@user911 Yes and no. Be careful about comparing to yesterday’s self … it’s a trap.
Progress isn’t linear. And we have different bodies every day. Some days we can do things well then the next day we can’t. And that’s part of the process.
I think day to day comparisons are tricky for that reason. How are you making progress compared to 6 months or a year ago?
By the way on 24.2 here’s an update to offer perspective.
On Sunday I practiced my row technique and did several rounds of 300 M to practice pacing. I even practiced standing up at the end to work on transitions, in prep for redoing 24.2
On Monday, I couldn’t match those paces in the actual workout. Which makes sense because it’s under fatigue of the workout.
I didn’t expect that I’d make huge gains in technique in 2 days.
That said, my redo of 24.2 was much better.
I may never be the fastest or the strongest.
But I played
my best game — and that’s crucial.
I went through my video from the first time, and time stamped every movement and every transition (same process I did before my redo of 24.1).
I had 3:48 in transitions. So I knew where I could cut time - that was the low hanging fruit.
On the redo, I set up my equipment more efficiently. Barbell next to the rower on the right — side I habitually get off the rower. Rope just behind the rower (it should have been next to the barbell, but lesson learned for next time).
I came out hot my 1st round but overall I rowed a bit slower.
I still had some long transitions before and after my singles, but the transitions before were more
effective — a form of strategic rest. I took 4 breaths before starting and I was able to go unbroken on all rounds of singles.
The transitions from rope to row were still longer than I’d like, but that’s cardio conditioning and that’s not changing in 2 days or even much in 2 months. It’s a longer game.
The place I made up the most time was the row to deadlifts: by putting the bar right next to the rower I shaved off 5+ seconds per round just from row to bar.
I also stopped pulling the row at 285M. I let it cruise to 300 while I got a breath and unhooked my feet. Then I was able to stand at 300 and get right into the DLs.
I cut my deadlifts time by a few seconds a round (from ~0:26 to ~ 0:22) by dropping the bar after the last rep. (Unbroken on all rounds of deadlifts).
I got 7 rounds + 117M compared to 6+270.
And 2nd time was harder even though I had rested over the weekend.
Point being: I think it’s important in these workouts to
- know the game of it. ie - Is this a cardio workout or a lifting workout?
- know your best game
- find a way to play your best game
For me, my best game in terms of this workout was the deadlifts. It was relatively light for me, I regularly practice lifting under fatigue, I have worked on my hook grip (key for saving forearms).
I could have deadlifted several more rounds.
My weakness was the singles and maintaining a relatively quick row pace. Also transitions.
But beyond the workout, my real best game is in the strategizing of it.
Reviewing and analyzing the workout and my performance, as well as others performances. Seeing what works and where the time goes. Seeing where the low hanging fruit is to cut time or be more efficient and effective.
Was I that much better on my 2nd time? No. I can’t say I drastically improved much of anything in 2 days.
What helped me get a better score was that I played a better strategy game.
If there was a category for that in the open I’d probably be in the top 1% instead of the bottom 25%!
