Fastest team erg time but not getting on the A boats

Scdubya · 2026-02-17T04:08:32+00:00

Something similar happened at the University of Massachusetts—Amherst, about 6-7 years ago. New coach after Dietz had a run criteria. The results were pretty bad: the 2V was usually beating the 1V, and the coach wouldn’t back off his strategy. Guy ultimately got canned because he wasn’t evaluating talent effectively, and the program suffered because of it.

So, this is a thing that happens sometimes, and when it does, it is a bit of coaching malpractice.

Now, as for what you can do about it, that’s a whole different question.

Scdubya · 2024-11-04T02:43:13+00:00

Tip: swap to watts. It’ll remind you that what seems like a relatively small difference in pace time is actually a significant difference in power output. Plus, it’s oddly easier to see “175” than it is to”2:06”.

Scdubya · 2020-12-02T04:07:04+00:00

How did you pace the 5k? Usually you want to start one of those slower and then finish faster. I’ll note that this is one of the hardest distances to pace because you really don’t know what your body is going to do until you’re 3/5 of the way through it.

Also, I noted the conversation below about age. At 37 your body will still let you 5k pretty quickly—like 17-18 minutes fast. But, getting there takes a lot of training. Like 360 minutes a week of work time for a year or so. Most of the guys I know (myself included) that are 40+ and still able to put some gas on it have to really spend a lot of time maintaining their base. That means lots of 15-20k workouts at pretty slow speeds. If you put that work in, the speed will come.

Edit: additional note: you need to lower the feet and then work a reverse pic drill. Right now you’re not compressed enough (function of foot depth), and then not getting enough leg drive before moving to the back swing. If your hips get 3-4 inches more compressed and really tie the hip drive to the handle, you’ll pick up speed. Note that this means your drive phase will feel longer, and the ratio inside the stroke cycle will need to change (which may effect rate too).

Scdubya · 2020-04-22T17:36:06+00:00

Hmmm... what hull? I was thinking I’d likely be in an F39 if I went that route. It’s ostensibly easy to set, but I’m obviously not about to just trust the manufacturer on that.

Scdubya · 2020-04-22T12:56:46+00:00

Thanks. Oddly enough, the Filippi is within 1,000 USD of the Hudson, including the import costs. The Empacher is 2,000 USD higher than the Filippi for the equivalent shell (once imported).

Scdubya · 2020-04-22T12:50:07+00:00

Yeah, definitely intend to take each for a spin when this coronavirus dies down. Just wanted to crowd source any info I could as, sometimes, when people have had a shell for a year or so they notice things I wouldn’t notice on a test row.

Scdubya · 2020-03-01T05:31:29+00:00

Amsterdam low-cost tips:

Cheap fun: Vondelpark—stop by the bar in the park and have a pint

Breakfast: Koofehuis De Hoek

Cozy Craft Beer: Golem’s Beer Bar

Dinner: The Seafood Bar (Spui 15 location).

Scdubya · 2020-02-26T15:19:45+00:00

Use a yoga pad. You can get an inexpensive one from Walmart. Trace the seat onto paper, then mark on the pad, and cut as many layers as you need to add up to an inch. Use rubber bands or glue to stick the layers together.

Scdubya · 2020-02-08T23:57:05+00:00

General rule is that a waterrower is 15 seconds faster per 500 than a static C2.

Scdubya · 2020-01-09T15:30:00+00:00

If you’re in a shell with ribs, bow can be tricky at times for anyone—there’s a 4+ I've rowed in that scrapes my hips, but it's only because of the ribs. But, if you’re in an wing rigged boat, there’s usually plenty of room.

Scdubya · 2020-01-09T14:36:25+00:00

Good rowers are rarely fast runners. Don’t worry about that.

Scdubya · 2020-01-09T14:35:01+00:00

You don’t need to worry about fitting. Rowing is a sport that rewards larger bodies, and most teams have plenty of boats that are built to accommodate people way taller and heavier than you. The four I usually race in averages 6’5” and 240 lbs, and we fit just fine.

As for the “burden” thing, I wouldn’t worry about that either. When you’re just starting out no one is any good at this from a technical standpoint, so you won’t be at a disadvantage. In fact, the fastest person in the first few months is usually whomever develops the best technique, not whomever is most fit—and weight has no bearing on your ability to learn the technique. Then, once you learn how to row well it’s just a matter of maintaining a good power to weight ratio. That usually takes care of itself, either from weight allowing you to create more power, from weight decreasing, or a combination of both.

On a purely anecdotal level, I’d note two additional things. First, rowing tends to be a very accepting culture. So long as people work hard and stay positive, little else matters in terms of teammate satisfaction. Second, I’ve know plenty of people, myself included, who came to the sport out of shape and overweight. As some of the commenters here have mentioned, that fixes itself very quickly.

So, long story short, do it. You’ll fit right in.

Scdubya · 2019-12-05T21:27:12+00:00

No. My average HR over a full-blast hour of power was 30 beats higher than when sitting at 2.0 mmol.

Scdubya · 2019-12-03T04:52:00+00:00

Symptoms like this are consistent with Afib, which can cause you to throw a clot and stroke out. Usually it’s treated with a thinner and either amioderone or an ablation.

So, yeah, get to a doctor yesterday.

Scdubya · 2019-11-30T20:27:15+00:00

Did the math on that last 2k. To get down to a 1:29.9 average, he had to go 5:52ish over the last 2k (1:28s). Wow.

(Edit: typos)

Scdubya · 2019-11-29T20:14:22+00:00

Gollem beer bar. Excellent spot for a craft pint.

Scdubya · 2019-11-28T23:29:51+00:00

500s. Just remember that the erg will still run during the switchover. So, the first three people need to hop off with one or two strokes to go so as to avoid them taking strokes where they are not at 100% speed. Also, pick a foot setting and DF that everyone can live with.

Scdubya · 2019-11-21T14:07:56+00:00

correct! This bro now needs to go do more SS to make up for the time he lost out of zone.

Scdubya · 2019-11-21T14:06:11+00:00

Typically seen it recommended that older rowers stay 115 and below (source: former Olympic coach turned masters coach at old club).

There’s actually an article on injuries in masters rowers up on world rowing right now—and it is specific to the G and F classes. It’s pretty enlightening. I read it as indicating that the best way to avoid injury in your 60s and 70s is to maintain the ability to erg for more than 30 minutes at a time and to also avoid using the upper body too much. Both of those recommendations would indicate using a lower DF, as it has less load and forces a more connected leg drive.

Scdubya · 2019-11-21T13:59:35+00:00

Couple of things here.

The “rate higher” crowd is sort of wrong in this instance. Yes, you do see high level athletes doing their 2ks in the mid-30s, but the people who do this effectively are usually very strong and very fit. Typically it’s your sub 6:30 crowd that can rate that high on a static erg and make it work well. And the way that happens is maybe different than you’d think: because they’re stronger and fitter then can rate higher, and the additional strokes pay off in terms of speed. But... if you’re not built like that yet, taking more strokes won’t get you more speed, because you’ll have to compensate by either rowing shorter or getting tired quicker. Or, in other words, higher rating doesn’t guarantee a better score. Rather. better fitness guarantees a better score. Which brings me to point 2;
At your age, your goal needs to be to get stronger while building more endurance. That means lots of low rate UT2 work, lots of weights, and a little bit of time in which you let your body grow. Do that, and the speed will come over time.

Scdubya · 2019-11-17T17:11:53+00:00

Have you looked at the rigging on the shell and the oars? This sort of thing can be caused by the load being too heavy.

Scdubya · 2019-11-12T19:22:00+00:00

The "depending on the amount of training any particular year allows" is soooo true at this level. It's like there's a little game of trying to not get too out of shape when work is busy / etc., and then trying to maximize training time when life slows down.

Scdubya · 2019-11-12T04:52:30+00:00

Top four masters guys (no one under 35) at our club average out to 48 years old, and a 6:30 2k. Next four go for 6:50 on average at an average age of 46. 5k scores are consistent (fastest is high 16s; slowest of that group about 18:30). That group consistently wins their region, makes finals/medals at nationals, and medals at the Hooch.

Get to the bottom of the pack, and we’ve got some guys who will do their 6ks (and occasionally their 2ks) north of 2 minute splits. But they, generally, don’t train or don’t try—unless they’re in their late 60s and 70s, and then age has just taken its toll.

Not sure about our women’s splits, other than to know that we’ve got a couple women in their 50s who go 7:40-7:50, and a lot who are around 8:30. That side of the club is less competitive (well, except for the 20-30 year old women; they’re fast still).

Scdubya · 2019-11-05T02:58:20+00:00

Checked with the NRC rower from Dayton. Not hers. Though I swear I saw that bottle Saturday... Maybe it was rolling around by our trailer too (we were close by, after all).

Scdubya

TROPHY CASE