So last log got filled up just before Henley which is basically the biggest club regatta in the world.
Anyone following the last log will note I made it into the top 4 last minute after the top crew had been underperforming and after some of our best training sessions entered Henley qualifiers. To put it in perspective there are crews from Australia, USA, New Zealand and Germany to name a few.
On Friday we went into qualifiers as massive underdogs with 12 out of 34 to take the last places in the wyfolds.
During the course we managed a solid row, but being a time trial we had to wait for the results.
Unbelievably, we qualified for the first time in our clubs history!!! I’m still buzzing now to have reached this level this year, this is next year’s goal already achieved!
We have spent last 3 days training with our first race against Star Club on Wednesday. Tough draw, but finally competing at the level I have been aiming for. For anyone interested we will be racing live on the henley royal regatta youtube channel at 2.45 UK time.
Never been more nervous before a race, especially with it being streamed live, but can’t wait!
Alpha - Thanks man, it is all a bit surreal still at the moment and I have been told numerous times I won’t be able to ever make it that level.
Still can’t believe we qualified for Henley this year. The step up in training the past few months were supposed to put me in good stead for next year to qualify, but now my goals have significantly changed with a view to pre-qualifying for Henley next year and make it the Friday the quarter finals. I view this as just a stepping stone and to compete in the biggest club regatta in the world with competition from all over Europe, USA, Australia and New Zealand definitely goes down as my biggest sporting achievement so far.
We got beaten quite comfortably by Star in the first round who were seeded and made it the semi final and they only got knocked out by the winners. Despite a couple of steering issues, we just didn’t have the experience or power to match them as can be seen below:
Training may be a little less structured over the next couple of months, but I will be able to get back into the weights room regularly. I also plan to do another triathlon, drop 4kg with no loss of strength and learn to single scull well. I want to build a much better level of base strength and fitness going into next season without carrying any excess bodyfat. I have high hopes for next year and after going down in history as first ever Leeds RC crew to qualify for Henley, all 4 of us have bigger ambitions for next year!
So enjoyed a week off after henley but back to it now. I am doing one more race in 3 weeks as our club are going to try to win the vl for the first time at an event so I will be entering 3 categories in one weekend which should be fun. After that it will be all about getting the mileage in to step things up ready for next season!
Anyway it was nice to be back in the weights room. Kept it might today, but will be steadily progressing to a pb for my squat and recovering pressing strength as its been weak since my shoulder injury.
5 minute warm up on turbo
20 minute high intensity cycling
5 minute cool down
Slowly building up the volume again in prep for next and I guess the VL win in 2 weeks time. Training will be more consistent from now on, although it will be August when things ramp up properly again given my long term plan for Henley.
A little bit better than on Monday. A few more outings and I should have the confidence and ability to really get some mileage in. Back in the gym tomorrow and looking forward to doing deadlifts again!
Will start building the weight back up just keeping it fairly light first few back and will steadily progress.
18/07/2015
8km in double with a novice sculler. Didn’t really get much work done unfortunately as a result.
8km outing in double again, better this time, but still not up there with the work when I am in a single or with a more experienced sculler.
20/07/2015
12 minute run to gym
22 minutes on bike at 272 watts per hour before killer cramp in my calves kicked in.
Very long run / walk/ shuffle back
Starting to get more consistency back and building for next season. I will hit the start in October running unlike last season where I didn’t hit any form or fitness until May.
This is more like the programming I will be following. Last few days have been more consistent both with training and diet. Happy with another 5kg on deadlift and more there so will be back over 200kg soon. Expect to see more regular logging and weights will be hit twice a week with the conditioning and more volume on giant sets.
5 minute warm up cycling on the turbo trainer
35 minutes high intensity watching The Wretched Sufferfest video
4 minute cooldown
Very tough session, most of it in highest gear at high cadence, but the videos definitely help motivate me to push to the limit. Also inspired by Chris Froome’s performance in the Tour de France which has been epic this year.
Very tough session, most of it in highest gear at high cadence, but the videos definitely help motivate me to push to the limit. Also inspired by Chris Froome’s performance in the Tour de France which has been epic this year.[/quote]
Did you notice how Froome’s cadence was higher than most? It would be interesting to look at the data.
@theBird- Yeah Froome has always had high cadence particularly on the climbs. He seems to find good consistency and can maintain up the whole mountain. It was only last stage he started to suffer and lose out to Quintana, fortunately Porte was their to pull him up the mountain and maintain the lead. Most exciting tour I have ever seen and I was buzzing seeing 2 Brits win it in 2012 and 2013.
27/07/2015
12 minute run to gym
Strength:
Squats: 40/5, 70/3, 100/3, 120/1, 130/1, 140/1, 150/1, 155/1 (these felt strong today with more there)
Squat Reps: 120kg x (5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1) 15s rest between subsets
Shoulder playing up massively today, so went back home and just did some band work and rehab work. Been slacking on it recently which is probably the reason why. Anyway back on the ergs tomrrow, proper preseason training starts then.
6km on erg r20 at 1:58.9 split
90s rest
2km I’m erg r20 at 2:00.3 split
Hips and hamstring mobility is poor at moment making this very uncomfortable. Should have completed 2 x 6Km but either way it is a start to get back on the erg and that is why I am starting it early.
