-4 nights of weight training a week. Only 8 days into my program, and I'm learning quickly how mentally and spiritually taxing all this solo working out is. I look and feel stronger, but the wear and tear on the spirit is immensely draining.

I've been trying to find a way to avoid this "winter training slump" so many rowers experience but so far I haven't found one that's good for the long term. I did find a great short-term one though: the Rocky movies and soundtracks. They are great! Honestly, they were the only reasons I was mentally able to finish my first week through and through.

But what happens when they become overused? That's what I'm trying to figure out now. Hopefully I'll be able to follow up my routine training soon. Until then, I guess it's continue the grind and pray my spirit doesn't die.