Firstly a big thank you to all who commented on yesterday’s video blog and the messages and emails I received. As stated before it is often over whelming and the support is brilliant, it makes that pain just a bit more worth while!
Also to all those that I met for the first time and the guys and girls I was re introduced too. A friend of mine who was racing for the first time yesterday commented on the friendly and supportive nature of the event and the sport – it is incredible to go to these events and watch people battle it out against each other and the clock. All the training, sacrifice and pain for a few moments of glory (or not) on a piece of metal in front of hundreds of onlookers! Most are in the same boat and suffer with nerves, anxiety and self doubt before getting on the machine but to those who get on and row and push themselves through the pain with only their own individual effort is quite remarkable. From top end to the bottom end it is inspiring to witness.
A lot to take away from yesterday’s row and some fantastic experience gained as always. The race came mid cycle in training for the World Championships which is now 3 weeks away so we took a small 3-4 day taper in the build up. The race plan was reasonably straight forward and we were looking for a number of things:-
• A step closer to a time I am capable of pulling
• More race practice
• Routine of travel, warm up , race etc
• Take a medal
• Gain some confidence
One thing that struck me on entering the arena early morning was the heat and the dryness. This is something I remember from 2011 where I took bronze but was surprised especially seeing as there were cyclists out training around the velodrome and was thinking that surely they would benefit from better conditions.
It was on entering that I made a snap decision in my head and had already gone on the back foot. I had changed my race plan to suite the conditions in what I thought was a safer option. The race plan changed to suite a more safer middle cruise – the change was just 1 second per 500m but that would prove to be the difference in the time I was after.
I rowed an extended 7km warm up with the usual high heart rate which didn’t bother me and settled quite nicely after. I entered the race area with a few minutes to go and set up my machine then endured around 12 minutes more waiting time as the machine technology played up. This with the 10 minutes or so after my warm up meant over 20 minutes of waiting time before the race got underway.
TMWTM Nigel Mayglothing kept us entertained whilst we waited with his usual wit until we finally got the signal to sit down and prepare for the start. A nice little crowd had built by this time with plenty of support coming for the first race of the day.
The race
A standard start for me going of hard for 3-4 strokes then settling into a long rhythm which eased up over 10 strokes or so and saw me through the first 200m. I was on race pace by then and in hindsight would have liked to hold it just a few strokes longer but didn’t want to chase back up again to find a faster split so accepted the settle.
I rode out the first 500m as big Jim Thomson led me out with no sign of anyone else coming with us. I tucked in behind him as my cruise pace flowed into a fluid 32/33 spm. I know Jim well and knew what he would be pulling so tried to ignore the animated boats on the monitor and focused on the split and rate. As we went through the second 500m I popped out in front and looked to row out the next 2x250m as relaxed as possible keeping everything light with fast hands at the finish sitting up well.
Arrogantly I knew at this point I would win as the gap increased from Jim and again there was no one else that had challenged. No mans land was pretty uneventful as I went through the 1km marker. Commentary from Nigel was very useful and tended to give me that extra little bit knowing he was watching and calling out the splits from time to time.
As I went through 750m to go Nigel called out again and gave me a little buzz. It is very easy looking back at a race and saying ‘I could have done this and I could have done that’ but the more you tend to race the more you tend to learn. Also the video footage has proved invaluable and in reviewing it has left me with these claims.
At 750m I had already rehearsed in my head that if I was in good shape to take it up a notch. 750m came and went but I remained the same, almost too nervous to push it on. I was sitting on the slightly more conservative split and just felt like I wanted a few more metres eaten up before I squeezed it on. I regret that now – even more so than choosing the safer cruise pace. (Look back at the video and listen for 750m – there is so much control there, I needed to be braver and say to myself ‘I am in good shape here, yes this is hard graft but really I need to have a little push).
So the squeeze came at 600m. I gave myself a talking to and remembered this final push comes around very quickly so I really had to make a move. I went up to 1.32’s still rating 33. I held it through 500m and put a bit more on the legs – 10 here, go! (I remember Rod Chinn calling out for the legs here which was really good as it is just a quick reminder to break it down). Through 400m I brought the rate on some more and went for it at around 300m. 1.28’s for the last minute or so introducing the arms to really empty the tanks. Rate 39 for the final 100 or so not looking at the screen – infact I hardly looked in the last 300m at all.
Crossing the line with a weaker stroke (always pull through the line idiot) I was unsure of my time, the last time and only time I looked at the ave/500m was around 500m-600m when it was 1.33.7 – I think. I saw 6.11.0 and gave a salute. Given that I had opted for a safer middle 1km I was happy with the time as I sat and tried to control myself and keep moving knowing the pain would pass.
Looking to my left Jim T had rowed a steady and safe 6.20 to take silver as he performed his trade mark post race flop to the floor. We both hobbled out of the arena as I found refuge on the Watt bike for a cool down and a chat.
A pleasing race and as said before some great experience. As you know I am not one for just getting on and pulling. I am looking to perfection in every part of training, racing, resting and the lot.
I went though the race in my head all the way home and then watched the video back over and over last night (thanks Dave) and then came up with the above thoughts. I spoke to -Q- and chatted via email too and we now have plans for the next time.
It was still a PB and a PB in tough race conditions with the dryness and the delay between warm up and race. I have the confidence to hold a faster middle 1km (-1/500m) come Boston regardless of the conditions and I will deliver that race plan in 3 weeks time.
Small steps, little by little to achieve the required outcome – its coming, next stop Boston.
2km 6.11.0
500m splits
- 1.32.7 r34
- 1.34.3 r32
- 1.34.0 r33
- 1.29.9 r37
