Day 43 - A call to arms....

After a call to arms for the C2TweetCrew by Johan today's plan changed slightly - 3 lots of 20 mins, 2:24, 2:17 and 2:20 for Anita, 2:00, 1:54 and 1:57 for me, 2R, at the gym followed by the C2CTC 4x200m 1R challenge for November when we got home.

The 20 minute pieces tend to be quite hard, being the 3rd of 3 training days, and also including quite a quick interval as the 2nd of the 3 20's. Tonight wasn't too bad, but the impending unknown 4x200m challenge piece definitely made me try to reserve some energy. Anita also felt the session was quite hard, and lacked energy, but knocked out the distance as she always does - all the targets were met.

After the short journey home (20 minute drive) we both put our attempts in for the team challenge (Later I was made aware that I had put Anita in as a man at signup - Oh how we laughed :s)

4 x 200m is a bit of an unknown for me - I don't really know how to properly sprint on the rower so I gave it a fly and die - Started out way to fast and suffered in the final 2 intervals but was happy with it nonetheless, especially as it was after 15.4km of rowing already this evening (Video at x4 speed so you don't get too bored!)

2:15.4 at 1:24.6 average - Not too bad but sub 2:10 would be a possibility if I was fresh

Then Anita's turn :) She openly admits to not liking sprinting, but I think she did superbly.

2:49.6 at 1:46.0 average!!!!! Not bad again after 12.8km

Anita: 12836m + 800m C2CTC = 13636m
Andy: 15395m + 800m C2CTC = 16195m

Cumulative: 1340488m (833 miles)

The Journey:

Start: Topnotch Gym, Colchester, Essex
Finish: Niederwald, Goms, Valais http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niederwald,_Switzerland

Day 42 - Anita strays to a PB.....

4 lots of 15 mins tonight, split into 6'/9' portions, 2:14/2:24 for Anita, 1:51/2:00 for me, 4R

Not particularly enjoyable for me tonight as I felt a lack of energy, but it was still nice after work to be able to get on the erg and row. I hit all the targets, but again the 3rd interval felt the most difficult (Psychological more than anything else now - still got an interval left to do at that point).

Anita however is going from strength to strength, and now lets herself have a blow out on the last interval of the 4-interval days. Tonight she broke her 15 minute PB (was a single piece 3375m (2:13.4), now 3402 (2:12.3)) ON THE 4TH OF 4 INTERVALS!!!!!

Obviously I had to tell her off for straying from the plan afterwards :)

Anita: 13184m
Andy: 15639m

Cumulative: 1310657m (814.6 miles)

The Journey:
Start: Topnotch Gym, Colchester, Essex, England CO4 9ES
Finish: Brigerbad, Brig-Glis, Valais, Switzerland http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brig,_Switzerland

Day 41 - The Calm after the storm :)

2 lots of 30 mins tonight, 2:27 for Anita, 2:03 for me, 3R (1s/500m quicker than the last 4 weeks).

After yesterday's 6344m blast today was a nice sedate hour of UT1/2 intensity rowing. Possibly because yesterday was such a landmark it felt a lot easier than ever before, for the both of us, and that an hour is a bit of a cheat :) Anita says she feels like she should be doing more, but I'm of the ilk that Eddie Fletcher knows what he's doing, and though I've modified the plan slightly (Up the pace by 1s/500m on all pieces every 4 weeks) I don't want to diverge from it - It's produced some pretty phenomenal results so far at relatively short distances :)

Anita: 12249m
Andy: 14639m

Cumulative (Since 3rd Oct): 1281834m (796.7 miles)

The Journey:
Start - Topnotch Gym, Colchester CO11 2TR
Finish - L'Ermitage, Loèche, Switzerland

Rest Day - The Joe Simpson 6344m Challenge :)

The November Challenge Series piece today - A torturous 6344m one-off piece.

Prior to this challenge Anita's best 6K time ever was 2:16.1 average (Actually faster than her 5k split), mine was 1:51.9.

Anita did a 10 min WU row beforehand, then this was what followed (Sped up to x64 speed)

Absolutely amazing!!! 27:39 (2:10.8 - 5.3s/500m better than her 6K PB!!!!, and 21s better than her targeted 28 minutes!!) The 572km rowing done since 3rd October on the Eddie Fletcher plan has really payed dividends already!!!

Then I stepped up (Or is that sat down :)) with the unenviable task of trying to match what Anita had just done. After a quick 5 min WU I got to it.

22:46.0 (1:47.6), 4.3s better than my 6K PB split (1:51.9) - Ecstatic isn't the word!!!! This is at a current 127kg as well (184cm, just over 6ft).

The rowing is really changing my body - I can for instance comfortably get into a UK Large T-Shirt now, yet I'm 19st 13lb!!! It would be very interesting to do a body-fat test now, as my vital stats are now far smaller than most people of my weight. I've always been a sporty type (Played county/area level at Soccer & cricket in my youth, as well as holding throwing records still) so I think I've always had the potential to do this, just needed a Concept2 and a training plan to do it, plus an amazing fiancee to train with :)

Anita (5"9') has an ideal build for a rower; tall with long, strong limbs, and this training is really bringing out the athlete in her, but she is seeing the same sort of changes I am (Not too much weight loss, but decent inch loss), and is easily a UK size 14 at 84kg!! Think we'll start cross-training after Christmas on the lead up to the 100km, and it will be interesting to see if we maintain weight on what is a very moderate calorie regime (1800 for Anita, about 3k for me)

Day 40 - 8 weeks done and a birthday

2 lots of 30 minutes to end week 8 and the 2nd of the 4 week rotations in the Eddie Fletcher Marathon Plan - 2:28 for Anita, 2:04 for me, 3R

I woke up 1 year older this morning (now 32) and to celebrate Anita and I went to lunch with my prospective father-in-law, Paul, at a lovely Thai restaurant in Witham.

Before this we did the 2 30 minute pieces, Anita describing it as a warm up, then warm down, whilst watching Saturday Kitchen on the monitor in the Gym.

We are now both rowing fit, after 1.2MM together in 8 weeks, so these saturday pieces feel very easy, which is good considering we'll row about 14 (me) and 18(Anita) back to back in  March,

I'm a Management Information Analyst by day, so below is a graph of what the Eddie Fletcher Plan looks like, plotted by Metres  Rowed/Day:

Smooth this out and it would almost resemble a heart beat trace :)

Challenge Series 6344m tomorrow - Looking forward to it :)

Anita: 12167m - 565781m cumulative (351.6 miles)
Andy: 14519m - 676477m cumulative (420.4 miles)

Total - 1242258m (772 miles)

The Journey:
Start: Topnotch Gym, Colchester CO4 9ES
Via: La Tzoumaz (Our Honeymoon Destination :))
Finish: Riddes, Martigny, Valais, Switzerland http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riddes

Day 39 - A little test for Sunday :)

A repeat of Tuesday today - 4 lots of 15 mins, 6'/9' split, 2:15/2:25 for Anita, 1:52/2:01 for Me, 4R.

Much of a muchness tonight for the first 3 intervals; Anita wasn't feeling particularly well but she stuck to the task brilliantly.

Then the 4th Interval - I think we both thought he same thing - use it as a bit of a tester for the 6344m Concept2.co.uk Challenge Series November piece.

Anita ended up with a 2:14 average for the 15 mins, First 6 minutes near 2:12, down to 2:25-2:20 for the next 5, then racked it down towards 2:10 over the last 4 minutes, into the 1:57 region for the last 30 secs - Again she is showing how strong she is now, and at 5"9' she is blessed with long levers leading to a lovely technique.

I ended up with a 1:50.7 average, and like Anita did the 2nd furthest distance ever in a 15 minute piece I've ever done, but with some large pace changes.

For the first 6 minutes I was alternating 1:47 minutes with 1:52 minutes, went down to 2:00 for 3 minutes, then from 5 minutes out went down to 1:47, towards 1:45 with 2 minutes left, then into the low 1:30's for the last minute - 4062m in 15 mins for me, 3358m for Anita :) I think we're both ready for the Challenge Series now - If we can do what we did during rowing minutes 45 to 60, then after a Warm Up she should be able to sustain a really good pace for the whole 23/28 minutes :)

Anita: 13110m
Andy: 15653m

Cumulative: 1215572m (755.5 miles)

The Journey:

Start: Topnotch Gym, Colchester CO4 9ES
Finish: Mazembroz, Valais, Switzerland http://www.alltravels.com/switzerland/valais/mazembroz-577306

Day 38 - Keeping us honest :)

3 lots of 20 mins today, 2:25, 2:18, 2:21 for Anita, 2:01, 1:55, 1:58 for me, 2R.

Nice and easy again today to start with, with an nice slow(ish) 20 mins, followed by the fast piece, then a warm-down.

Anita - "I felt like I'd done a work-out, even though it was only an hour".

Wednesdays to me are the most difficult pieces we do on this plan, with the middle 20/30 minute piece  a real good blow-out. It's nice to now be able to comfortably sustain 1:52 for 15 minutes, before letting the pace drop off towards 1:55 over the last 5 minutes. I now consider 1:55 a HM pace for me (1:20), and will be trying to go below that on Christmas Eve :) For Anita I think 2:22 is achievable now for a sub 1:40, which would be amazing :)

Anita: 12745m
Andy: 15266m

Cumulative: 1186809m (737.6 miles)

The Journey:

Start: Topnotch Gym Colchester CO4 9ES
Finish: Aigle, Vaud, Switzerland http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aigle

Day 37 - Cheat Week :)

4 Lots of 15 mins tonight, 6'/9' split, 2:15/2:25 for Anita, 1:52/2:01 for me, 4R.

Anita now regards an hour of rowing as "Cheating" - It doesn't seem enough :) We are both well ahead of the training plan with regards to how easy it feels, which can only mean Mr Fletcher's plan is a resounding success, and the minor amendment I made to it before the start (Increase pace by 1' on each piece every 4 week-cycle) seems to be pushing our fitness levels up even quicker.

I can honestly say I've not felt this fit since Uni (Where I was playing Football (Soccer) 7 days a week) some 12 years ago, Anita says she is fitter than at any time in her adult life, and compared to 2 years ago (When both Anita & I set most of our current PB's) both Anita and I are streets ahead - Last week I PB'd on the 30 mins on the 2nd of my 3 30 min pieces on the day, and Anita's last 25 minute piece last Friday (Out of 3) was at a lower pace than her best ever 5k, even though she rowed for 2 minutes more.

We both now end the 4 piece Tuesday/Most Fridays with a sharp interval - My 1:52 6' ended up nearer 1:47, Anita's 2:15 6' nearer 2:11 - I'm very proud of what Anita is achieving, and looking forward very much to a lifetime with her, staying fit on the Concept2 :)

Anita: 13074m
Andy: 15500m

Cumulative: 1158798m (720 miles)

The Journey:
Start - Topnotch Gym, Colchester, CO4 9ES
Via:
Calais
Reims
Troyes
Dijon
Geneva
Finish - Chardonne, Riviera-Pays-D'Enhaut, Vaud, Switzerland

Day 36 - A Cheeky little Hour....

2 lots of 30 mins tonight - 2:28 for Anita, 2:04 for me, 3R.

A nice easy fat burner tonight - After a very full-on day at work it was nice to get on the Concept2 and just row.

We're both finding weeks 1 and 4 of the plan (Lower Intensity) quite easy now, as our strength and endurance keep on increasing.

Anita kept to a nice low SR (About 20), whereas in the 2nd 30' I changed it up a bit, with slow and fast intervals, 1:45 for 3 minutes, back to 2:07, then 1 minute at 1:35, back to 2:08 and so on

Really looking forward to Sunday and having a good go at the 6344m Concept2.co.uk Challenge Series piece for November, As secretly Anita is as well :)

Anita: 12166m
Andy: 14521m

Cumulative: 1130224m (702.4 miles)

The Journey:

Start - Topnotch Gym Colchester
Finish - Echandens, Morges, Vaud, Switzerland http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echandens

Day 35 - Another week done, another week closer to the 100km

2 lots of 45 mins to end week 7, the second intense week of the 14 week cycle; 2:28 for Anita, 2:04 for me, 4.5R

The Saturday row is a nice long, relatively low-intensity row, but its still 90 minutes worth of rowing, so it's more a psychological test than physical now.

Anita is finding her physiology is changing - she always used to suffer from overheating during exercise. Now she perspires (no, sweats :)) more, but is regulating her body temperature much more efficiently than before, a sign of improving fitness. She also used to lose her breath during exercise, this doesn't happen anywhere near as much as before, only during intense (Sub 2:00) rowing. Psychologically she deals with the time aspect better than I do, and his happy with her music.

After every session now (1 hour being the shortest) I'm absolutely drenched in sweat, but within an hour (After we've got home and showered) I get the endorphin rush, which usually tides me over for about 2 hours before food energy kicks in. One thing I'm starting to realise through experience is the food choice prior to exercise is massively important - I need lots of Carbs/Natural Sugars. Today I had Scrambled Egg./Toast for breakfast, and suffered in the last 15 minutes (75 to 90 minutes) because of it. High carb breakfasts or lunches always allow me to exert myself to the fullest in rowing sessions, but low carb meals afterwards (high protein) are seeming to be the way forward for weight loss.

Lastly, I passed 1MM lifetime today (601018m since October 3rd this year), and expect to go past 2MM in February 2012. Anita has another couple of weeks to her first MM :)

Anita: 18249m
Andy: 21780m

Cumulative:
Anita: 502019m (312.3 miles)
Andy: 601018m (373.5 miles)
Total: 1103537m (685.8 miles)

Journey:
Start: Topnotch Gym, Colchester CO4 9ES
Finish: Chavannes-de-Bogis, Vaud, Switzerland http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chavannes-de-Bogis

Day 34 - More progress on TFI Friday.....

3 lots of 25 mins tonight, each 25' split into 8'/17', Anita at 2:15/2:25 and me at 1:52/2:01

Had a bit of a dodgy tum tonight, which led to a bit of discomfort (Plus having to get off to move the towel that I was sitting on after 9 mins in the first piece - took about 15 seconds or so) but the pieces themselves weren't particularly difficult. Effectively I did the 6344m challenge series piece for November 3 times under 25 mins (the 3rd time in 24:20), having decided to blow the cobwebs out in the last 5 minutes of the 3rd piece (Sub 1:45 for 4 of the minutes)

Anita is just getting better and better, easily doing the 3 pieces, the last one in a 2:16.5 average overall. Her best ever 5000m was a 2:16.6 average (22:46) - She did a faster pace than her best ever 5000m for 2:14 longer, whilst following (to a point) the 2:15/2:25 setup above. 2:20 HM possibilities, planned for Christmas Eve :)

Anita: 16210m
Andy: 19248m (Lifetime 999686m :))

Cumulative: 1063508m (661 miles)

The Journey:
Start: Topnotch Gym Colchester CO4 9ES
Finish: Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, Haute-Savoie, France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Julien-en-Genevois

Day 33 - Self Harm Wednesday, and an important landmark

3 lots of 30' tonight, 2:25, 2:18 (Fastest this year) and 2:25 for Anita, 2:01, 1:55 (Fastest this year) and 2:01 for me, 3R

Anita's words are - "The 1st one hurt, the 2nd one really hurt and I resigned myself to just getting the 3rd one done" - As it is she completed everything, and her middle 30 ' was her 2nd fastest ever (2:17.9), in the middle of 2 other 30' pieces!!!!! Another piece to log on Nonathlon :)

I didn't feel too bad (My left glute is still causing issues down my left leg, even though I sat on a towel tonight) and the first piece went OK. Then with the 2nd piece I set out nice and hard, had some good music come on the mp3 and was at 1:53 with only 8 minutes left. I decided to let the time bleed away until it got to 1:54.2 (My best ever was 1:54.3), and it hit 1:54.2 with 20 seconds left. As such I hit a PB in the middle of 2 other 30 minute rows :) Feeling a little bit big headed :)

Lastly we passed 1MM Cumulative tonight just into our 2nd 30' piece, so passed 1MM in 32.35(ish) sessions, in 74 hours 50 minutes, a 2:14.7 average.

Anita: 18940m
Andy: 22764m

Cumulative: 1028050m (638.9 miles)

The Journey:

Start: Topnotch Gym Colchester CO4 9ES
Finish: Saint-Germain-de-Joux, Ain, France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Germain-de-Joux

Day 32 - Sprints after a day of databases.............

4 lots of 15 mins tonight, 9' 2:15 and 6' 2:25 for Anita, 9' 1:52 and 6' 2:01 for me, 4R.

Went over to St. Ives in Cambs today to go through the new database/client system schema, and got back to Colchester mid-afternoon, so it wasn't too bad a day considering.

In the first 15' I suffered again from the pressure-point issues in my left glute that I had last night, sapping strength  in my left leg again. For my second piece onwards I sat on my towel, which was a quick remedy. I hit all the targets and more though, so it wasn't anywhere near as big an issue as it was last night over the 90 minutes.

It's getting a bit boring re. Anita - She yet again stormed it, getting faster with every interval, finishing with 3350m (2:14.3) - I think 2:14 av for her 6344m Challenge Series piece is more than doable, if not a bit conservative :)

The biggy tomorrow - 3 lots of 30', including what will be both our fastest 30' of the season so far (2:18 for Anita, 1:55 for me)

Anita: 13228m
Andy: 15752m

Cumulative: 986346m (613 miles) - 1MM cumulative tomorrow, in 32.5 sessions :)

The Journey:

Start: Topnotch Gym, Colchester CO4 9ES
Finish: Pont D'Ain, Ain,. France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pont-d'Ain

Day 31 - Unexpected Pain..................

2 Lots of 45 minutes tonight, as we enter the 2nd intense week of the Eddie Fletcher Marathon plan - 2:28 for Anita, 2:04 for me 4.5R

Anita yet again rowed brilliantly, 22 strokes/minute across both pieces, with only slight bum ache in the last 5 minutes of the 2nd piece.

I however really did feel it tonight. My feel is that I didn't have enough for lunch or breakfast (Roast veg pasta at lunch, but just not enough of it and as such was in calorie deficit from about halfway through the first piece. Couple that with a severe case of numb bum from about 35 minutes into the first piece, which eventually started my left leg aching and my right foot going numb - It wasn't a brilliant night :(

I stuck at it though, and did the full distance, and feel pretty good now so its not all bad :)

Anita: 18248m
Andy: 21782m

Cumulative: 957366m (595 miles)

The Journey:
Start - Topnotch Gym Colchester, CO4 9ES
Finish - Polliat, Ain, France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polliat

Day 30 - Walkies then a slow-row

2 lots of 40 minutes today, 2:28' for Anita, 2:04 for me, 4R

We went to our good friend Tracey's early this morning to go for a nice long walk with her and her two beautiful woofers, Stan and Ruby through the beautiful countryside around Wivenhoe Woods and the Colne, which started the day of brilliantly.

Then we got to the gym to do the 2 40 minute pieces, and frankly they were very easy.

Anita did both 2:28' pieces at 18 strokes/min, whilst I had a bit of a mess around.

On the first piece I got to 10 minutes left at an average of 2:02, so went down to 2:10's for the last 10 minutes to get to 2:04 at the end.

On the second piece I did the first 10 minutes at 1:52.9, was at an average of 1:58 at 20 minutes (Meaning a 2:10 for the 2nd half would get me in at 2:04 average), was at 2:00 with 10 minutes left (Meaning a 2:16 for the last 10 would get me in at 2:04), decided at 5 minutes to do a minute at sub 1:40, then really had to mess about at 2:50 and lower to get it down to 2:04 with 11 seconds remaining.

I believe I could now Marathon at sub 2:00m pace, and HM at 1:55 (Best 1:59.5) - Anita could Marathon at 2:25, and HM at 2:22 in my opinion, and we will try the HM a week before the full marathon in early January.

Week 6 done :)

Anita: 16222m (417644m Cumulative, 259.6 miles)
Andy: 19360m (499692m Cumulative (So Close :)), 310.6 miles)

Total Cumulative: 917366m (570.1 miles)

The Journey:

Start: Topnotch Gym, Colchester CO4 9ES
Via: Calais, Reims, Troyes, Dijon
Finish: Saint-Albain, Saone-et-Loire, France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Albain

Day 29 - Row then a Gig

3 lots of 20 mins on Friday evening, 7' 2:15 and 13' 2:25 for Anita, 7' 1:52 and 13' 2:01 for me, 5R.

We were a bit earlier to the gym than normal (Which was exceptionally quiet at 4:15pm) to get our session done before going out to see Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer (http://www.gentlemanrhymer.com/) at the Colchester Arts Centre (More about that later)

The session was relatively easy (Week 2 of the 4 week pattern of the Eddie Fletcher Marathon plan is ranked as the 2nd hardest) - Anita didn't feel particularly up for it, but still got through it brilliantly, averaging well under the 2:15 for the 3 7' portions of the row. I felt like it was a bit of a walk in the park to be honest.

We finished up there, met up with fellow Marathon trainee (Running this time) James McCullagh, went for a cheeky Chinese Buffet (2 plates for me, but I had just burnt approx 1400 calories) then onto the Arts Centre.

We arrived at 7:15pm, found out that Mr B was not on until 10, but stayed anyway, through some 'Interesting' electronica with videos - Think Aphex Twin/Squarepusher/Autechre/Boards of Canada, which to Jimmy and Anita was a bit like Audio-Warfare, but we stuck it out.

10pm came, Mr. B came on stage, and apart from a few (primarily 1) drunken 'oiks' (in the parlance of chap-hoppery) on the verge of spoiling it, was absolutely immense.

My amazing fiancee (Seriously, no vomiting please) bought me 2 of his albums for my birthday on the way out - An amazing night :)

Anita: 12895m
Andy: 15526m

Cumulative: 866155m (538.3 miles)

The Journey:

Start - Topnotch Gym, Colchester CO4 9ES
Finish - Chaudenay, Saone-et-Loire, France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaudenay,_Sa%C3%B4ne-et-Loire

Day 28 - If we could row 500 miles.......

4 lots of 20' tonight, 2R - 2:25, 2:18, 2:21 & 2:25 for Anita, 2:01, 1:55, 1:58n and 2:01 for me.

Quite a nasty one tonight, which is exactly its purpose - to train the body over 80 minutes to try and reduce/flush out lactate.

The first 2 intervals weren't too bad, but 3 and 4 became uncomfortable in both the arms and the legs - Breath & Heart Rate wasn't an issue, just aches :)

Anita says Ouch!!! :) She was surprised about how much she had to exert herself to complete the session due to leaden limbs - Now everything hurts :)

We've passed 500 miles cumulative tonight (As per the title) - Next milestone 1MM cumulative next week.

Anita: 16884m
Andy: 20226m

Cumulative: 837734m (520.66 miles)

The Journey:

Start: Topnotch Gym - Colchester CO4 9ES
Finish: Premeaux-Prissey, Cote D'Or, France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premeaux-Prissey

Day 27 - Real Progress.....

4 lots of 15' tonight, 4R - 7' 2:15, 8' 2:25 for Anita, 7' 1:52, 8' 2:01 for me.

Very good showing tonight - The 1st interval is rapidly feeling the hardest as we've not really warmed up too much before-hand, but Anita said she is really feeling the difference with regards to her recovery time, with steady breathing even though her heart rate is elevated during the fast 7 minutes. She now has the strength in her arms to the fast 7' at low stroke rates  (22) as well, so she is quickly becoming a rowing monster.

I feel able to do 4 lots of 4k in 15 minutes now - 4k always used to be the benchmark and I've only been over 4k about 4 times before - It all bodes well for the 6344m challenge series piece for November, where I'll be looking for sub-23 minutes, Anita sub-28.

Anita: 13012m
Andy: 15599m

Cumulative: 800624m (497.6 miles)

The Journey:
Start - Topnotch Gym, Colchester CO4 9ES
Finish - Saint-Apollinaire, Cote-d'Or, France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Apollinaire,_C%C3%B4te-d%27Or

Day 26 - Fat Burn Monday

2 lots of 40' today 4R, 2:28 for Anita, 2:04 for me.

The Monday and Saturday distance pieces in the Eddie Fletcher Marathon plan are now long slow fat burning pieces, with nice easy breathing and quite a low heart rate.

It is also a bit boring if the wrong music comes on! It's also a bit of a pain in the arse, especially for me in my left glute :) definitely getting a seat cover/cushion for the marathon in January.

Anita's words about today's training - 'A walk in the park' - 22 strokes/min and only some minor aches in her knees to show for 80 minutes rowing.

Lastly before the distances Anita lost 1.6kg last week, me 1.3kg :)

Anita: 16223m
Andy: 19361m

Cumulative: 787612m (489.5 miles)

The Journey:
Start - Topnotch Gym, Colchester CO4 9ES
Finish - Bèze, Cote-d'Or, France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A8ze

Day 25 - 5 weeks down, 18 to go :)

2 lots of 30 mins today, with 3mins rest between, 2:28 for Anita, 2:04 for me.

The Monday and Saturday dual pieces have become quite easy over the last couple of weeks, both at UT1/2 so good fat burners - http://www.fletchersportscience.co.uk/uploads/img4731d3f5392f41.pdf - The Eddie Fletcher Marathon training plan suggests the 5th session of the week is always optional - Not on my watch :)

Interestingly my hands have really calmed down - the callouses have leveled out, and though my hands are in a state they've rarely been in before there isn't any discomfort doing rowing from them now. My calves however really fasciculate (twitch) on the way home from the gym, and the feeling is like very small electric shocks, almost like a fluttering feeling. Slightly off-putting if strangely amusing to watch :)

Anita is really feeling the benefits - we had to go into Colchester Town Centre this morning to do a quick bit of shopping, and in doing so we pretty much power-walked from the car park into town, around the shops and then back again - Anita commented on the way back that she would have been out of breath before after walking a decent distance as we did, but now there were no issues. I think her being able to maintain a low heart rate is making all the difference, and that at least a 1kg per week weight loss for her over the rest of the training is a distinct possibility, putting her well below 11 stone by the end of March, 3 months before our wedding :) Weigh in tomorrow morning :)

Also cumulatively we went over 3/4 million metres today, done since 3rd October :)

Anita: 12165m Today (342408m, 212.8 miles total)
Andy: 14521m Today (409620m, 254.6 miles total)

Cumulative: 752028m (467.4 miles)

The Journey:

Start: Topnotch Gym, Colchester CO4 9ES
Finish: Aujerres, Haute-Marne, France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aujeurres

Day 24 - Bicep Buster :)

4 lots of 15 mins tonight, 2:15 6' 2:25 9' DF 150 for Anita, 1:52 6' 2:01 9' DF 155 for me, 4' Rest between intervals.

Really felt it in the arms tonight, but put that down to a low-carb lunch (Chopped Salad) meaning lower energy levels than normal. As such I had to up the stroke rate a bit (27/28) to maintain the 1:52 pace (though in reality this was nearer 1:51). The 1st rest was a bit longer than it should have been due to a work phone-call, and because of that I found the 2nd interval the hardest (as my heart rate had dropped to normal)

Anita again completed everything asked of her, declaring the first interval felt like a warm-up :) She is now immensely strong in her arms, and I'm confident in her maintaining 2:14 (28:20 Total) for the November Challenge Series 6344m (I'll be looking at 1:48/1:49, 23 mins Total)

Anita: 12933m
Andy: 15464m

Cumulative: 725342m (450.8 miles)

The Journey:

Start: Topnotch Gym Colchester, Essex, CO4 9ES
Finish: Bugnieres, Haute-Marne, France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugni%C3%A8res

Day 23 - Confidence Booster :)

3 Lots of 20 today, 2:25, 2:18 and 2:21 for Anita, 2:01, 1:55 and 1:58 for me.

I failed to finish last Wednesday (See the blog for Day 18) so today held a little bit more than a usual training day for me.

The first 20 minutes felt like a warm up, the 2nd 20 minutes felt like the main event and the last 20 minutes felt like a warm down - A very satisfactory feeling that I can now quite easily pop a sub 1:55 20 minute piece out in the middle of a session, where my best 30 minutes ever is only at 1:54.3 (7876) - Indeed in 6 weeks time the middle 30 minutes of the 3 on that day should be at 1:54, which will be my best 30 minutes ever :)

Anita again monstered it at a very low strokes/minute (21/22) and I'm getting more and more confident in her ability to go the Marathon distance and longer, and hopefully she is too :)

Anita: 12744m
Andy: 15302m

Cumulative: 696945m (433.1 miles) - Since 3rd October

The Journey:

Start - Topnotch Gym, Colchester CO4 9ES
Finish - Pont-la-Ville, Haute-Marne, France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pont-la-Ville,_Haute-Marne

Day 22 - Time for reflection......

4 lots of 15 minutes today, 6 mins/9 mins split, 2:15 & 2:25 for Anita, 1:52 and 2:01 for me, with 4 minute rest periods between intervals.

Apart from slight fatigue in the last minute of the 6 fast minutes in last 2 intervals it was quite easy fo both of us, and got me thinking back to 3 years ago, when for the Charity Week at work a number of us rowed over 500km in the 40 working hours of the week, each taking 15 minute intervals, with some of us taking 3 intervals per day.

I wasn't much heavier then than I am now, but my best interval for the week was 3823m, with most of them in 3600m region. It was the first time for me on a Concept 2 rower.

Tonight my lowest 15 minutes was 3850 metres (following the Eddie Fletcher plan), and my highest 3902, rowing 4 intervals with only 4 minutes rest between them!!!

Anita only rowed a couple of intervals that week, and both rows were in the 2800/2900m region.

Tonight she rowed 4 intervals with the lowest at 3208m, which would have been the furthest rowed in 15 minutes by any woman doing the challenge 3 years ago!!!!!!

We've both come some way, but I'm under no illusions that we've got the hard miles yet to come to get ready for the 100km in March.

Anita: 12898m
Andy: 15465m

Cumulative: 668899m (415.7 miles)

Journey:

Start: Topnotch Gym, Colchester CO4 9ES
Finish: Éguilly-sous-Bois, Aube, France, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89guilly-sous-Bois