A real off the wall question for Rick Willoughby

[Fanie]

I find it fascinating too to explore. Water always runs out before I do Mostly I'm adicted to the feel of being on water. I like sailing off lately, so, I must work on the boat... or never get it done

The red chart the heartbeat there (just kiddin)

I'm not addicted to endorphin, I'm just addicted.

[eponodyne]

Originally Posted by Rick Willoughby

Fanie
I am hooked on the endorphin rush. Every Saturday morning is like Christmas for me right now because I can load the boat on the car and spend a few hours at the lake just going up and down and watching the scenery. The body is starting to get better.

Very windy last weekend. I pushed into 30 - 40kph winds on one leg and then had the benefit of the wind the other way but the waves were too small to keep up so constantly driving through them. Hence the speed variation between consecutive runs on the chart.

I did the last lap with Ian Cassell in his 15ft pedal boat. We were amongst the little sailing fleet and a few paddlers.

Rick W.

There is nothing like the feeling of having your body wake up after a long period of dormancy. After you get done feeling like ya gotta puke, that is.

[MLampi]

Last Saturday was the Cascade Distance Race in Renton, WA. Since almost everyone was doing the short race (5.1 miles) rather than the long (13 miles) I decided to do the short race as well.

As this race is no longer a Sound Rowers race, I didn't bother with a camera.

There were at most half the number of competitors this year. Still, it went rather well, with a fairly fast start and even with fewer racers I had some decent competition.

Second place overall wasn't too bad, with a time of just over 45 minutes, 6.8 mph average speed.

Michael Lampi

[Guest625101138]

Mike
That is a very good pace. The little GPS must help the concentration. You will be outpacing the rowing shells soon.

Rick W

[Fanie]

You guys take GPs's ? Are you scared of getting lost while you row ? No come on you guys I mean really

[Guest625101138]

Originally Posted by Fanie

You guys take GPs's ? Are you scared of getting lost while you row ? No come on you guys I mean really

No. The concern is dying. The little Garmin units used provide speed, distance travelled, pedal cadence and engine heart rate. When you are my age it is the latter that counts. Mike is a bit younger I believe so may be not as critical for him. I do not work above 160bpm for long periods. I note Mike held very steady rate near 160bpm for the race apart from one brief period.

Just remembered. They will also provide elevation if the waves are that big.

Rick W

[Fanie]

When you are my age

He he... I was waiting for that Sounds like my dad used to

The difference is I sit locked up here, the most exersize I get is when I walk fast to the the vitamins, so if I suddenly disappear off the forum, you will know I got a heart attack while fetching the post from the front gate, whitch is about 10 meter's walking

Why do you thing I'm so bloody desperate to get the boat going Nothing to do with fishing or sailing or fun on it, I need the exersize

[MLampi]

Originally Posted by Fanie

You guys take GPs's ? Are you scared of getting lost while you row ? No come on you guys I mean really

On some of the longer races I've been uncertain as to which inlet to enter or which side of some island I encounter I'm supposed to go around. A GPS has been quite useful in helping make the proper decision.

On all of the races the GPS has been helpful in telling me if weeds have fouled the propeller or are hanging from the rudder. The difference in difficulty pedaling when only a few strands are on the prop versus a clean prop might not be readily discernable, but the speed difference when pedaling at 80 rpm with a fouled prop and a clean prop is easily measured by the instrument.

The GPS is also useful in helping to decide where one is making better progress with or against currents. Sometimes being closer to shore is good, other times being further out in a channel is good.

[Fanie]

Hi MLampi

I'm just mocking you rowers a bit. We don't even have big dames (lakes) here and one get lost very easy especially if you wander in some of the side sloops which is like a dam on it's own.

Only trouble is when the water level goes low you may have to carry the boat through some shortcuts

[MLampi]

Originally Posted by Rick Willoughby

Mike
That is a very good pace. The little GPS must help the concentration. You will be outpacing the rowing shells soon.

Rick W

BTW, while I did outpace a rowing shell at this race, I have no misconceptions about going faster than the *real* rowers who attend the Sound Rowers events. Those guys are about 1 to 2 mph faster on average.

Of course, they also tend to be on the water practicing every day or two, while I merely do a running workout every other day or so. It seems the only times I'm on the water is for a race.

Michael