6:46.9

Ow.

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The above was my first post on this. Now I have recovered a little...

Split	Metres	Split	Avg SPM	End HR
1	500	1:42.2	29	168
2	500	1:42.6	29	178
3	500	1:42.0	29	180
4	500	1:40.2	32	175
Totals	2,000	1:41.7	30
Time	6:46.9

I am slowly learning not to go off too hard... My plan was to dip below 6:50 today and row negative splits that give a 1:42 overall split and a 6:48 time.:

The plan:
800 @ 1:43.0 | 600 @ 1:42.0 | 400 @ 1:41.0 | 200 @ 1:40.0
I actually managed to pace it quite well (and slightly faster) with:
800 @ 1:42.4 | 600 @ 1:42.1 | 400 @ 1:40.8 | 200 @ 1:39.7

What amazes me is my heart rate. I know getting it to the maximum in under seven minutes is unlikely but my maximum in this piece was 182 for ONE stroke only at 1,500m! I hit 196 less than a month ago in the 10km with Gregor. This could mean anything of course. I may have more in the tank, I may not.

The race was interesting. I had to really hold back in the first 500m. I was desperate to finish according to plan and dip below 6:50 and knew (I am learning slowly) that it would be better to finish strongly under that time than die well before the finish. I was glad I held back because at my first gear change (800m) was quite hard. I think that is reflected in the pace for that 600m which was the only one below target. With 600 to go it is mentally easier to accelerate since it very quickly becomes a "manageable" 500m. The last 200 is simply everything in the tank.

I would hope that with the adrenaline at BIRC I can go a little faster. A PB is fewer than 4 seconds away. I know that is a mountain in ergo terms but it is not far away. I gave up the 6:30 plan long ago. Maybe next year!

The door and gates are complete. I finally managed to take a photo. MBH getting used to it.



Metres today: 6,090