CURRENT RANKINGS - 500 Metres on a Concept II Rowing Machine at resistance level 10

The 500 Metre Sprint.

Champion (Sub 1 minute 30)
Runners Up (under 1 minute 35)

Muzzinho 1.33.1

Semi-Finalist (Under 1 minute 40)

Unc.Si 1.35.0

Quarter-Finalist (Under 1 minute 45)

Neath Boy 1.42

[b]Last 16 (Under 1 minute 50)

DJNuttie 1.46.7
AKNel1 1.47.6

Group Stages (Under 1 minute 55)
Prelim rounds (Under 2 minutes)
Failed to qualify (Over 2 minutes)

done it in 2.01 this morning

Will be at the gym tomorrow and do it in under 2.00

I'm going straight for the top, give it a go at the weekend. Short distances I like, anything 2k+ plus I cannot pace myself for the life of me.

1.59 exactly

1m 42.4s

Really going to smash this on monday

On my first attempt I started far too fast (1:40 pace) and struggled to even complete the distance (and I was actually aiming for 1k). Ended up with 1:51 which I guess isn't too bad for my 1st go. I think my complete lack of technique won't have helped either.

I'll try again next week.

Tomorrow's gym session on the rower is going to involve 8 sets of 500m, with a bout 2 mins rest between each one. Trying to keep each pull below the 2 minute mark.

TK - are you new to the gym scene? That sounds like a good idea I can do 500m in less than 2 minutes but cannot manage 2K in one go. I think I might do 4 sets of 500m with a bit of breathing space in between. i worked out my technique now, got my breathing and everything sorted just need to work on my stamina Another month or two and I'm trying to do the 2k straight off - without feeling sick/not being able to walk afterwards

Not new as I used to go a lot about 14 years ago, where I'd combine running, with gyn work (weights work out) and rowing on the older style Concept II rowing machines. I got up to a reasonable standard for the rowing (1000m 3:17; 2500m 8:50).

I've been running quite regularly since about April last year, often lunchtimes around London. A couple of weeks ago, and due to the fact that the changing tooms in our office are out of action for about 10 weeks, I thought I'd join a gym. There's a guy who sits next to me who goes a lot to do weights sessions, and he introduced me.

Signed up on a 4 month deal, and have been alternating weights sessions (led by him) and aerobic workouts, mainly based around the Concept II (led by me). Have been pleasantly surprised that I can still get a decent enough tune out of the machine, despite such a long layoff.

I'm alternating routines on it, sometimes doing interval training at short distances e.g. 8 * 500m, sometimes doing longer stamina sessions, and sometimes doing pyramid sessions. Feeling all the better for it to. I'm hoping that combining this with the weights sessions will get me a lot fitter and with a better body shape.

I'm 44, about 6'0" tall and weigh around 13st 10lbs. Before I embarked on the running last year, I was 15st 1lb

Keep it going, and what may seem like little steps now will turn into big progress not too far down the line! I think you'll be able to do the 2000m straight off a lot sooner than you might imagine.

Managed this quite comfortably in the end, and even managed the final pull in about 1:46. Will need to set the target time to under 1:55 for all 8 pulls next time.

Any idea what your fastest time was TK, or did you not go after a time - if not I'll put you down as a 1.46

Will let you know tomorrow. The 1:46 ish time was on the 8th attempt, so I think I can knock a decent chunk off that as a 'one-off'.

A 1.33 dead will make you FISO's 'Sprint Rowing' Champion

1:33 would be a bit ambitious at this early stage (and age ), but will ultimately try and get closer to it over the weeks. The accurate time yesterday was 1:46.4.

Updates in green.

Anyone else still going to the gym?

Tried this at work today for the first time and I managed it in 1.26.5