Hi, Doug:
This morning I rode in the Dexter Criterium, a bike race otherwise known as Le Tour de Dexter. The criterium is an oddly formatted race, in my view, which for the Cat 5 division I was racing in meant 30 minutes and then 2 sprint laps.
In 2006 with a good chunk of training time in the saddle I completed 8 laps of the 1 mile course, for an average speed of 13.2 mph. This year - on the exact same course but with almost no training miles on the bike thanks to my travel - I completed 10 laps, for an average speed of 16.5 mph.
2007 - 2006 results = Hyperfit boot camp experience. Nuf said.
Eric
Hi, Doug:
I wanted to tell you about my experience rowing last night -- first time on the water in over a year thanks to my crazy schedule.
The experience was completely different from previous first-rows-of-the-season. The first indication of this was the effort involved in carrying the 8+ shell down to the water -- it was end-of-season light, which happens only after you get strong and tough enough to carry it down to the water by balancing your gunwale directly on the shoulder, and your body has memorized all the mechanics of moving
it out, down, and into the water. Light as an albatross feather.
Once we were on the water, after warming up and doing some drill work we practiced racing starts (prying the boat out of the water), followed by a series of high rate, high power pushes (accelerating after the start at 36-38 strokes per minute), a high rate settle (going to cruising speed of 28 spm), and then a short run-out piece at 20 spm before resetting and recycling. If you haven't done a racing start in a rowing shell it can be a terrifying experience, because you have to match a very specific set of short and fast strokes to take off efficiently which can be pure chaos and lead to crabbing (losing control of your oar such that it appears as though a crab has pulled your oar blade underwater and holds it there, dragging down the boat speed and set while everyone else in your boat is putting out max effort to
accelerate). Having had the experience of crabbing during a racing start during a race (which the coach later told me was spectacular!) I'm especially nervous when first practicing them. Last night -- no problem -- and neither was the high power work that followed -- not only did I start with confidence, but I pushed through the power phases of the start sequence strongly (and without huffing and puffing at the end trying to correct an oxygen deficit). My technique was not the best I've ever had, but my power and ability to adapt and correct things felt very strong -- end-of-season strong.
In other words, my Hyperfit training has given me a head start this year, even though we don't specifically train to row. When I started boot camp it was something to fill in for the absence of rowing during the frozen winters around here, but now rowing is something I'm adding to the boot camp and cycling schedule. I'm looking forward to the next session of each!
Thanks...Eric
