Jan 7th - 2k - Welcome to Hell
So you’ve heard of the 2k. I’ve mentioned it a couple of times now. But what is the 2k? short answer; it’s what we train for.
One of the guys put out a video about braking the 4 min mile. The video’s blah and the runners are obviously not braking a 4 min mile for the filming but the story it tells; that’s what a 2k feels like. It’s hell.
I’ve now got 31 days before hell.
The 2k is a sprint longer than anyone can sprint for, but it's not a long distance, where you can rely on grinding though dull ache. It’s pure and searing, if you do it right.
The 2k erg test is the shorter of the two standard erg tests in rowing. The other, a 6k or 6000m is much more a test of endurance, but the 2k is the standard distance of an Olympic or world championship race. You’re 2k score ranks you, not completely, but significantly as a “strong” rower, who demonstrates potential. Technique only gets you so far then it’s raw power - the 2k is power.
My personal best to date is 7:05.5. The provincial elite time standard for my age is 7:05.0, so I’m fairly fast. To have a chance at getting noticed to train with the national team, I need to be under 7 minutes. That’s 5.5 seconds - It’s not easy.
On my first 2k I pulled 7:31, I’ve since taken off 26 seconds. As you take off time it becomes harder. The difficulty is exponential. So 5 seconds now is a lot harder than 5 seconds from that first time.
Today I did 3’ pieces. These are usually considered a predictor or your 2k. There’s the same sick feeling and the burn as you get hit by lactic acid. I only did three, the standard calls for five, and mine weren’t good. Not close enough. I worry.
I can’t speak for the other people I train with but we’ve all got goals. They’re ambitious and the chance of failure is real. Going in, knowing it’s going to hurt, wondering how you’re going to stand up when the pain hits, it gets in your head. After today, I’m scared I won’t make it but there’s 31 days. 31 days to get fast. 31 days then we take on hell.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGaotnDSuqA (the 4' mile)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q41YnyfMATs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3qn4RYjwVQ&feature=fvw (very good introduction)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2e27HdjiTg&feature=related (pain contest)
**
1.) 3x3' (4' rest) + abbs
2.) 40' bike
**
