I'd always assumed that it was related to an individuals biomechanics in a similar way to cycling handlebars width i.e. there was a biomechanically optimal width (in terms of joint stresses, avoiding injury, etc) but that it might be possible to work outside that with care. For almost all training I...

Definitely on a roll a John, whatever your training strategy has been this year has obviously put you in a great place. Taking that as your starting point for the 1k training must surely lead to impressive things!

(Don't feel you *have* to beat my 5k though !!

Thanks All It was good to meet you Paul & good to see you on the podium even if I was too occupied warming up to watch your race. I tried to see if a little less fly & die on my 500 that I did at the Welsh would be faster so I tried to hold my initial push steady once I got to 1:25/500 but I...

Well, I survived the 500 and have a silver medal to show for it. It was very close, I don't think the gap got to be more than 2m but in the end I couldn't find the extra bit to close this gap!

Yes, barring an attack of the lurgy I'll be there. Going to be a tough one I think following 2 PBs at the Scottish & then another 2 PBs at the Welsh (beating one of the Scottish ones). Not sure I'm feeling particularly recovered and it does look like a very early start. I'll try & keep my ey...

Thats a cracking goal - being able to hold that sort of pace for a whole 1k is pretty much inconceivable to me but I think you might just be the man for the job. I'll look forwards to keeping up with your blog & offering any support & encouragement I can throughout the year. What I probably ...

Quick update on the Welsh which I went down for today, got second in the 2k with a PB of 6:44.9 and took the gold in the 500m beating last week's PB (1:28.2) with a 1:27.? Perhaps the most difficult part of the day was jumping straight off after the 500 and cycling hard back to the station to catch ...

Some photos now at:

https://duncolm.smugmug.com/Rowing

Going by the faces I'm pulling I must have been trying

The 500 was a bit of a fly & die, all seemed to be going fine but then the previous 1k really kicked in. I have to say I was a bit of a wreck for the rest of the weekend !

Blimey, That John is fast ... ^O^ Thanks for all the positive messages - It was a great event, good to have a bit of a chinwag with John once I could breathe again and my 1k was a substantial PB for me so I'm well pleased with that. As John said, I did the 500 in the afternoon & managed to take ...

(I really should try and get on here more often!) Still on an upward tend I think John, have you clocked the relevant SIRC championship record ? I wonder if it's a possibility for you ? As for me, I'll be there too. If it wasn't for the fact that I'll be in the same race I'd be wanting to watch you!...

Blimey John - Looking good for the Scottish based on that ! Absolutely on fire !

Congratulations on the double membership win ! I'm definitely planning on being at the Scottish. I quite like the 1k distance if only because the older I get the more like an eternity a full gas 2k feels like ! Will probably enter the 500 too although I'll suffer for doing the 1k first. Hopefully Su...

I know I'd not be able to resist such a competition but I'm sure I'd have ended up doing myself a mischief without a proper warm up (& in regular clothes too). Nice one on giving it a couple of goes & putting in properly brisk times. Hopefully the pulls are minor & quickly resolved &...

Great work on the 2k - and not just sneaked under 7 either, a good solid sub 7. Well done, that must call for a celebratory beer !

And thanks both for the congrats on my hour.

Wasn't specifically looking for a PB this morning but I'm not going to complain ! I've been thinking that last year my long steady distance stuff was perhaps a bit too easy in terms of pace so I've been determined to push on a bit. This morning I was due for an hour so I decided to start off briskly...

Thanks for the warm welcome all & Hi John !

Hopefully the levels of friendly enthusiasm round these parts will encourage me to try to push on this season although I can't imagine that I'll be troubling John with my times !! I'll keep trying though !!

Hi All, Had a brief chat with John at the English IRC in March (after he beat me ;) & he suggested I check out Free Spirits which I have, and now here I am ! Although I have a model C at home, time pressures mean that I do most of my rowing in the gym at the moment. My target for 2014/15 was to ...