The Sub-7 Experiment

Tag: health

  • The Training So Far

    From Google to ChatGPT

    Google is brilliant at finding stuff on the internet. It’s so ingrained in everyday language that we say, “I’ll Google that for you.” You can use exact phrases, search within specific sites, and fine-tune your results with “AND,” “NOT,” and “OR.”

    But now that ChatGPT has internet access, it’s my go-to tool for research. If I want to buy something, I don’t just Google it—I ask ChatGPT to compare options, tabulate results, and summarize real user reviews. I can even ask where to buy it and what payment options are available.

    That’s really clever.

    But ChatGPT hasn’t just become a research tool for me. It’s become my coach.

    Body Recomposition & The Problem With Weights

    I started reading about body recomposition—the idea that you can lose fat and gain muscle at the same time. Most fitness advice says to focus on one or the other:

    • To lose fat, you need a caloric deficit.
    • To gain muscle, you need a caloric surplus.

    So how do you do both? A lot of articles suggested it was possible if you:
    ✅ Prioritize lean protein
    ✅ Lift weights consistently
    ✅ Keep a close eye on calorie intake

    The weights part is where I hit a roadblock.

    I find the weights section intimidating. I’d only use it when no one else was around—which wasn’t often. That meant I had no consistency.

    But the rowing machine? That was in a different part of the gym, and hardly anyone used it.

    Asking ChatGPT: Is Rowing Strength Training?

    Since I was already rowing regularly, I asked ChatGPT this:

    “Does rowing on a Concept2 erg count as resistance training, or is it purely cardio?”

    I explained how I row heavy, deep strokes at low rates and mix in high-intensity sessions. Could rowing alone help with body recomposition?

    The answer?

    “Rowing is an excellent full-body workout that combines cardio and strength elements. While it won’t replace dedicated strength training, it can contribute significantly to fat loss, muscle endurance, and mental health. With the right approach, you can absolutely achieve body recomposition through rowing—especially if you complement it with weights and proper nutrition.”

    So, not exactly a replacement for weight training, but it gave me a framework. And when I told ChatGPT that I found the weights section intimidating, it suggested alternative routines I could do outside that area.

    At this point, I wasn’t even thinking about sub-7. I was still focused on getting fitter and reading James Smith’s book.

    ChatGPT as a Coach

    I started logging my training with ChatGPT:

    • How far I rowed
    • What pace I held
    • How I felt during and after

    I even asked:

    “Is this OK for a nearly 55-year-old man?”

    The responses were detailed, encouraging, and motivating. It would:
    ✅ Break down my average split times
    ✅ Tell me what the session achieved aerobically
    ✅ Compare me to age-group standards
    ✅ Provide structured progressions for the next workout

    Then, the conversation shifted.

    I mentioned struggling with nutrition—I’d be disciplined for a while, then binge on the wrong stuff. I told ChatGPT that I wanted to be in better shape before my holiday in a few months.

    The response? Not just training advice—but a mindset shift.

    • Set a realistic goal
    • Use the 80/20 rule
    • Stop relying on willpower alone
    • Make myself accountable—but without guilt

    ChatGPT had morphed into a therapist.

    From Reluctance to Showing Up

    I started digging into why I was avoiding the gym—why I’d talk myself out of it first thing in the morning.

    ChatGPT helped me reframe my thinking:

    • Make it a choice, not a chore.
    • Set smaller, achievable wins.
    • Just get there—figure out the session once you’re in.

    One day, I finally dragged my arse out of bed and into the gym.

    I sat on the static bike and asked:

    “OK, so now I’m here—what should I do?”

    ChatGPT replied:

    “Great! You’ve already won by showing up. Since you’re at the gym now, let’s keep it simple and effective based on your goals.”

    It then suggested workouts, I picked one, and I went and did it.
    It included weights and rowing, and I felt brilliant afterward.

    Over the next few sessions, I kept logging workouts—and ChatGPT adapted my training like a real coach.

    The Mental Health Row

    One day, I told ChatGPT:

    “A mental health row is required today. I’m planning on doing 7K in 30 minutes. What do you think?”

    ChatGPT responded with:

    ✅ Pacing recommendations (2:08–2:10/500m split)
    ✅ Stroke rate guidelines (22–24 SPM)
    ✅ Mental approach (“Let it be your time—no pressure, just movement and flow.”)

    I rowed 7,000m in 29:20, finishing with a 250m sprint at 1:45/500m.

    The breakdown was exactly what I needed to hear:

    ✅ “You even beat your original target!”
    ✅ “You stayed controlled and steady but still had power left to push at the end.”
    ✅ “You got both mental and physical benefits—clearing your head while maintaining a solid pace.”

    That’s when I asked:

    “What pace do I need for a sub-7-minute 2K?”

    ChatGPT’s response?

    “To hit 7:00, you need to hold a 1:45/500m split. You’ll need a mix of power, endurance, and interval work to sustain it.”

    It then gave me a structured training plan—low-rate power rows, sprint intervals, race-paced work, and strength training.

    And That’s How The Sub-7 Experiment Was Born

    At that moment, the goal crystallized.

    This wasn’t just about fitness anymore. It wasn’t just about losing weight before a holiday.

    It became a clear, structured challenge.

    A sub-7-minute 2K.

    And I was going to train for it properly.

    This is The Sub-7 Experiment.

  • Why I’m Chasing a Sub-7 2K

    I am inherently lazy but also reasonably competitive. Which makes no sense, but here we are.

    A couple of years ago, I completed the Wicklow 200, a cycling sportive that takes in 200km of some of the best scenery in Ireland in a single day. Their website calls it “Ireland’s premier cycling challenge.” And they’re not wrong.

    According to Strava, I covered 204.1km with 3,008 meters of climbing and a moving time of 9 hours, 57 minutes, and 52 seconds. A long, hard day in the saddle.

    Training for it was simple: a couple of one-hour rides during the week, longer ones at the weekend, gradually working up to 75% of the event distance before the big day.

    I’m not the fastest cyclist—I tend to diesel along. It’s enjoyable, but it takes ages.

    And this is where the laziness kicks in.

    I could get a really good workout on the ERG. A really, really good workout. The kind that felt like a couple of hours on the bike—without actually having to be on the bike.

    So I switched.

    The Slippery Slope of Excuses

    This worked great… while I was motivated.

    But I think I mentioned earlier—I’m inherently lazy. And before long, the excuses started creeping in.

    I’d be in bed the night before, full of good intentions. Then the morning would come, and my brain would instantly start talking me out of it.

    • I had a thing to do (I didn’t).
    • I didn’t have time (but still managed to sit in front of the TV).
    • It was too cold. I was too tired. My back hurt.

    Sound familiar?

    And then reality hit. My trousers started feeling tighter. I was puffing going up the stairs. I felt sluggish.

    Stepping on the scales told me the truth—I was 18 pounds heavier than I was 12 months earlier.

    We have a sun holiday booked later this year, and I want to feel better about myself before we go.

    Back to the Gym (and the Mind Games Begin)

    With that in mind, I dragged myself back to the gym a couple of times a week. To my surprise, I still had a reasonable level of fitness. I could still do 7,000 meters, but it took longer, hurt more, and wiped me out physically and mentally.

    And that’s when two thoughts hit me.

    First: This is good. Rowing = effort = calories burnt = a slimmer me = hopefully more self-esteem.
    Second: But what’s the actual point?

    There I was, grinding through 7,000 meters in the same old gym, staring out the same old window. For what?

    The Turning Point

    Then I read Not a Diet Book by James Smith.

    He’s a well-known fitness coach and entrepreneur who runs James Smith Academy, and his writing was refreshingly blunt and honest.

    He covered lifestyle, nutrition, training, and mindset, but two key takeaways stuck with me:

    1. Caloric deficit is king (energy expended must be greater than energy intake for fat loss).
    2. Progressive overload is the key to real progress.

    What is Progressive Overload?

    As I understand it, it means pushing a little harder each time to force your body to adapt.

    • Over time, your body gets used to the work it’s doing.
    • If you keep doing the same thing, it eventually stops making changes.
    • Unless you keep increasing the workload, progress slows down.

    That got me thinking.

    I love the buzz from a good, hard session. But I also get bored easily. And once I start seeing training as a chore, the excuses get louder.

    So, I needed to flip my thinking.

    • I need to choose to go to the gym.
    • I need to give my competitive self a target.
    • I need to train to beat 2,000 meters in less than seven minutes.

    And so, The Sub-7 Experiment began.