Concept2 Holiday Challenge (not bike related)

[anomad]

I know ya’ll are getting ramped up for Freezing Saddles, but I am getting ready for another event. Pretty much the only “competitive” thing I participate in.

I’ve done all but one since they started some years ago. Anyone care to join me? It’s perfect cross training for cycling once you get your technique dialed in. And it will toughen you up to know that when you ride home from work you’ve got an hour on the erg to look forward to.

https://log.concept2.com/challenges/holiday

Topic

[kwarkentien]

@anomad 168293 wrote:

I know ya’ll are getting ramped up for Freezing Saddles, but I am getting ready for another event. Pretty much the only “competitive” thing I participate in.

I’ve done all but one since they started some years ago. Anyone care to join me? It’s perfect cross training for cycling once you get your technique dialed in. And it will toughen you up to know that when you ride home from work you’ve got an hour on the erg to look forward to.

https://log.concept2.com/challenges/holiday

Interesting. I might play along.

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[accordioneur]

When the weather gets below 40 I do get tempted to retreat to the erg in my nice warm basement; however, I’m pretty sure I couldn’t touch 100km in a month while also keeping up other activities.

[ginacico]

@accordioneur 168322 wrote:

I’m pretty sure I couldn’t touch 100km in a month

Me neither, but for myriad reasons I really need to do some time on an erg. As I read the rules, there doesn’t appear to be any downside to falling short of the goal (they’ll donate $.02/km until you reach 100k, then it goes up to $.04). Am I reading that right anomad?

Their 2017 charities are all particularly noble causes, IMO, so I’d be glad to use the challenge as motivation and contribute whatever I can.

[anomad]

@ginacico 168328 wrote:

Me neither, but for myriad reasons I really need to do some time on an erg. As I read the rules, there doesn’t appear to be any downside to falling short of the goal (they’ll donate $.02/km until you reach 100k, then it goes up to $.04). Am I reading that right anomad?

Their 2017 charities are all particularly noble causes, IMO, so I’d be glad to use the challenge as motivation and contribute whatever I can.

Correct. You can choose the distance the suits your preference. In the early years of the challenge they offered free t-shirts to those who participated. Then they said, “hey everyone has more than enough t-shirts” and made it into a charitable effort. I usually let them decide which charity to pick.

accordioneur, you can do it! Just dial back to an endurance pace, just like on the bike. My personal best on record was 500k a few years ago. It kicked my butt into shape. Even so, I wasn’t anywhere close to the top of the leader boards. I took a whole week off work just to row my pants off that year. Last year with riding to work I still managed 10k a day. Weekends were easy, but after a 12 mile rainy cold dark ride home, an hour on the erg takes just about all I can muster.

This year I am taking a few days off after thanksgiving and having a shorter commute so 10k a day will be completely doable.

[accordioneur]

@anomad 168329 wrote:

accordioneur, you can do it! Just dial back to an endurance pace, just like on the bike.

It’s not a question of being physically able to do it. It’s a question of finding time in the day. And gina, the donation only kicks in once you hit the 100k. From the Concept2 web site: “For every person who does at least 100k during the challenge (50k for adaptive athletes or athletes aged 16 or under), Concept2 will donate $.02 per kilometer (1000 meters)”

P.S. It is sad that they have to clarify that a kilometer is 1000 meters.

[ginacico]

@accordioneur 168330 wrote:

the donation only kicks in once you hit the 100k

Well, I signed up for their free Logbook anyway. It’s pretty clear once you’re in, the Holiday Challenge meter appears right on the dashboard with the rules spelled out.

They may or may not get donations out of me, we’ll see, but I’ll get some ERG time. Go anomad!

[anomad]

@accordioneur 168330 wrote:

It’s not a question of being physically able to do it. It’s a question of finding time in the day. And gina, the donation only kicks in once you hit the 100k. From the Concept2 web site: “For every person who does at least 100k during the challenge (50k for adaptive athletes or athletes aged 16 or under), Concept2 will donate $.02 per kilometer (1000 meters)”

P.S. It is sad that they have to clarify that a kilometer is 1000 meters.

Gotcha. Time is premium!

[accordioneur]

Ugggh. Hooked on another challenge. 10 KM piece completed this AM.

[anomad]

I pulled 15k. No unusual aches or pains, which is good. Over the summer I was rowing on my telework day pretty regularly. Hopefully that will benefit me this year.

[anomad]

Looks like a strong turn out this year. I am on page two of the honor boards as of today, that’s fun.

[anomad]

Concept2 has a bike erg now. I had no idea… I don’t really have a place for it right now but it is interesting.
http://www.concept2.com/bikeerg/concept2-bikeerg

[kwarkentien]

So I’m not sure how I’ll do with this, but it is getting me to the gym beyond my two days with my trainers (Rat Bastard and Satan’s Mistress). I may or may not hit the 100k meters mark to earn the charity donation but it certainly has been a kickstarter for me. I actually did a two-a-day at the gym yesterday since my training session in the morning didn’t include any erg meters.

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[anomad]

Glad to hear you are getting some rowing time in addition to your other workouts. That’s awesome.

I’m fortunate enough to have my own erg. So I don’t have many excuses.

@kwarkentien 169098 wrote:

So I’m not sure how I’ll do with this, but it is getting me to the gym beyond my two days with my trainers (Rat Bastard and Satan’s Mistress). I may
or may not hit the 100k meters mark to earn the charity donation but it certainly has been a kickstarter for me. I actually did a two-a-day at the gym yesterday since my training session in the morning didn’t include any erg meters.

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