6 minutes, 39.9 seconds — good enough for 14th place in the 50-54 men’s heavyweight division.
But not what I was looking for. I had gone in hoping to pull an average 500 meter split of 1:38, but completely collapsed in the last 500, allowing three other guys in my heat to pass me in the last 250 meters after holding third place for most of the race. What happened? Negative mindset from the start, a serious desire to put down the handle at 750 meters, then a searing burning pain in my lungs unlike any I’ve felt before. Not my day.
Thank heavens my friend Marta (she of the Charge of the Light Brigade quote in the previous erg post’s comments). She sat behind me and coxed me out of an abject failure and some modicum of victory in that I beat my previous season’s best (6:42) from the Cape Cod Cranberry Crunch and kept my average split just under 1:40. As I told her before the race, keeping the split out of the forties was the main thing. Without her perfect coxing and exhorting I couldn’t have done that.
Michele Marullo from Rome took the race with a record breaking 6:10. Amazing, simply amazing to watch him pull that off.
Well, now I have a mark to beat next year. Onwards to Crossfit Cape Cod and some serious strength training before water rowing resumes in a month.
Here’s the replay of my heat:
Feel good, brother. You almost died a few years back. Where you are now – on the machine… pushing… a blessing. Sometimes… when we step back… times do not really matter. I mean 2,3, 4 seconds…. You are an inspiration to most of us who read this blog. jh
Nice job Dave. Especially hangin’ in after a too bold (?) start.
Pretty tough.
I believe Dave’s tank was 100% empty and that is the the true measure.
Good job David. We meet many years ago at a Union Boat Club event. I think that Michele Marullo’s 6:10 result is more impressive than a 20 something pulling a 5:48. How does he do it? Is he as ferocious on the water? What does he do for fun?
Hi Dave, Here are links to videos of the race:
start of race: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j89L-IIYkR0
from ~ 35 second mark until finish http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2Eoewvsyqg
Thanks for the great race. All the Best.
Thanks Herb. A little painful to watch. Nice race. You nipped me there at the end.