Keeping It Fun

have-fun-rowing
This looks like fun. OTW rowing definitely has more possibilities for fun than does indoor rowing. But I’ll stick with indoor rowing as long as I live in the desert…

Today’s RowPro-scheduled training session was 6K designated as a time trial.

A time trial is supposed to be done as a race, as fast as humanly possible.  I wasn’t in the mood for a solo race today, so I eased back on the pace, to vigorous but definitely less than race pace and alternated each 1,000 meters between that and a slow and easy pace.

It was fun and still felt like a healthy bit of rowing.

AA-April-2nd-6K-training-detail
Descriptive details for today’s session, which I mostly ignored. The graphs are of the warmup.
AA-April-2nd-6K-training-finish
Finish screen after the 6K
AA-April-2nd-6K-warmdown-finish
Final finish screen after final warm down.
AA-April-2nd-6K-training-rpt
Session report
AA-April-2nd-6K-training-gphs
The 6K session graphs.

Happy rowing to you.

Too Fast Can Become Too Slow

maybe-a-little-too-fast
This seems to be an OTW version of indoor rowing. With the lines attached to each boat, the rowers can row as fast or slow as they want and they will always stay in the same place.

Today’s fun in rowing was supposed to be an attempt at the April 2017 C2CTC challenge. But it seems that I started out too fast.  It was composed of 7 short intervals of 177, 177, 177, 777, 177, 177 and 177 meters with 7 minutes total rest arranged anyway a person wanted to divide it up between the intervals.  But I guess I did the first 3 of the 177 meter intervals too fast, because I started to have trouble in the middle interval of 777 meters and had to slow way down.  So the whole session was spoiled and far from optimal but I finished it anyway.  Maybe I’ll try doing it again sometime this month.  (A person can do it over as many times as desired during the month but can only make one official entry which would be the best one from among the multiple attempts).

When I went to the C2CTC site to record the results, I discovered that they had changed the challenge from the seven intervals described above, to doing one round of the “Fish game” on the PM.  Oh well.  Maybe I’ll try doing the Fish Game tomorrow.

I also did a training session but first, here is the data and screen shots for the C2CTC attempt (which was done in vain…):

c2ctc-april-2017-setup
The session was setup with a rest distance specified after each of the first 6 intervals which would add up to exactly 7 minutes if I rowed each rest distance at the exact average pace of 3:10/500m
c2ctc-april-2017-before-1st-try-start
This is how the session looked before it commenced.
c2ctc-april-2017-rpt
Session report for the botched attempt at this month’s C2CTC challenge
c2ctc-april-2017-finish
Finish screen for this attempt at the April 2017 C2CTC challenge
c2ctc-april-2017-gph
Watts & HR graphs for the C2CTC attempt. The problem is with the HR.

Now, for the images and data of the training session, which was 2x100m within a total session distance of 2K.

A-April-1st-2K-training-detail
Details for the training session, with warmup graphs shown below
A-April-1st-2K-training-finish
Training session finish screen.
A-April-1st-2K-training-rpt
Training session report
A-April-1st-2K-training-gphs
Training session graphs

Happy rowing to you.

Some Laid-Back Rowing

some-laid-back-rowing

Definition of laid-back |ˌlādˈbak| adjective, informal: relaxed and easygoing.

Today’s training session was a laid-back “recovery” session, 6K distance.  There was a 2K warmup and 2K warm down. Before the rowing, there was a strength-training push-ups session which will be listed at the end of this post.

AUu-Mar-31st-6K-training-detail
Descriptive details for session, with warmup graphs displayed below.
AUu-Mar-31st-6K-training-finish
Finish screen for 6K portion. The painted target HR zone was ignored because after examining a book written by the designer of the training algorithm, I realized that it is using a maximum heart rate value that is too low. So for the time being, I will just row by how it feels.
AUu-Mar-31st-6K-training-rpt
Session report
AUu-Mar-31st-6K-training-gphs
Graphs for 6K

The strength-training session results for today are on the bottom line:

pu-wk-3-sess-3

Happy rowing to you.

2 X 500 And That Was About It

2-x-500

Today’s rowing training session was two 500 meter intervals done at a low rating.  That was about it, except for the rest of the distance which was the remainder of 6000 meters, all done at an easy effort level.  There was a total of 4,000 meters for warmup + warm down.

AU-Mar-30th-6K-training-detail
Descriptive details displayed after warmup for the upcoming training session.
AU-Mar-30th-6K-training-finish
Finish screen of the training session.
AU-Mar-30th-6K-training-rpt
Session report for everything, including warmup/down
AU-Mar-30th-6K-training-gphs
The other session graph wasn’t interesting so it is omitted.

Happy rowing to you.

Recovery From Recovery

prickly-spring
This cactus has recovered from winter.

Yesterday and the day before were each 6K recovery sessions.  Today was a recovery session also but it was even shorter, at 5K, so perhaps it could be called a recovery from recovery. Tomorrow will be a little bit of hard rowing, but not much.

There was also a push-ups strength training session today, which will be featured after the rowing data.

ATt-Mar-29th-5K-training-detail
Today’s training details with graphs of warmup visible below them.
ATt-Mar-29th-5K-training-finish
Finish screen for today’s 5K
ATt-Mar-29th-5K-training-rpt
5K session report
ATt-Mar-29th-5K-training-gphs
5K graphs

The pushups results are on the bottom line below.  I came up a lot shorter on the sets where actual was less than goal, because today I only took the specified 60 seconds rest between sets.

pu-wk-3-sess-2

Happy rowing to you.

Heart Readout Redux

heart-readout-redux

Heart rate readout has returned!

This morning I was looking into the possibility of either replacing the PM3 with a PM5. Or getting a new heart strap. Or even the possibility of doing both.  Before making a decision regarding those choices, I re-visited the rowing machine, unplugged all three cables (USB cable to desktop computer which runs RowPro, cable connecting PM3 to rowing machine’s Power Generator Assembly and the cable connecting the PM3 to the heart rate signal receiver).  After looking at the plugs of all three cables, I plugged them back into the PM3.

Also, I removed and checked the heart rate receiver, which is mounted under the rowing machine rail. Then I re-placed the heart rate receiver back to its location under the rail.

After that, I donned one of the 2 heartstraps and got a heart rate readout.  Then, I switched to the other heartstrap and also got a readout from that one.

So though I don’t know why there was no readout yesterday, the problem seems to have been cured.

Today’s training session was an easy 6K with an additional warmup and warmdown totalling another 4K.  Same as yesterday, but it was done with more enthusiasm with HR readout on screen.

AT-Mar-28th-6K-training-detail
Details for today’s training session. The 2 graphs under the shadow of the details are for pace and HR of warmup.
AT-Mar-28th-6K-training-finish
Finish screen of the 6K portion.
AT-Mar-28th-6K-training-rpt
The report
AT-Mar-28th-6K-training-gphs
Today’s graphs look a lot better than yesterday’s, with HR being plotted

Happy rowing to you.

If I Only Had A Heart Readout

if-i-only-had-a-heart

Today’s session was an easy/recovery 6K.  There was a problem though, in that there was no heart rate display.  Tried two different straps and batteries.  So at this point I don’t know if both straps have failed or if the HR receiver on the Concept 2 rowing machine has a problem.

Without a heart reading, I couldn’t get enthusiastic about rowing.

There was also a strength-training/pushups session scheduled for today.  No HR is needed for that.  The results of the pushups program session will follow the rowing information.

AS-Mar-27th-6K-training-detail
Descriptive instructional details
AS-Mar-27th-6K-training-finish
Finish screen for the 6K. I paused several times to try different things with the heart strap.
AS-Mar-27th-6K-training-rpt
The heartless session report
AS-Mar-27th-6K-training-gphs
Graphs of pace only.

The pushups session showed a little progress even though the actual results didn’t reach goal amounts in all sets.

pu-wk-3-sess-1

Happy rowing to you.

No Straining Rowing Training

no-straining-rowing-training
This is one way to experience no-strain rowing … if you don’t have access to a rowing machine.

Today’s rowing session was slightly hampered by a virus.  The positive thing about the virus is that it resulted in more sleep than usual.  The not so positive thing about it is that I felt slightly feverish and low energy and had to waste a lot of tissue paper blowing my nose.

Today’s training session was six 2K intervals patterned as 6x2Kr500 within a total distance of 16,000 meters.  With 1,250 meters total warmup and warm down.

Due to low enthusiasm matching the low-energy, the training session was done in a no-strain whatsoever manner.

ARr-Mar-26th-16K-training-detail
The prescribed details for today’s rowing. Compliance was optional. The 2 graphs below the details are graphs of the warmup.
ARr-Mar-26th-16K-training-finish
Finish screen of 16K
ARr-Mar-26th-16K-training-rpt
Session report
ARr-Mar-26th-16K-training-gphs
The graphs tell the story best.

Happy rowing to you.

 

I Love RowPro’s Idea Of A Long Time

a-long-time-context

Today’s training session was described (as you can see in the screenshot below) as “row fast for long times”. The rowing fast consisted of three 500 meter intervals nestled at the front of a total 10,000 meter distance.

Okay RowPro… if you think the time it takes to row 500 meters is a long time that’s fine with me.  Other than the 3 x 500m, it was an easy session, which was also quite fine.

If you wonder why I didn’t apply the part where it says “focus on doing the fastest Pace you can sustain for 20-60 min” to the longer than 20 minute balance of the 10K … notice that there was a HR zone for the balance of the 10K.  When complying with keeping HR between 89-112, I’m rowing an easy pace which is a lot slower than what could be sustained for 20-60 minutes.

During the time after the 3x500m, I watched part of a movie and watching the movie took more mental effort than did the rowing within HR zone of 89-112.

AR-Mar-25th-10K-training-detail
Descriptive details for today’s training session.
AR-Mar-25th-10K-training-finish
Finish screenshot of the training session
AR-Mar-25th-10K-training-rpt
Session report
AR-Mar-25th-10K-training-gphs
The lovely graphs.

Happy rowing to you.

A Bit Of A Break From Harder Rowing

taking-a-break-from-rowing

The guy in the photo above is taking a bit of a break from harder rowing. You would have to ask him whether it was a refreshing break. Most people’s idea of a refreshing break includes ingesting liquids instead of vice-versa. But … different strokes for different folks.

The break today wasn’t exactly the same as what is pictured above.  It didn’t involve transferring anything from myself to a plastic-lined garbage can.  Instead, I just rowed easy, which is what today’s training session called for.

As you can see from the photo above, it is labeled as being from a website that focuses on rowing the 2K distance, row2k.com.  Actually, I found it on another rowing blog, which probably got it from row2k.com.  The other rowing blog is churbuck.com and the page of the blog where the above photo was found is HERE.

The churbuck blog is about much more than indoor rowing and is much more authoritative than anything you will find that originates in my blog.  So – if your appetite hasn’t been spoiled by the above image and you hunger and thirst for more authoritative, technical blog writing then check it out by spending some time there.  It is one of many (probably hundreds) of other websites about and relating to both indoor and on-the-water rowing.

Don’t get the wrong impression from the guy grasping the waste can – most people DON’T have that reaction after rowing a competitive 2K!  He may have been sick or he may have eaten something that a human should not have consumed…. Most people are merely winded, somewhat drained of energy and a bit overloaded with lactic acid after rowing a hard 2K.

Today’s rowing session was preceded by another strength-training pushups session, the results of which will be displayed after the rowing session images.

AQq-Mar-24th-6K-training-detail
Descriptive details of today’s training session, as displayed after the included warmup and just before the training session began.
AQq-Mar-24th-6K-training-finish
Training session finish screen
AQq-Mar-24th-6K-training-rpt
Session report
AQq-Mar-24th-6K-training-gphs
Though HR graph line is rather horizontal, the slant of the pace per split is trending upwards in the top graph so it looks like the phenomena of “chasing a second wind,” from start to finish.

Today’s strength training results are on the line for Friday of Week 2:

pushups-wk-2-session-3

Happy rowing to you.