Endurance training for my next attempt at the 100km was supposed to start at the beginning of the new season in May, but a new arrival this week on the Free Spirits team with over two and a half million metres for this season has pushed me down a place on the metreboard, and had left me tantalisingly one place short of my hoped-for 50th position to end the season.

That was the reason for two 30km rows this week (one of which was supposed to be a 50km, but I didn't have the energy), and the reason for me heading to the gym this morning for another go at the 50km. First target was just to finish - no quitting today, no matter what the time - those metres were needed. Second target was to get inside the 2:00 split, even counting rests (sub 3:20:00), and a new FS club record.

It was hard work. Although I couldn't feel any after-effects of the row I did on Thursday night (including a hard 12km CTC row in 43:46.3), I wasn't sure before starting whether I was ready for another sub 2:00 split marathon or longer distance just yet. I was, but only just - I passed the marathon in 2:48:22, at 1:59.7 split, and didn't have a lot to spare.

Those extra 7805m to turn the marathon into a 50km are less easy than people might think. When 'just' doing the marathon, I always find an extra burst of energy when there's 5km or less to go, as I know I can make it to the finish, but after the same amount of distance rowed in a 50km, there's still nearly 13km to go, and today, that was the point at which I had my first real doubts about keeping the pace going to the finish.

I had a further mental battle after passing the marathon distance, but thankfully this only lasted for a couple of km before I was inside the 5km to go mark, and then it's time to just grit the teeth and get home. My final time of 3:19:14.7 (1:59.5 split) meant I'd achieved both targets, and hopefully won't have to do another full on 50km in a while (as any I do next month will be done at closer to 100km pace - around 2:05 split).

I may need to adjust my plan leading up to the 100km though. One thing I've learnt from this week is that I will need longer than two days before the attempt in order to approach it totally fresh. And I may choose not to do it on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend (when I'll be at home)... the reason being that I think it will be very hard to row for over 7 hours in my garage if the weather is hot - an air-conditioned gym will be preferable in that case. There are a couple of downsides to the gym though - not being able to have substantial quantities of food and cold drinks on hand, and not having RowPro.