January ctc - 5000m straight

[Grobi]

Hi everyone,

MAD has chosen the January ctc:

"5000m. Free rate and you can rest as much as you wish after you've finished."

At least it's a simple one (not easy though). In terms of pacing I would recommend current 5k pace

[Paul Victory]

In terms of pacing I would recommend current 5k pace

That sounds about right.

Some people are unhappy that this is the same as the December IRL challenge. I think it might be an opportunity to target an SB. I've done the IRL once and hope to do it again before month end, but have a bit of a sore throat at present, so having an extra month in which to have another go at it is very welcome.

[Recess]

I wanted to do some sprint intervals today, so decided to do 10x100m @ 1:38 with 10x400 @1:53 in between - making a 5k total.

Result (18:11.0) was slower than my last 5k, but puts me on the board at the top for the time being.

John

[Caratacus]

Tough way to do a 5k - great effort John =D> =D> =D>

[Kirstin]

Cheering you all on.

Maybe next year I'll give it a try myself.

[Caratacus]

Cheering you all on.

Maybe next year I'll give it a try myself.

Try it this year! The CTC is first and foremost about participation; no need to worry about times or anything. Anyone posting a score helps us float more boats

[Kirstin]

Cheering you all on.

Maybe next year I'll give it a try myself.

Try it this year! The CTC is first and foremost about participation; no need to worry about times or anything. Anyone posting a score helps us float more boats

My time are pretty dismal at this point. I do not recommend taking two decades off. I only picked this up again a few weeks ago and have only done 5K twice - best time was 26:40.0. But if a middle-aged, unfit gal can help the team, I'm in. If nothing else I seem to have retained the level of insanity necessary for participation in this sport.

[Caratacus]

But if a middle-aged, unfit gal can help the team, I'm in. If nothing else I seem to have retained the level of insanity necessary for participation in this sport.

That's the spirit; the more the merrier

[CamiCrew]

Great attitude Kirstin! Go for it. Don't worry at all about placement. Taking any seat in any boat is an accomplishment for the team.

When I took up erging -- as a middle aged, unfit gal -- I had a goal in mind of 5k a day average over the season. That proved waayyyyy too ambitious. I logged 1.6k daily avg that year. But, fast forward a few years. Last season was a 6k daily meter average. That's goal smashed in my mind, just took a few extra years and a little help from

So - I'm thrilled to see a nice, solid 5k piece. It's something I'll want to try a few times in January. My goal being to set my own marker and try to beat it, regardless of where that places me elsewhere.

WELCOME to Free Spirits. Glad you're on board!

[Paul Victory]

Kirsten, If you do a 5k, you should definitely post your time on CTC. The more boats we float the better and we're often short of female rowers to float a boat.

I've ebbed and flowed over the years and it takes a while to get back into the swing of things. I've been erging fairly consistently for the past two years and my times have come down a lot. In September 2013, all I could manage for 5k was 22:50.1. Today I did it in 18:12.9.

If you've rowed regularly in the past, it should only take a few months to get back into the groove. And any contribution to any of the team challenges in the meantime will be very welcome.

Paul V

[Kirstin]

Thank you all for the warm welcome and encouragement. I'll give it a try and see what happens.

[Paul Victory]

Free Spirits are currently leading the way in this month's challenge with the only floating boat. I'd post a picture here, but I seem to have lost my snipping tool when I migrated to Windows 10.

Paul V

[jhaveman]

With a challenge like this (5k) it's always tempting to try to improve your PB. However I was going to be sensible and aim for a time just below 20 minutes.

All that changed when I noticed that Alan had posted a time that was around my PB time.
I just couldn't help myself and started off at an optimistic pace that would give me a new PB. Bad move as it turned out, because it backfired badly and I just managed to limp in at 20:07 and a bit.

I'm now wondering whether it was today's lack of doughnuts that made the difference.
Still - there's almost a month left to try again!

Jan.

[Caratacus]

Went off too quickly and paid the price had to back off and nearly coasted in but thought better of it after 20 seconds or so and upped the pace again for a half way reasonable time. At least gets a time in and sets a marker for some hopefully better rows later in the month

[Jill]

Cheering you all on.

Maybe next year I'll give it a try myself.

Hello Kirstin - how lovely to have another lady join Free Spirits.

When it comes to persuading you to take part in the CTC, it looks as if everyone has done a grand job. However, there is one more essential reason why we ladies are needed; we have a civilising effect on the gentlemen. Rules are necessary and we see they’re carried out: no drinking, no smoking, no skinny - dipping, no gambling, ( rumours of an illegal poker school ) no swearing, no snipping tools, ( ouch ) no doughnuts, ( sugar is like sand, it gets in everywhere ) no re - enactments of Mutiny on The Bounty, ( too much arguing over whose turn it is to be Captain Bligh or Mr Christian ) no keelhauling, ( damages the coral reefs ). After all, this is a fun event.

The ladies are also in charge of the refreshments - the Hamper Hijacker is still at large … Please do your best to be extra vigilant.

For identification purposes, all our boats fly the Free Spirits’ colours but they are actually named after a famous vessel. Painted on the side of each craft, in beautiful blue and gold lettering, is the word ‘ Endeavour ‘.

Best wishes Kirstin and good luck with obtaining all your goals. Row on.

Jill

PS - I think of myself as middle - aged, so that only makes you and Barbara, ' Spring Chickens '

[Kirstin]

Jill, I automatically like anyone who thinks of me as a spring chicken. lol I'll do my best to be a civilizing influence, but don't get your hopes up too high in that regard. I'm still working on the portion of the male population that I live with. Refreshments, well I make a pretty good cheesecake, from scratch, not a box.

Thanks for the warm and informative welcome.

[CamiCrew]

I love the new CTC rules, Jill.

Some of the "freer " spirits might protest the ban on skinny dipping? But you're right it's generally a bad idea especially if Paul does manage to re-find his snipping tool...

P.s. Second 5k logged, not for another CTC time, yet.
First 5k was an SB but not a PB. After all the HMing, 5000 meters feels fabulous.

[strider77]

Welcome Kirstin, please dip your toe in the water, its always lovely to see new spring chickens hatching

jhaveman wrote:- With a challenge like this (5k) it's always tempting to try to improve your PB. However I was going to be sensible and aim for a time just below 20 minutes.

All that changed when I noticed that Alan had posted a time that was around my PB time.
I just couldn't help myself and started off at an optimistic pace that would give me a new PB. Bad move as it turned out, because it backfired badly and I just managed to limp in at 20:07 and a bit.

I'm now wondering whether it was today's lack of doughnuts that made the difference.
Still - there's almost a month left to try again!

Jan.

Nice effort Jan =D> , the doughnuts definitely help, I am at my heaviest for a couple of years so will try to keep to my new year resolution of putting less in my mouth and more time on the erg

[Jill]

Refreshments, well I make a pretty good cheesecake,

Kirstin, all the more reason to remain vigilant.

Some of the "freer " spirits might protest the ban on skinny dipping? But you're right it's generally a bad idea especially if Paul does manage to re-find his snipping tool...

Barbara, I'm beginning to think that I might be a very bad influence on you ... Well done with your first CTC attempt of the new year. =D>

the doughnuts definitely help,

Rebellion in the ranks already, I see.

And to our gentlemen, great going so far. =D>

[Kirstin]

Looks like my husband is going to join us as well. Haven't gotten him registered here on the forum yet, but did get him registered with the team on the C2 logbook.

Fighting a virus of some sort so didn't try the 5K today. Maybe tomorrow.

[Kirstin]

5000 done. Improved my time by over a minute in spite of the virus I'm fighting. Will have to try again next week and see what I can do.

[Wolfmiester]

Well done Kirsten =D> great to have you with us.

I thought I'd start the year positively, no excuse not to do a simple 5k right?
I'm on the board with 19:48, but I had to rest 3 times, and nearly said hello to my breakie again
Oh dear.
Never mind, onwards and upwards...

[Kirstin]

I'm on the board with 19:48, but I had to rest 3 times, and nearly said hello to my breakie again
Oh dear.
Never mind, onwards and upwards...

This is why I row first and eat breakfast after. I have no desire to be mopping the garage floor.

[gregsmith01748]

I thought I'd start the year positively, no excuse not to do a simple 5k right?
I'm on the board with 19:48, but I had to rest 3 times, and nearly said hello to my breakie again
Oh dear.
Never mind, onwards and upwards...

That which does not kill us, can still make us feel like we want to die!

I'm glad you got on the board and keep you breakfast down. I think I'll have to attack this one this Saturday, and I will heed the advice to do it on an empty stomach!

[Jill]

5000 done. Improved my time by over a minute in spite of the virus I'm fighting. Will have to try again next week and see what I can do.

That's a very promising debut Kirstin. =D> Away you go.