There was a time, not so long ago really, when I would have claimed to be a Green-Socialist. Over time I learn and evolve, which can happen at a fast rate for me since I spend a vast amount of my free time at the public library reading on an array of subjects, often including economics. I've seen that capitalism is the best of all the imperfect systems, and that it might not even kill us off early if it's intelligently regulated. In sum then, if you're a Democrat, I'm a liberal, and if you're a Republican, I'm still a Socialist.
If I understand Marx and his ilk correctly, the problem is just that under Capitalism assholes are going to exploit non-assholes, and remember the environment is a non-asshole, for their own gain. Uncle Karl apparently got this idea hanging out in English textile mills, which I gather were not much different than some of the contemporary factories I have worked in that made me a young Socialist.
The thing is just this: if Uncle Karl had spent his time in the gym, or in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy he wouldn't have bothered writing any manifestos.
Unlike in so many other environments, assholes don't thrive in the gym or the academy. In Fact, they don't even last. You might occasionally meet one, but if you stay with it a week or two, or maybe a couple months in an extreme case, he'll be gone. You can go in and be yourself without any central planning or regulation to protect you.
You, not the asshole, will thrive.
Over time your own experience will convince you I'm correct here, but this wouldn't really be a post without my personal experience, so I'll offer a couple anecdotes.
Let's just say I'm not a rich guy, and at times lately I could much better be described as poor. I had decided I could no longer afford BJJ, and after I had been gone a month the good people at Dark Horse BJJ contacted me, asked what the problem was, and provided a solution. Without going into detail, let's say I'm now creatively financed. This all happened, I'm sure, because I'm viewed in the academy as a team member and not an exploitable resource.
Now to be sure, some of my income gap, let's call it, is caused by my desire to run my own gym. I can't very well get any kind of normal job and still put in the time and effort I think my own team deserves. So, much of the time when I'm between library books, I think how nice it would be to have a high-paying, part time job with flexible hours and benefits. Unfortunately, you can't - or I should say I haven't - been able to find any such thing on any of the Internet job sites, so obviously print media isn't going to help.
I was beginning to think that perhaps there were no jobs meeting my criteria, when I was surprised to get an e-mail saying in effect, "James, send me a current resume. My company has an opening for a high-paying part time job with flexible hours and benefits."
What didn't surprise me is that the e-mail was from a young man I cut my training teeth on a few years ago. I taught him the Big Three and put him on a simple 5x5, and I guess he thought it was time to try paying me back. I'm not sure if I'll actually get the job, of course, but this is radically better than I had been doing on my own.
I do still admire the Chinese Communists who forged steel in their backyards, but I have been helped more by the steel relationships I have forged in the gym and the academy.
I leave it to you to decide how to act in the outside world, but I suggest you hit the gym or the academy and see how life is supposed to be.
Just don't be an asshole, eh?
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Goals & it's Past Time to Fucking go off Here
I was happy to see that VP and MG took the initiative in putting up a goal board at TFCF, and I'm happy to watch it start filling up. There are many ways to get to where you want to go, but it's necessary to have some more or less defined idea of where exactly it is you're going. I suppose there is an anti-goal camp, and possibly that's okay for them, but I've always tried to set goals. There are many sources explaining effective goal setting, and they do a better job than I do. I'd only say make your goals meaningful to you. Maybe I'm biased, but I think the strangest looking thing on the board so far is my own goal of rowing a 1:26.4 500m. It seems arbitrary, but actually that represents a triple body weight in wattage 500 for me. I can't expect anyone to be as enamored of rowing as I am, but within our cult, the triple body weight 500 is a serious rite of passage, and it's a good example of what I think of as meaningful. Sure, if you really can't think of anything Earth shaking for you as an individual, join the pull-up club. At least you'll find new motivation to progress, and along the way maybe you'll discover another goal nearer your own heart.
Now I'd like to take some time to write on the difference between behaviors and outcomes. I didn't invent this line of thinking either, but after encountering it, it had a big impact on my thinking and my long term prospects for progress. It's simply this: rowing a 1:26.4 500 is an outcome, and in the end, I can't force a certain outcome. Focusing on outcomes can be dangerous in that if the outcome is not met, dejection sets in. I can provide my own perfect example. You'll see that my primary goal is acheiving a 200 kilo squat, and while it wasn't written publicly until a few days ago, that was also my primary goal back in July. At that time I was sure I would hit 200k by November 2010, when in reality I squatted 365 pounds, a full 10 less than I had done in July. Shit happens. I've learned that a healthier and ultimately more productive idea is to focus on behaviors. Squatting 200 k requires certain behaviors, for example I have to squat once a week, attend to my rest, eat well, and so on. These are behaviors, and in the end, I have perfect control over them. Further if I'm consistent in hitting my behavioral goals, there's a good chance I'll eventually get my desired outcomes also.
To fucking go off now, which I assure you has to be done lest I put a medicine ball through someone's head, let me start with some background without I hope giving too much detail. Basically, my personal life is chaotic, uncertain, and for those that have developed the stoicism I have had to, actually fun most of the time. Right now I'd assess my position as almost in the gutter, and yet perilously close to being successful. I never suspected that the two could be so close together. As further necessary background, let me admit that I have developed a fluid sort of morality as that seems to me to have been necessary to survive in the way I do. I can, however, unhesitatingly say I have never fucked over anyone who has earned my loyalty, and though I've regretted it more than once, one of the easiest things to do is earn my loyalty.
So the problem, it seems, is that some fuckhead is apparently threatened enough by my utter failure - wild success tightrope walking act, that he feels it necessary to start the kiddy, behind-the-back rumor mongering. Word on the street, or those streets behind my back at any rate, is that I'm shutting down my operation.
Nice try junior high.
I started doing what I do because I love it. I'm going to finish doing what I do because I still love it, and many of you have come to love it.
There is a good chance I'll downsize, but only to the extent that I'll get rid of unused capacity. I certainly won't be cutting service.
Don't believe the shit talk. You'll know when I'm quitting because it will be several months or years after I start sleeping in the gutter.
So immature shit-talker, have at it. Huff and puff and so on.
Me and mine are setting goals and exceeding them.
Now I'd like to take some time to write on the difference between behaviors and outcomes. I didn't invent this line of thinking either, but after encountering it, it had a big impact on my thinking and my long term prospects for progress. It's simply this: rowing a 1:26.4 500 is an outcome, and in the end, I can't force a certain outcome. Focusing on outcomes can be dangerous in that if the outcome is not met, dejection sets in. I can provide my own perfect example. You'll see that my primary goal is acheiving a 200 kilo squat, and while it wasn't written publicly until a few days ago, that was also my primary goal back in July. At that time I was sure I would hit 200k by November 2010, when in reality I squatted 365 pounds, a full 10 less than I had done in July. Shit happens. I've learned that a healthier and ultimately more productive idea is to focus on behaviors. Squatting 200 k requires certain behaviors, for example I have to squat once a week, attend to my rest, eat well, and so on. These are behaviors, and in the end, I have perfect control over them. Further if I'm consistent in hitting my behavioral goals, there's a good chance I'll eventually get my desired outcomes also.
To fucking go off now, which I assure you has to be done lest I put a medicine ball through someone's head, let me start with some background without I hope giving too much detail. Basically, my personal life is chaotic, uncertain, and for those that have developed the stoicism I have had to, actually fun most of the time. Right now I'd assess my position as almost in the gutter, and yet perilously close to being successful. I never suspected that the two could be so close together. As further necessary background, let me admit that I have developed a fluid sort of morality as that seems to me to have been necessary to survive in the way I do. I can, however, unhesitatingly say I have never fucked over anyone who has earned my loyalty, and though I've regretted it more than once, one of the easiest things to do is earn my loyalty.
So the problem, it seems, is that some fuckhead is apparently threatened enough by my utter failure - wild success tightrope walking act, that he feels it necessary to start the kiddy, behind-the-back rumor mongering. Word on the street, or those streets behind my back at any rate, is that I'm shutting down my operation.
Nice try junior high.
I started doing what I do because I love it. I'm going to finish doing what I do because I still love it, and many of you have come to love it.
There is a good chance I'll downsize, but only to the extent that I'll get rid of unused capacity. I certainly won't be cutting service.
Don't believe the shit talk. You'll know when I'm quitting because it will be several months or years after I start sleeping in the gutter.
So immature shit-talker, have at it. Huff and puff and so on.
Me and mine are setting goals and exceeding them.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Progress is Like a Mustache
Apologies to the readers; I have to prioritize the BJJ blog, and I am really enjoying that one since it forces me to think about my game and how to improve it. Things I used to get bummed about and forget in two weeks, I now write down and analyze. I think I might make progress again.
On the CF/PL front, I'm between cycles, and I've been doing everything intuitively, or more precisely, fucking off. If I want to do something, I do it, if I don't want to do something, I don't do it.
Last week I wanted to see where my bench is, and I worked up to a paused 250 single with a narrow grip. This is a sort of neo-PR as it's the most I've done since I stopped benching years ago. Even better though, it's an all-time narrow grip PR. Previously my best with a narrow grip was around 215. After doing some intense wide grip work last October and November, I started to get some shoulder pain, and I thought it was time to bring the grip in and not worry about my numbers. Longevity also counts, afterall.
This week I wanted to see where my squat was. I had felt extremely good the last two weeks first hitting a 345 double, then doing a 350 single that felt ridiculously light, so I thought I'd push for a real single.
I missed 375 on depth, but I could feel it was a mental and not physical problem, so I loaded 385 and hit it without much struggle. Since this was a 10 pound PR I stopped, but probably I should have tried 405. At any rate 375 was where I was last July when I blew up my back.
I remember laying face down on the mats wondering if I would leave under my own power, and then as the weeks passed, I wondered if I'd ever squat 100, 200, or 300 pounds again.
That was also about the time I was growing the fuzzy outline of a future mustache. I just did what I was supposed to, in this case not shaving, and six or seven months later I've got a braided beuty that would make Genghis Khan jealous.
Other than that, I'm doing 30 days of ultra strict paleo eating. That's not really much of a challenege for me, so to make it meaningful, I removed nuts from my diet. I didn't waste time weighing myself, but subjectively I feel leaner already.
Finally today is my first day in about 80 years without coffee. I'm alive, sort of. I'll report on this one later.
On the CF/PL front, I'm between cycles, and I've been doing everything intuitively, or more precisely, fucking off. If I want to do something, I do it, if I don't want to do something, I don't do it.
Last week I wanted to see where my bench is, and I worked up to a paused 250 single with a narrow grip. This is a sort of neo-PR as it's the most I've done since I stopped benching years ago. Even better though, it's an all-time narrow grip PR. Previously my best with a narrow grip was around 215. After doing some intense wide grip work last October and November, I started to get some shoulder pain, and I thought it was time to bring the grip in and not worry about my numbers. Longevity also counts, afterall.
This week I wanted to see where my squat was. I had felt extremely good the last two weeks first hitting a 345 double, then doing a 350 single that felt ridiculously light, so I thought I'd push for a real single.
I missed 375 on depth, but I could feel it was a mental and not physical problem, so I loaded 385 and hit it without much struggle. Since this was a 10 pound PR I stopped, but probably I should have tried 405. At any rate 375 was where I was last July when I blew up my back.
I remember laying face down on the mats wondering if I would leave under my own power, and then as the weeks passed, I wondered if I'd ever squat 100, 200, or 300 pounds again.
That was also about the time I was growing the fuzzy outline of a future mustache. I just did what I was supposed to, in this case not shaving, and six or seven months later I've got a braided beuty that would make Genghis Khan jealous.
Other than that, I'm doing 30 days of ultra strict paleo eating. That's not really much of a challenege for me, so to make it meaningful, I removed nuts from my diet. I didn't waste time weighing myself, but subjectively I feel leaner already.
Finally today is my first day in about 80 years without coffee. I'm alive, sort of. I'll report on this one later.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Competition
I have long had difficulty understanding people's aversion to competition. Coaches are always asked, “when should I start competing,” and with a few minor exceptions not even worth noting, the answer to anyone who expresses interest is, “right now.” I think many people are afraid of competition or think they're not good enough. The rebuttal to anyone who isn't “good enough” is simply to point out that competition is against the person you were yesterday, no-one and nothing else. It's hard or impossible to avoid fear, but it might help to remember that life is competition, and playing a sport is actually the safest way to compete. You get to choose the time, event, location, and to a certain extent who you compete against perhaps based on age or skill level. Life isn't like that. You're happily working away, you get called into the boss's office, and it's game on. You didn't know it was coming, you didn't get to prepare, and you don't even know the rules, but suddenly you're competing for a raise or maybe even just to keep your job.
Lately I've competed in three sports. I'll briefly run down how these sports are looked at, how I look at them, and why they might matter.
Power lifting
What it looks like from the outside: a bunch of guys and a few women trying to lift as much as they can in the squat, bench press, and dead lift.
What it looks like from the inside: you versus “can't.” “Can't” comes in many forms, fear, dis-belief, unwillingness. I guarantee that at the bottom of a heavy squat, you'll meet “can't” head-on, and you'll conquer it or get smashed.
Why it matters: How many times “couldn't” you do something? What was it, public speaking, meeting a longstanding problem you were avoiding, tackling a project you put off for months? Maybe like me you've had days you “couldn't” get out of bed. Get on a platform and lift more weight than you did yesterday. Start proving to yourself that you can.
Indoor Rowing
What it looks like from the outside: men and women pulling like crazy on an indoor rowing machine, an “erg,” sometimes for a set time, sometimes for a set distance, commonly 2,000 or 500 meters.
What it looks like from the inside: you versus pain. In the 2,000 meter race pain comes like a relentless stalker. You go 800 or maybe even 1100 meters looking over your shoulder knowing the inevitable pain is coming, and it does. Then you have 900-1200 meters left to try to make friends, because pain will be there until the end. The 500 is more like running a gauntlet with a flying start. If you're good you get 200 or even 250 meters before you even get hit. Then you get hit, and get get hard. No problem, you just go like a maniac for 250-300 more meters because if you slow down at that point it just hurts worse.
Why it matters: sorry, pain is a part of life. You really want help getting on and off the toilet because your hip or knee hurts? Why not make friends with pain now? He'll be around.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
What it look like from the outside: two men or women grappling and trying to win by choking the opponent unconscious or breaking a limb.
What it looks like from the inside: you versus a real live opponent who is not only trying to stop you from doing what you want, he's trying to do something worse to you first. It can be fun if you're winning. If you're losing, prepare for a claustrophobic nightmare.
Why it matters: I don't make lemonade. Life doesn't hand out lemons, it hands out people who want to oppose you or get in your way just for the hell of it. It's good to learn early to win the fights you can with the least possible energy, and it's good to learn how to lose as you sometimes must. If you're losing, fine. Learn to lose by referee's decision, not by being choked out.
I don't have any formula for getting on the podium, as I've rarely been there. I've watched awards ceremonies from the furthest corner of the room, and I've missed some entirely when it seemed to me I had to get out of the room as soon as possible.
It's okay. The person you were yesterday wouldn't have entered the arena. You've started the winning process. If you make to the podium someday, congratulations. If you never make it, congratulations. You beat the crap out of the person you were yesterday, and that's all and everything you can possibly have any control over.
Lately I've competed in three sports. I'll briefly run down how these sports are looked at, how I look at them, and why they might matter.
Power lifting
What it looks like from the outside: a bunch of guys and a few women trying to lift as much as they can in the squat, bench press, and dead lift.
What it looks like from the inside: you versus “can't.” “Can't” comes in many forms, fear, dis-belief, unwillingness. I guarantee that at the bottom of a heavy squat, you'll meet “can't” head-on, and you'll conquer it or get smashed.
Why it matters: How many times “couldn't” you do something? What was it, public speaking, meeting a longstanding problem you were avoiding, tackling a project you put off for months? Maybe like me you've had days you “couldn't” get out of bed. Get on a platform and lift more weight than you did yesterday. Start proving to yourself that you can.
Indoor Rowing
What it looks like from the outside: men and women pulling like crazy on an indoor rowing machine, an “erg,” sometimes for a set time, sometimes for a set distance, commonly 2,000 or 500 meters.
What it looks like from the inside: you versus pain. In the 2,000 meter race pain comes like a relentless stalker. You go 800 or maybe even 1100 meters looking over your shoulder knowing the inevitable pain is coming, and it does. Then you have 900-1200 meters left to try to make friends, because pain will be there until the end. The 500 is more like running a gauntlet with a flying start. If you're good you get 200 or even 250 meters before you even get hit. Then you get hit, and get get hard. No problem, you just go like a maniac for 250-300 more meters because if you slow down at that point it just hurts worse.
Why it matters: sorry, pain is a part of life. You really want help getting on and off the toilet because your hip or knee hurts? Why not make friends with pain now? He'll be around.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
What it look like from the outside: two men or women grappling and trying to win by choking the opponent unconscious or breaking a limb.
What it looks like from the inside: you versus a real live opponent who is not only trying to stop you from doing what you want, he's trying to do something worse to you first. It can be fun if you're winning. If you're losing, prepare for a claustrophobic nightmare.
Why it matters: I don't make lemonade. Life doesn't hand out lemons, it hands out people who want to oppose you or get in your way just for the hell of it. It's good to learn early to win the fights you can with the least possible energy, and it's good to learn how to lose as you sometimes must. If you're losing, fine. Learn to lose by referee's decision, not by being choked out.
I don't have any formula for getting on the podium, as I've rarely been there. I've watched awards ceremonies from the furthest corner of the room, and I've missed some entirely when it seemed to me I had to get out of the room as soon as possible.
It's okay. The person you were yesterday wouldn't have entered the arena. You've started the winning process. If you make to the podium someday, congratulations. If you never make it, congratulations. You beat the crap out of the person you were yesterday, and that's all and everything you can possibly have any control over.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Let's Go to the Mailbag for Reader Q&A
Matt C of Atlanta, Ga. writes in today, "What happened to barbell mile? Now you're a rower? I thought the cross fit was training for the bjj? Focus!"
First thanks for reading, Matt. In the past weeks I've learned that this blog's readers include some people I really admire. I have a small but quality circulation, and I like that.
Basically nothing happened to Barbell Mile. Before the Mile High Sprints I took two de-loading weeks in a row, and now I'm repeated last month's cycle, so if I did post it would look like:
3 x 5 of something, with not a lot of weight.
The only noteworthy thing to happen lately is that I hit a PR press which is actually pretty sweet since the press is usually the last lift to come up.
I'm also working on another blog now, and in effect I get paid for doing that one, so if I am capable of writing 150 words for example, I have to give them to the guys paying me. It's not at all easy for me to write any of these, but that would be a subject for a blog on writing.
Am I rower? Yes, I think so. By far my favorite physical activity right now is trying to blow myself apart in under 90 seconds rowing a 500. Not so fun for me but even more important is trying to improve my 2000 which is pathetic judging from my 500. So yes, I'm a rower, and I'm going to row until I get it right.
In addition to being a rower, I'm a power lifter. Now it's true that you can't ride two horses with one ass, but since I row and lift at sort of a high intermediate old guy level, I'm pretty sure I can get away with training both as long as I seriously de-load one of them as I near a competition in the other. I would further guess that my seriously good 500 is a result of my pretty good back squat. In fact, my high intermediate old guy 500 blew away a few college rowers at the Sprints. I strive to take my games beyond the high intermediate old guy level, and should one of them suddenly become really good, I'd re-evaluate my training and see if I should push the good one and really go light on the other one, but right now I'm not in danger of suddenly getting extremely good at anything.
So what happened to BJJ? Well one can look at BJJ as physical training, sport, art, or self-defense. When I started BJJ, I had physical training in mind, but it soon became my sport. I was aware that some day for some reason I wouldn't compete in BJJ and at that point I'd continue training to appreciate the art. I had assumed I'd quit competing when I was 70 or so. Now I haven't given up on competing. The problem is just that if I compete as a master in a state tournament, I'm going to have to pay a bunch of money to fight a guy who is most likely from a sister school, and I won't be able to put my heart into beating him. It would make more sense to get together at one of our academies and contest maybe three out of five without paying $70. International tournaments on the other hand are a blast if my limited experience still holds. I went to the Pan-Ams two or so years ago and had a great time. I vowed I'd be back the next year in fact. Between injuries and poverty, it hasn't made sense for me to fly to one of the coasts for a big tournament. Currently I'm training jiu-jitsu at a nice relaxed speed and enjoying searching for technical proficiency while I develop it as an art.
I hope my life works out such that some year I can hit the Pan-Ams or better the World Seniors. When that becomes possible, yes, I'll use cross fit to condition. I may be a high intermediate old guy, but I can still get into ass-whuppin' condition in six weeks with crossfit, so I'm just not worried about maintaining a high state of physical preparedness for BJJ right now.
Finally your question is well-timed. I just laid out an entire 24 weeks of training today. It's largely an experiment to see if I want to put it in for some of my clients, and it's focused on pushing the power lifts, fucking destroying college rowers on the erg, and maintaining enough conditioning so that I can make good on my six weeks claim should circumstances make that necessary.
As an afterword, the other blog is about BJJ. I don't control it, but it will be made public when enough material has been amassed. Yes, I love BJJ. It just can't be my main sport right now.
First thanks for reading, Matt. In the past weeks I've learned that this blog's readers include some people I really admire. I have a small but quality circulation, and I like that.
Basically nothing happened to Barbell Mile. Before the Mile High Sprints I took two de-loading weeks in a row, and now I'm repeated last month's cycle, so if I did post it would look like:
3 x 5 of something, with not a lot of weight.
The only noteworthy thing to happen lately is that I hit a PR press which is actually pretty sweet since the press is usually the last lift to come up.
I'm also working on another blog now, and in effect I get paid for doing that one, so if I am capable of writing 150 words for example, I have to give them to the guys paying me. It's not at all easy for me to write any of these, but that would be a subject for a blog on writing.
Am I rower? Yes, I think so. By far my favorite physical activity right now is trying to blow myself apart in under 90 seconds rowing a 500. Not so fun for me but even more important is trying to improve my 2000 which is pathetic judging from my 500. So yes, I'm a rower, and I'm going to row until I get it right.
In addition to being a rower, I'm a power lifter. Now it's true that you can't ride two horses with one ass, but since I row and lift at sort of a high intermediate old guy level, I'm pretty sure I can get away with training both as long as I seriously de-load one of them as I near a competition in the other. I would further guess that my seriously good 500 is a result of my pretty good back squat. In fact, my high intermediate old guy 500 blew away a few college rowers at the Sprints. I strive to take my games beyond the high intermediate old guy level, and should one of them suddenly become really good, I'd re-evaluate my training and see if I should push the good one and really go light on the other one, but right now I'm not in danger of suddenly getting extremely good at anything.
So what happened to BJJ? Well one can look at BJJ as physical training, sport, art, or self-defense. When I started BJJ, I had physical training in mind, but it soon became my sport. I was aware that some day for some reason I wouldn't compete in BJJ and at that point I'd continue training to appreciate the art. I had assumed I'd quit competing when I was 70 or so. Now I haven't given up on competing. The problem is just that if I compete as a master in a state tournament, I'm going to have to pay a bunch of money to fight a guy who is most likely from a sister school, and I won't be able to put my heart into beating him. It would make more sense to get together at one of our academies and contest maybe three out of five without paying $70. International tournaments on the other hand are a blast if my limited experience still holds. I went to the Pan-Ams two or so years ago and had a great time. I vowed I'd be back the next year in fact. Between injuries and poverty, it hasn't made sense for me to fly to one of the coasts for a big tournament. Currently I'm training jiu-jitsu at a nice relaxed speed and enjoying searching for technical proficiency while I develop it as an art.
I hope my life works out such that some year I can hit the Pan-Ams or better the World Seniors. When that becomes possible, yes, I'll use cross fit to condition. I may be a high intermediate old guy, but I can still get into ass-whuppin' condition in six weeks with crossfit, so I'm just not worried about maintaining a high state of physical preparedness for BJJ right now.
Finally your question is well-timed. I just laid out an entire 24 weeks of training today. It's largely an experiment to see if I want to put it in for some of my clients, and it's focused on pushing the power lifts, fucking destroying college rowers on the erg, and maintaining enough conditioning so that I can make good on my six weeks claim should circumstances make that necessary.
As an afterword, the other blog is about BJJ. I don't control it, but it will be made public when enough material has been amassed. Yes, I love BJJ. It just can't be my main sport right now.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Mile High Sprints
Crap, let me dispense with the excuse and the qualification to the excuse first.
Since Thursday I have had a Paleo cold. A Paleo cold is when you notice your Twinkie eating friends disappear for a week and come back talking about the deadly flu they have had, and then you notice that yes, in fact, you do have a small but still irritating case of the sniffles. On race day I was never able to clear my sinuses to my satisfaction nor could I alleviate a cotton mouth feeling. Talking to other competitors, I found that they thought the climate at the Colorado Athletic Club was hot and dry, so in truth a good part of what I thought was a fever and a sore throat was probably experienced by everyone there.
While a Paleo cold is annoying, it hardly stops one from performing, so I duly set off for the Denver Rowing Club Boathouse. Fortunately I arrived early, so when I realized I was at the wrong location I was able to phone Margaret, Keith G., and Eric for assistance. The CAC is close to the boathouse, and with Eric's navigation skills, I quickly arrived at the right location still early.
I warmed up about twenty minutes before my 2,000m race, and felt horrible as if rowing under a 2:00 split time would be impossible. I'm fully aware that I hate warming up at least as much as anyone and probably even more, so I didn't panic and figured I'd come alive during the race. As I've written, I knew I had already blown my training, and I decided the smart thing to do would be to row a 1:50 split and try to decrease at 1,000 meters.
I got off to a great start, but had trouble backing down to 1:50. I had practiced the start repeatedly and become successful at hitting race pace in 12 if not the recommended 10 strokes, but I found myself way over 10 still rowing a 1:36. I was at least smart enough to know that I was digging myself a hole, and with coxswain Mike D's help I was able to settle at 1:50 before too much damage had been done.
As has tended to happen, I faded badly in the third 500. I recovered at the oar and did a decent job of pushing the final 500, but I had already lost the race by a comfortable margin and finished at 7:28. I thought the worst thing that would happen was that I would PR the 2,000, but I fell well short of that.
Mike D raced immediately after me, and while he did all the work, I'd like to think I gave him that extra impetus which left him with a PR at 7:26.
After Mike was done, I set about recovering for the 500. I slavishly followed VP's recovery regimen which worked so well I'll only share it with the people paying me.
After my horrible 2,000 I was sufficiently angry to destroy the 500 as I thought I would be. My pre-race plan was to row a 1:28 pace and finish with a power 10, but with the fresh memory of my struggle in the 2,000 I lost confidence in myself and decided at the last minute to hold a 1:30 pace with a power 10 finish.
At my level of rowing competence, I can only hold a pace within a three second range, so while a 1:28 would be a 1:27-1:30, the 1:30 is 1:29-132. I did a good job of holding 1:30 for 250 meters, and then I started floating around 1:31. I can't say that I had any rational thought during the race, but I sensed I was fucking up and determined to right myself. At 350 meters I unleashed the power 10 and dipped to a 1:24 split which I was able to hold, and I finished at 1:30.2. In hindsight and looking at the ferocity of the power 10, I think it would have been correct to have tried the 1:28 pace. I believe I would have broken 1:29 at least.
The 500 turned out to be an open event without age divisions, and I finished eleventh of 21. I'll have to wait for official results to be posted, but I suspect my placing would have been high if adjusted for age.
In all, I thought I did the best I could with the 2,000 on that particular day. I'm mad that I lost faith in myself and didn't make a serious attempt at breaking 1:29 in the 500. Still I had a great time. Front Range CrossFit is considering hosting an erg race in fall, and if so I'll be there as well as back at the Mile High Sprints next year. I'm also reasonably sure I'll get on the water this year and try sculling with the Longmont club.
I haven't exactly figured out what a twelve month macro-cycle should be for me, but I know it will include rowing.
As is usual after I compete, I'm hungry. I've learned a lot about how to train rowing, and I'll be back in 2012.
Since Thursday I have had a Paleo cold. A Paleo cold is when you notice your Twinkie eating friends disappear for a week and come back talking about the deadly flu they have had, and then you notice that yes, in fact, you do have a small but still irritating case of the sniffles. On race day I was never able to clear my sinuses to my satisfaction nor could I alleviate a cotton mouth feeling. Talking to other competitors, I found that they thought the climate at the Colorado Athletic Club was hot and dry, so in truth a good part of what I thought was a fever and a sore throat was probably experienced by everyone there.
While a Paleo cold is annoying, it hardly stops one from performing, so I duly set off for the Denver Rowing Club Boathouse. Fortunately I arrived early, so when I realized I was at the wrong location I was able to phone Margaret, Keith G., and Eric for assistance. The CAC is close to the boathouse, and with Eric's navigation skills, I quickly arrived at the right location still early.
I warmed up about twenty minutes before my 2,000m race, and felt horrible as if rowing under a 2:00 split time would be impossible. I'm fully aware that I hate warming up at least as much as anyone and probably even more, so I didn't panic and figured I'd come alive during the race. As I've written, I knew I had already blown my training, and I decided the smart thing to do would be to row a 1:50 split and try to decrease at 1,000 meters.
I got off to a great start, but had trouble backing down to 1:50. I had practiced the start repeatedly and become successful at hitting race pace in 12 if not the recommended 10 strokes, but I found myself way over 10 still rowing a 1:36. I was at least smart enough to know that I was digging myself a hole, and with coxswain Mike D's help I was able to settle at 1:50 before too much damage had been done.
As has tended to happen, I faded badly in the third 500. I recovered at the oar and did a decent job of pushing the final 500, but I had already lost the race by a comfortable margin and finished at 7:28. I thought the worst thing that would happen was that I would PR the 2,000, but I fell well short of that.
Mike D raced immediately after me, and while he did all the work, I'd like to think I gave him that extra impetus which left him with a PR at 7:26.
After Mike was done, I set about recovering for the 500. I slavishly followed VP's recovery regimen which worked so well I'll only share it with the people paying me.
After my horrible 2,000 I was sufficiently angry to destroy the 500 as I thought I would be. My pre-race plan was to row a 1:28 pace and finish with a power 10, but with the fresh memory of my struggle in the 2,000 I lost confidence in myself and decided at the last minute to hold a 1:30 pace with a power 10 finish.
At my level of rowing competence, I can only hold a pace within a three second range, so while a 1:28 would be a 1:27-1:30, the 1:30 is 1:29-132. I did a good job of holding 1:30 for 250 meters, and then I started floating around 1:31. I can't say that I had any rational thought during the race, but I sensed I was fucking up and determined to right myself. At 350 meters I unleashed the power 10 and dipped to a 1:24 split which I was able to hold, and I finished at 1:30.2. In hindsight and looking at the ferocity of the power 10, I think it would have been correct to have tried the 1:28 pace. I believe I would have broken 1:29 at least.
The 500 turned out to be an open event without age divisions, and I finished eleventh of 21. I'll have to wait for official results to be posted, but I suspect my placing would have been high if adjusted for age.
In all, I thought I did the best I could with the 2,000 on that particular day. I'm mad that I lost faith in myself and didn't make a serious attempt at breaking 1:29 in the 500. Still I had a great time. Front Range CrossFit is considering hosting an erg race in fall, and if so I'll be there as well as back at the Mile High Sprints next year. I'm also reasonably sure I'll get on the water this year and try sculling with the Longmont club.
I haven't exactly figured out what a twelve month macro-cycle should be for me, but I know it will include rowing.
As is usual after I compete, I'm hungry. I've learned a lot about how to train rowing, and I'll be back in 2012.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Deloading and Handling Competition
Last week was a scheduled deload, and because I have both a 2,000 meter and a 500 meter erg race Saturday, I'm not lifting shit this week.
The problem with the race is that I have completely fucked up my training. I think I did too much too soon, but whatever the problem is, I can barely stand to look at an erg. I haven't rowed in almost two weeks.
This is clearly not a good situation, but I'll do the best I can with it. I have been remembering that the only real goal of competition is to present yourself prepared to the best of your ability; that's the only part you control. Now physically, I concede, I've already blown that. I simply didn't know how to peak for a race, but I've learned to avoid that mistake next year. It's important to remember that we expect to be competing for years, and it's quite possible that this year will be my best in terms of learning. In an important sense then I've already won, but I'm not done preparing yet.
I made a genius move by suckering Mike D to compete with me. Mike has always been the perfect training partner for me. I know that whatever I'm capable of doing Saturday, Mike will have me doing it.
I'm not sure yet what I will eat Friday and Saturday, but I know that I will know by Thursday night, and it will be exclusively stuff that makes sense. In short Paleo, but I might up the fruit intake Saturday morning.
I am ecstatic to be training jiu-jitsu again, but I won't get on the mat before Sunday. Nonetheless I'll quite likely make it a point to stop by Dark Horse BJJ to soak up the atmosphere. Watching the team train will make me fully commit to doing the best I can.
Likewise I'll be around TFCF at least Thursday for the same reason.
Friday is trickier. I like being alone in the last hours, and I'll just wait and see what I feel like when the time comes.
I usually use the last night to read some really good shit. I've used Beowulf frequently, and I'll probably go back to it again. Reading about the kind of shit Beowulf did always makes me feel ready to take on anything. It helps to steadfastly refuse to believe it's a fictional work, and I am really good at doing that.
I will get on the rower once more to practice the ten-stroke start, to make sure my stroke isn't broken, and to convince myself that I love rowing.
Really I only worry about one thing. Through three or so months of dedicated training I've become a mediocre 2,000 meter rower, and legitimately good by anybody's definition sprinter at 500 meters. The 2,000 comes first Saturday, and I worry that when it really starts to hurt, I'll be tempted to back off and save myself for the 500. My best idea is to try to trick myself into believing I'm only doing the 2,000, but I'll take the precaution of ordering Mike to push my 2,000.
Saturday is a good day to die. Let's do this motherfucker.
The problem with the race is that I have completely fucked up my training. I think I did too much too soon, but whatever the problem is, I can barely stand to look at an erg. I haven't rowed in almost two weeks.
This is clearly not a good situation, but I'll do the best I can with it. I have been remembering that the only real goal of competition is to present yourself prepared to the best of your ability; that's the only part you control. Now physically, I concede, I've already blown that. I simply didn't know how to peak for a race, but I've learned to avoid that mistake next year. It's important to remember that we expect to be competing for years, and it's quite possible that this year will be my best in terms of learning. In an important sense then I've already won, but I'm not done preparing yet.
I made a genius move by suckering Mike D to compete with me. Mike has always been the perfect training partner for me. I know that whatever I'm capable of doing Saturday, Mike will have me doing it.
I'm not sure yet what I will eat Friday and Saturday, but I know that I will know by Thursday night, and it will be exclusively stuff that makes sense. In short Paleo, but I might up the fruit intake Saturday morning.
I am ecstatic to be training jiu-jitsu again, but I won't get on the mat before Sunday. Nonetheless I'll quite likely make it a point to stop by Dark Horse BJJ to soak up the atmosphere. Watching the team train will make me fully commit to doing the best I can.
Likewise I'll be around TFCF at least Thursday for the same reason.
Friday is trickier. I like being alone in the last hours, and I'll just wait and see what I feel like when the time comes.
I usually use the last night to read some really good shit. I've used Beowulf frequently, and I'll probably go back to it again. Reading about the kind of shit Beowulf did always makes me feel ready to take on anything. It helps to steadfastly refuse to believe it's a fictional work, and I am really good at doing that.
I will get on the rower once more to practice the ten-stroke start, to make sure my stroke isn't broken, and to convince myself that I love rowing.
Really I only worry about one thing. Through three or so months of dedicated training I've become a mediocre 2,000 meter rower, and legitimately good by anybody's definition sprinter at 500 meters. The 2,000 comes first Saturday, and I worry that when it really starts to hurt, I'll be tempted to back off and save myself for the 500. My best idea is to try to trick myself into believing I'm only doing the 2,000, but I'll take the precaution of ordering Mike to push my 2,000.
Saturday is a good day to die. Let's do this motherfucker.
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