This is 1,000 Meters

Saturday morning:  Flat water.  This morning, we had 1 eight, 1 double, 1 women's single, and 1 men's single out on the water.  The workout was 1,000m pieces--3x1,000m to be exact--with starts.

I was in the eight, in seven seat.  I was excited to row starboard again, after rowing bow seat last week, but going from bow to seven seat and from 0 to 36spm is not easy to do.  If we were doing steady state, I would have more time to feel comfortable.  Since we were doing race pieces though, my focus was more on survival.  Be prepared for some ugly strokes from seven seat! 

We warmed up for an entire lake loop and started the pieces from 400m into the finger directly across the lake to the fountain or stairs, next to the Lucky's and Lake Merritt Bakery.  On the first 1,000m piece, we settled to a 31spm.  After, Chris berated us, "That was head race rowing.  This is 1,000 meters.  Take the rate up on the next piece."  In rowing, head races are the longer distance races, usually 5,000-6,000 meters, held in the fall.  Think of the fall rowing season as running cross-country.  Think of the spring rowing season, racing 2,000m in collegiate races and San Diego Crew Classic, as running the mile, four laps around the track.  Think of the summer masters rowing season, racing 1,000m, as running the 800m, two laps around the track. 

The other day, Chris compared the masters rowing race distance of 1,000m as running a mile because for many boats, 1,000m will take about 4 minutes, and for elite male runners, a mile will take about 4 minutes.  I think rowing 1,000m is more like running the 800m.  If you ever ran track in high school or college, you will find that the 800m is a very tough race because you are basically running a controlled sprint for two laps around the track.  The short distance does not allow for a real "body" or settle in the race.  Right from the start, you need to stay with the pack in order to have a chance of winning because there is very little time or distance to make a move and because everyone will be trying to make a move, coming out of the last turn on the track.  Same thing when rowing 1,000m--it is crucial to keep contact with the other boats the whole race and not to wait until the last 30 stroke sprint to try to recover lost ground.  Besides, I have no idea what Chris was thinking, comparing rowing 1,000m to running the mile.  A four minute mile--maybe in my next life. 

In our second 1,000m piece, we settled to a higher rate, but Chris wanted the rate higher, "For the last piece, settle to a 36spm.  I don't care how ugly it looks.  Don't worry about pressure.  In fact, think about rowing at 90% pressure.  Don't worry about whether you are rowing hard because if you are at a 36spm, you will be tired."  For the last piece, we hit the rate.  The boat felt rushed, but towards the end, there was more rhythm and ratio.

The 1,000m pieces were not perfect, and I know my starboard side rowing needs a lot of work!