Update from Andy Pearce.

Weeks 19-21 - Rest & Recuperation followed by punishment.

Before this week we had two weeks off; one caused by general illness, one by me being on an SQL course in London.

We started back on Monday with 3 x 20' as a test - how was our fitness after two weeks off. Answer - Not bad!

Anita did 2:17, 2:18 and 2:19 splits, me 1:51, 1:59 and 1:57 splits. The overriding feeling however was how nice it was to be exercising again!! We also did a 20 minutes Cross-Trainer CD, Heart Rate Capped at 122 for me, 118 for Anita.

Wednesday - Anita did a WU/CD 1500m, and a 10k test - 2:20 and 2:29 for the WU/CD, and 2:14 for the 10k, her second fastest ever. I did 5k WU/CD and a 6k test. WU/CD were at 1:55.7 & 2:02, and the test was at 1:48.1 (21:36.8) a PB by 46s (Just leaves the 500m and 1k PB's left to break this season!). This was followed by a Heart Rate Capped 30 minutes Cross Trainer Cool Down

Friday - The C2UK February Challenge Series 2500m. What a horrible distance!! 10:30.1 @ 2:06 for Anita, 8:35 @ 1:43 for me. We both made the error of over-estimating our current strength by putting the damper to 10 (c. 195 DF) and suffered from half way because of it, but looking at some of the other times they are still quite good.

Today (Saturday) - a 4hr Time Trial.

Firstly me, because Anita definitely takes centre stage after an amazing row.

I did 52628m (2:16.9) - Again I was fine up until 2hrs (2:03 pace) then the switch turned to off position and everything started to become an issue; the blisters on my left hand meaning I couldn't grip the handle properly, blistered left heel (New trainers being ordered later), pain in my right knee and a pulled right forearm/bicep after favouring my right side during the second half of the row.

It was very useful as I now have a new goal for the 100k - Finish!! I'd like to come in under 8 hours if at all possible, and to do so I'll be going at much slower (2:10) than I was planning before today.

Now to Anita.

50028m (2:23.9) with just 2 breaks (At 2hrs and 3hrs) totaling no more than 4 minutes. She is now crashed on the sofa beside me, but during the row she was the personification of focus, and was amazing controlled at approx 2:22 rowing pace throughout. She now has a new target - Finish! - She said she was completely spent at that pace, so will try to maintain 2:25 rowing pace to come in under 2:30.

Anita seems to be built for endurance, lots of slow-twitch muscle fibres, Diabeticly sped-up energy transport system. I'm the opposite, and I seem to struggle getting energy from food during a row. I will Finish however!! And so will Anita!!!!

www.justgiving.com/Anita-Wells