Hello and happy new year.
This morning, I got an email from a Norwegian rower asking me for advice as to how I tackled 2K races on the ergometer. Luckily, I have it all written out for people to read. The URL for my race pace description is this:
http://indoor-rowing.blogspot.com/2007/01/pacing-for-2000-meter-racing.html
I do not believe that I am a glutton for punishment, therefore I always looked for the path of least resistance when it came to having to go all out in race situations. As I read my last sentence, it is a total paradox, but hey it worked for me. Trevor, a university friend, once told me that there were two types of athletes: Race horses and work horses. He clearly filed me under work horse. My vision for racing was to build as much armor as possible so I would not feel the pain, when it came to out-row others to the finish line. Spending hours building aerobic fitness, at a high torque per stroke ratio, and keeping the intensity below 2mmol of lactic acid, that was my calling.... WORK HORSE. I remember Trevor filing Jamie, another university friend and world champion single sculler, as a RACE HORSE. So the question I had for me: When would I become more of a race horse... At the 2000 Olympics I graduated as race horse, although I only walked away with silver. That race was a titanic battle with myself. I personally narrated it, follow this link:
http://indoor-rowing.blogspot.com/2008/08/personal-narration-of-2000-olympic.html
At different ages, rowing represents different solutions and challenges, keep it in perspective.
All the best to you,
Xeno
Xeno Muller, Olympic gold and silver medalist, indoor rowing, rowing technique.
Xeno,
ReplyDeleteI am training for the Mile High Sprints on a Waterrower. How do I calibrate the Waterrower so my splits will be similiar to what I can expect on the Concept 2s at the MHS? Thanks!
Jo
Hello Jo
ReplyDeleteI hope you are doing great.
I have not directly compared times between the two machines, BUT, I know that I am capable to push 6:15 on C2 and can very likely push 5:55 on the WaterRower. So in my case I am 20 seconds faster. This is equal to 5% more speed on the WaterRower. I am at 19 liters in the tank. Let me know when you get this message.
Good luck and tell me how you did at the competition. Oh, another thing, do you live at the same elevation as the competition itself? There is a big difference if you live lower and compete at higher elevation, I am sure you knew that already. Did you know that I made a bunch of indoor rowing workout DVDs that emphasize technique and the right training intensity?
All the best from California.
XENO