Nijmegen 4 Days 50k per Day

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:29 pm

I've updated the Nijmegen challenge with the cumulative time so far (7:25:15.4) (and 6185 cals!) and will update this each day. Hopefully.

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:42 pm

Astonishing effort Mike. Keep going - and keep posting!

jainser · Post by **jainser** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:17 pm

Keep going!!

webberg · Post by **webberg** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:11 pm

Fantastic effort.

Re the blisters, have you tried a pair of cycling mitts? These are padded on the palms and lower parts of the fingers. There is no top half to the fingers. Any decent cycle store has them for around Â£5.

Otherwise I've tried blister plasters that sort of melt into the skin.

Never tried on fingers though as luckily I don't seem to get blisters. I think that's because I hold the handle way on on my fingers and not in the plam, but perhaps it's just luck.

Keep going. I am awestruck as I've not yet managed 50k in a week!

PSims · Post by **PSims** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:14 pm

Mike,

I would have done this with you, but I'm on holiday!
Been doing about 40k a day anyway.

Outstanding effort - keep it up - you are 1/2 way there!!!

Any chance of extending the time for a few of us to have a go?
Perhaps we could say it has to be done on 4 consecutive days, any time in July/August? I know that's not the exact point of what you were aiming for, but I'd like to give some support too!

P.S. Bubble wrap is what C2 recommend for the hands (and butt).
I use C2 hand pads and the seat pad but you won't be able to get them in time!

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:25 pm

Paul
You are on holiday. Stop rowing and enjoy yourself - and let some of us try to close the gap on you a bit

gunslinger_ · Post by **gunslinger_** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:45 pm

Huge doses of respect from this side of the big pond. WOW! 50K a day for 4 days. in one sitting even...
I'd give it a go if I could split my workouts, but I can't. I think you're my hero right now. Keep posting.
Good luck!

PSims · Post by **PSims** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:09 pm

I'm not rowing - but I'm still supporting you guys!

jainser · Post by **jainser** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:46 am

Good luck with todays row Mike.

Post by **Thomas W-P** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:41 am

jainser wrote:Good luck with todays row Mike.

Yes, how are the buttock blisters?

gunslinger_ · Post by **gunslinger_** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:06 am

I've decided that in support, I'm going to walk around all day, rubbing my bum and moaning.

Good luck on today's row!

steve the slug · Post by **steve the slug** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:53 am

"Oarsome" to coin a phrase.

and all the rest, dumbstruck, unbelievable, brilliant, i just wish i could even think about it.

dont forget to order the innertube for when you finish, bit more comfortable than a chair,

best of luck today, wont be able to log in now until tuesday, but with you all the way

slug

ps dont forget about the other elm challenges when you have finished

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:57 am

Well, JanetS gets the job as official weather angel, as it is now significantly cooler in here - down 4 degrees to a mere 27, and maybe can get it lower still.

Am planning to start at around 2pm today and finish around 6ish.

Body is holding up surprisingly well considering. Blisters not too bad today (on the hands and heels, none anywhere else thanks Thomas!). Thanks for all the advice on this front - am already using gloves, plasters and lots of bubblewrap. Will write up a proper note on all this for the marathon thread when I get round to it.

Today will be my 9th full marathon, and hopefully tomorrow will be my 10th. Scary

I've opened up the challenge dates for those insane enough to want to give it a go. Only rule is that the four 50ks have to be on consecutive days. Chosing to do it during a heatwave is entirely optional

Was dreading this, the third day originally, but with the temperature drop I'm almost (almost!) looking forward to this one. Probably more looking forward to getting it over with...

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:11 pm

All plastered up and ready to go once more - is 28 degrees in here at the moment. Fingers crossed it'll stay (relatively) cool. See you all in 4 hours...

jlemon · Post by **jlemon** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 4:08 pm

Good luck! We're all pulling for you (with you?) in spirit!

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:21 pm

Well, I made it, but it was a lesson in pain and discomfort. Will write more when I've recovered. Am now having serious doubts about managing to complete this tomorrow...

JanetS · Post by **JanetS** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:27 pm

Well done!

Amazing performance!

Post by **Thomas W-P** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:32 pm

Still, 150km in 3 days in this heat is an amazing feat. Can you not break it down in to 10 5km tomorrow with massages at the local beauty salon between rows? (and savlon on the buttocks?).

Where does it hurt most? bum? fingers? legs? shoulders? head? heart? everywhere?

alistairkbs · Post by **alistairkbs** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:51 pm

Total total respect.

Well done - hope you nake it to the start line tommorrow

Alistair

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:51 pm

Well done Mike - a fantastic achievement so far and you have earned our respect and admiration. Just one more day and its all over - come on you can do it.

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:33 pm

Day 3 - 20th July

The day it got painful...

Was looking like a cooler day with the temperature down to 28 before the start.

Plan was to do the same pieces as yesterday, but to be more conservative on the first half marathon. Dropped the rests down from 5 minutes to 2 minutes to try to keep the overall time down (Big mistake!)

Warmup 3805m - 16:57.3 - Av 2:13.6
Feeling ok, no obvious major issues, although not feeling as strong as yesterday, seat getting a bit uncomfortable even this early on, and temperature rising to 29 degrees.

1st Half Marathon 21097 - 1:29:13.7 - 2:06.9
2 minute rest meant this was a bit of a rushed start. Felt pretty good and was pacing significantly slower than yesterday so feeling confident to get through. Started off pulling low SPM and over 10m/s, but had to let this fade back as stroke power droppped off with the heat and also the seat getting more uncomfortable. Was down to 2:06.8 at 15k in, but then started to suffer, and ended up finishing in 1:29:13.7.

2nd Half Marathon - 21097 - 1:36:32.3 - 2:17.3
And here it all started to go wrong. The two minute rest was very rushed again, and I was suffering right from the word go - legs felt very heavy and tired and was struggling to pull under 2:20 for first 2k. Seat getting more and more uncomfortable. Temperature steadily rising from 29 at the start to 32 by the end

Decided I'd need to make several drinks and seat adjustment stops during this, with the first one planned at 15k to go, (then 10k and 5k). Held on to 14k to go before stopping, got down a lot of fluid and then off again. Getting increasingly hard to pick the pace back up after the stops, plus starting to get stomach ache. Think my stomach has had enough of processing huge volumes of fluid and isotonic stuff in high temperatures. Felt like it had given up digesting, but had to keep downing more fluid anyway in the hope that I wouldn't see it again! Seat getting REALLY bad now. Stopped at 9k out, and again 4k from the end. Really losing stroke power badly by end and only just hanging on. 32 degrees heat getting really tough. Hand plasters all fallen off. Backside in agony. And another 4k to go

Cooldown 4k - 19:14.7 - 2:24.3
2 Minute break felt way too short again, and just had no power left at all. Left achilles (old injury) getting very tight and stopping me going as far to front-stops, agan costing power. Stomach, legs and seat conspiring to wreck stroke and end up really struggling to end. At least the wrists, hands, heels and cardio were under less pressure.

Crawled to the finish in 3:48:29.7 (at least the short breaks kept the overall time down!)

Got some more fluid down, had a nervous minute waiting to see if it would stay down and then got up.

The damage:
Left achilles very stiff - has been threatening all the way, but was becoming a noticeable problem at end of today.
Stomach - Seems to have calmed down again now, but still have to persuade it to cope with large quantities of pasta in attempt to carb load for 2morrow. If it feels like it did today again tomorrow, particularly early on, it could be a very long day.
And, for Thomas, what were slight red patches yesterday have now become full blown friction burns, right through one layer of skin already and not happy looking at all. Now I understand why the seat was so uncomfortable today. (Am sitting on a big soft pillow while I type this). Suspect I'm gonna have to use plasters tomorrow - should be entertaining getting them on, and almost certainly agony getting them off again

So ends another day of rowing. Am no longer enjoying this. Praying for cold weather, an understanding stomach, and not to do too much more damage to certain parts of the anatomy...

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:38 pm

And to put this in perspective, despite all this distance and pain, I've still not managed to catch either Tricia on the 7 wonders (7 day distance challenge) or Michelle on the Le Mans (24 hour distance challenge), so big respect to both ladies for their excellent achievements.

gunslinger_ · Post by **gunslinger_** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:06 pm

We're not worthy...
Mike: wow. Just to have the guts to attempt this. good luck!
Remember, it is perfectly acceptable to curse and spit on the erg every time you pass by...

Post by **Thomas W-P** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:17 pm

Ouch. You have serious will power. Good luck tomorrow.

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:44 pm

Was definitely on the limits of my will power today - was in a world of hurt. Still sitting on this pillow and trying not to move around too much...

Nijmegen 4 Days 50k per Day

Blisters and blistering

Aarrrghhh!

Come on!!!!

Mike