Takers for ridiculous ultra-challenge?
Posted: Tue May 05, 2020 10:00 am
With the start of the new rowing year, I have been contemplating the next challenge for this middle aged plodder. Something I have thought about for some time keeps popping up... 1,000,000m Tandem. The disadvantage of this is that I have to find someone else with a similar screw loose to do this with me. So I am seeing if there is anyone reading this post that is interested. Happy to travel or host.
Back in 2010 I did the 24hr Tandem with Plummy and found it significantly easier than the 100k I did the following year. I think the reason that anything over about 50km is tough is that it is not possible to take in a significant proportion of the energy required for these in sugars during continuous rows. This is not the case in a tandem as you have twice the time to absorb food for the same amount of rowing. So I averaged 2:16.x for the Tandem, but only 2:3x for the first 100km of the 111 (I always intended to take it easier following that). The downside is that the rules require the row to be continuous, so rowing at unsociable times. I was assuming that this would best be done with regular changes (the 24hrs was mostly 15 mins on/15 mins off), but with either 2 longer rows each per night for rest (maybe 3 hours?) or 1 even longer row (would need to try this out, but 4hrs when already tired sounds about the most I can currently imagine). We could take a view on the 3rd night as to whether we need a sleep break and, if so, for how long.
At the moment this has only been accredited for 50+ Hwt women and Hwt men upto 40+. So as a 50+ Lwt, any category I fall into would be a first and de facto world record. That said, happy to have a crack at the 40+ Hwt record (2:37 pace required) or just to complete and not get a record. In short, happy to attempt with anyone! By definition it is likely to be the longest continuous row in the calegory in any case!
I am only just returning from an absence and have only just completed my first marathon since the 111,111m in 2011, so would want to do some serious training and acclimatisation for this, so am not thinking for some time after a likely easing of lockdowns. I was thinking perhaps to work up to the Crazy Bear Challenge and then do after that (ie near end of this year or perhaps, if more convenient, into next year).
Any takers?
Back in 2010 I did the 24hr Tandem with Plummy and found it significantly easier than the 100k I did the following year. I think the reason that anything over about 50km is tough is that it is not possible to take in a significant proportion of the energy required for these in sugars during continuous rows. This is not the case in a tandem as you have twice the time to absorb food for the same amount of rowing. So I averaged 2:16.x for the Tandem, but only 2:3x for the first 100km of the 111 (I always intended to take it easier following that). The downside is that the rules require the row to be continuous, so rowing at unsociable times. I was assuming that this would best be done with regular changes (the 24hrs was mostly 15 mins on/15 mins off), but with either 2 longer rows each per night for rest (maybe 3 hours?) or 1 even longer row (would need to try this out, but 4hrs when already tired sounds about the most I can currently imagine). We could take a view on the 3rd night as to whether we need a sleep break and, if so, for how long.
At the moment this has only been accredited for 50+ Hwt women and Hwt men upto 40+. So as a 50+ Lwt, any category I fall into would be a first and de facto world record. That said, happy to have a crack at the 40+ Hwt record (2:37 pace required) or just to complete and not get a record. In short, happy to attempt with anyone! By definition it is likely to be the longest continuous row in the calegory in any case!
I am only just returning from an absence and have only just completed my first marathon since the 111,111m in 2011, so would want to do some serious training and acclimatisation for this, so am not thinking for some time after a likely easing of lockdowns. I was thinking perhaps to work up to the Crazy Bear Challenge and then do after that (ie near end of this year or perhaps, if more convenient, into next year).
Any takers?