British Indoor Rowing Championships

As a serial underperformer in the 2000 metre distance, it's that time of year again. The British Indoor Rowing Championships are on Sunday November 21st at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham. Several hundred competitors of all standards will be subjecting themselves to severe pain in full view of the crowd.

For those who have never been, it's quite an impressive event. There are around 100 Concept 2 rowing machines all linked together with computer cabling to a cinema screen set up behind the machines. This allows the competitors to be represented by a 'boat' avatar on the screen. The crowd can then watch the action unfold...

The World's fastest rowers complete the 2000m distance in around 5 minutes 50s - sometimes even a few seconds less.

I've managed a 6:34 and a 6:38 at the champs before now - nowhere near the 6:28 I have managed at home. The last 1000m of a full on 2000m race are pure pain as the legs are on fire by then, the room closes in around you and your lungs feel like they are going to burst...

I'll let you know how it goes. Will try to lift my left shoulder this year