Nijmegen 4 Days 50k per Day

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 10:24 pm

I've definitely finished for now, having got a full house of 50k+ days. Had a sneaking temptation to go for 7 marathons in seven days (having been inspired by someone on the london marathon tv coverage who'd managed it), and have now managed it (and 7 x 50k too). Nearly 28 hours of rowing in 7 days has left me pretty sore in a lot of places, so no more for a bit now. But that said, I did have to get back on after the end of the last 50k and do an extra 5261m to take me to SEVEN million (lifetime). Scary to think 5% of that was in the last 7 days.

(Still sitting on a pillow...)

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 10:31 pm

Are you still only 84 kg or has that dropped to about 34 kg now?

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 12:08 pm

I was 85 before, and I think I'm about 84 now (today). Pretty disappointing loss for 21000 calories of exercise! I feel like I have the knees of a 60 year old now, too.

steve the slug · Post by **steve the slug** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 2:44 pm

Mike

been away with work for a couple of days and just thought i'd see how you did

what can one say

and i thought my 82k

was good for the weekend (he says sheepishly)

congratulations on the achievement, i dont see it being bettered for a long long long time (unless the daft B*%^$"d Paul Sims has a go)

total respect

steve the slug

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 2:53 pm

It gave me even more respect for Nigel being able to crank out those distances with such regularity.

To put it into context, have a look at the 24 hour records on the C2 US site (under marathon records). They are truly awesome.

For me this was just a personal challenge to see if I could manage something exceptional (for me). And it was a great thing both to be able to share it with fellow Spirits, and also to receive such encouragement from everyone. This is what Free Spirits should be about!

(Still sitting on the pillow, and probably not doing ANY rowing today)

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:51 pm

PAIN

Have just experienced by FAR the most painful part of the long distance rowing experience.

I removed the plasters

(yes those ones)

Now that REALLY hurt. How anyone can handle waxing is beyond me...

paulgould · Post by **paulgould** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 9:06 pm

Busy with this challenge currently - but not at the pace Mike did it at.

Briefly:
Just finished day 3 - time 4:06:49 - physically was not too bad but had a bit of heartburn after eating too much junk for lunch.

Day 1: Time 4:07:19 Very comfortable row - was a bit concerned that I was going to struggle as I am also doing the Marathon Des Sables(MDS) challenge at the same time and had done 76km in the previous 2 days.

Day 2:Coincided with Day4 of MDS(77km) - decided to do 100km -
Time 4:08:18 for first 50k , 4:06:08 for second 50k - Will count the first 50km towards Nijmegen as second 50k was from a flying start!

Just Day 4 tomorrow which coincides with Day 6 of MDS(42km).

Paul G

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 10:45 pm

Paul - you're mad! Just thought I ought to tell you. (Join the club!)

Good luck for tomorrow - for me, the third day was the worst!

Post by **Thomas W-P** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 10:57 pm

Nutters, every one of you. Anyone reading this, please don't get the impression that Free Spirits are distance obsessed rowing junkies. Just a few of us are. We also have people who row maybe once a week and do 2000m!

It is however a measure of how immunised you get to this sort of stuff. I was amazed and gobsmacked by Mike's 50k a day for 7 days. Now watching Paul do something equally idiotic I just think "Oh, OK".

I THEN do a massive double take and think OH MY GOD! 50km a day for 4 DAYS!!!

Respect.

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 11:06 pm

I'm gobsmacked by _someone_else_ being stupid enough to do it!

BigWaveDave · Post by **BigWaveDave** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 11:06 pm

Thomas,

I agree with you but lets not over look the small matter of 100k in 1 DAY that Paul has just done, just a little bit special even for the 'nutters' within FS!

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 11:07 pm

Yep, I second that, BWD - I'm not ready to try _that_ just yet...

BigWaveDave · Post by **BigWaveDave** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 11:10 pm

Mike,

I'm just working my way up to giving the 50k a try but I am very confirdent that I will not be repeating it the following day let alone 3 days.

paulgould · Post by **paulgould** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:26 am

Mike - as I said , day 3 was not that taxing physically - I have been rowing well within myself ( close to 2:30/500m) - I did however find it hard mentally, subconsciously thought of it as a short session after the 100k day, which it obviously wasn't.

BWD - I have a sneaking suspicion that in 6 months time your words will come back to haunt you ( a la Steve Redgrave's "shoot me if I go anywhere near a boat").
I have no doubt that you will do this Nijmegen challenge before the season is over, just as I am sure that Mike will do a timed 100k and the Marathon Des Sables challenge.

WRT this Ultra distance stuff - I think I have found my niche - I like the longer stuff and want to try a 100-miler(160,9 km) before the end of the season.

Happy Rowing

Paul G

jainser · Post by **jainser** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:05 am

Regardless that you guys must have butts made of Iron where do you get the time???

I truely am humbled by these massive metres you guys clock up. You could tell 'non-rowers' your clocking up 50k/day but they wouldn't really understand. But as a rower (or any one who has ever rowed for some time) I have some sort of idea what you guys are going through.

The most I have clock up in 1 session was 28k and that was bad enough. The best 'day' I've had is just over 40k but that was over 4 sessions and the WHOLE day

Well done and keep it up!

BigWaveDave · Post by **BigWaveDave** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:15 pm

Jainser,

I thought that I was pretty good at getting up at 6am and getting my hour or so in before work. However I'm sure that I did read in one of Paul's postings that he was getting up between 3-5am to start!

I had a week off last week for half term to look after my son and he was out with friends for 1 day that gave me the chance for a FM but I can't imagine doing this day after day.

I to doff my cap to the distances Mike, Tricia and Paul are racking up.

Paul,

You maybe right about words coming back to haunt me, lets see how I feel after 50k.

paulgould · Post by **paulgould** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 7:55 pm

Completed Nijmegen today - day 4 was definitely the toughest but could just have been the cumulative effect.
The last 15km were really mind-blowing and I couldn't wait to finish.
Dave, getting up and started at 3am was necessary for the 2 days before the 100k just to give me an extra 12 hours recovery.As a general rule I feel pretty sluggish in the morning and prefer to row at night.

Paul G

BigWaveDave · Post by **BigWaveDave** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:16 pm

Paul,

Magnificent effort, very well done. Doesn't matter what time of the day you have done it, it is still fantastic.

Hopefully you might treat yourself to a rest after tomorrow but somehow doubt it.

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:49 am

Just wanted to add my congratulations Paul - awesome effort.

paulgould · Post by **paulgould** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:06 pm

Thank You Stan and Dave.
Dave - I planned to have a rest tomorrow but there is the small matter of the Nonathlon challenge where you have stealthily been eating into my lead( discounting for the moment Paul S's 841 points in one hit ).I will need to get back into some quicker rowing soon as I have got so used to churning out 2:25 pace km after km - maybe my next PB attempt should be at the FM while I am in the groove.

Paul G

BigWaveDave · Post by **BigWaveDave** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:06 pm

Paul,

You deserve the rest and I wouldn't worry about your lead in the Nonathlon as although I am getting closer I can't see where my next points are going to come from - either a 2k at close to 7min ( I wish

) or a sub 3hr FM (more probable

). Whereas as I am sure that all these long distances will have a real positive impact on your mental strength and you will see an improvement across the board in the next 2 months.

Looing forward to the challenge of catching you though

David

johnglynn · Post by **johnglynn** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:53 pm

Incredible job Paul, mind blowing

paulgould · Post by **paulgould** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:34 pm

Thanks John.

Did the last 18 km of Marathon Des Sables tonight and felt good going quite a bit quicker than the previous few days - a good rest is now in order.

Paul G

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 12:01 am

Paul, on behalf of all the Free Spirits, we salute you for a truly monumental and legendary effort. Well done!!! (where is a worshipping smiley when you need one?)

I wasn't certain when I set the MDS challenge that anyone would ever have a go at it, but you've proved that it is possible, so now I'm expecting everyone to have a go!

And a superb effort on the 100k to completely trounce my time. Might have to do something about that one day!

The Free Spirits salute you, Mr Gould, team nutter...

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:59 am

Yes salutations to Paul "Iron Butt" Gould.
Was hoping to sort of keep pace with you at one stage but not a chance with you doing those sort of metres.