From Rowing Victoria website

http://www.rowingvictoria.asn.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=277:tulloch-triumphs-in-geelong-indoors&catid=7:news&Itemid=8

Tuesday, 24th August 2010

Geelong Arena hosted Round 2 of the Rowing Victoria – Concept 2 Indoor Rowing Championships over the weekend. Winner of the Open Men’s 2000m event was Power House Rowing Club’s Conrad Tulloch. View pictures.

Conrad began rowing in 1993, after being injured playing football, and has been rowing on and off ever since. This year Conrad was fortunate enough to row in the Henley Royal Regatta in the UK, where his crew made the semi-finals – the top four.

“It was a great experience, and a good result for a team competing in open age division considering our average age of 38 years.”

The Geelong Indoor event offered a good kick start to Conrad’s season, as he builds towards the WA State Championships with pair partner Shane O’Connor-Smith. Conrad pulled a swift time of 6:12:9, to lead the field in the 2000m erg.

“[I] was pleased with the result. On the day of the erg race I was more focused on my daughter Mia (7 years) being involved than myself completing the 2000m race, which may have relaxed my focus.

“I find the erg is a great training tool as I have a busy job and 2 young children. Often the only opportunity to train is late at night so get to the gym at 9pm, do erg and some bench weights before 10pm closing time.

“I try to train most days and the erg is a time effective way to complete a training session inside an hour.”

Always keen to complete good quality session, Conrad mentions that one night he was accidentally locked in the gym. The attendant was keen to leave early and he had to climb out the window!

He has competed in the Australian Indoor Rowing Championships five times (16th October 2010, Caulfield Grammar School) and has had a couple of wins in the event.

“Cleo Bachelor, Cameron McKenzie-McHarg has won the Australian Indoor Championships [the] last few years so hopefully I can push him along at the event in October.

“Hope he wins the eight at the World Championships in NZ this year.”

Conrad had a few tips for those looking to use the rowing ergometer for off-water training sessions.

“I do all my training on a low setting and drag (setting 1 or 2 on the erg, low resistance) to try and [ensure it is] as similar to rowing on the water as possible. I find it best to do 2 x 1000m the week before to get the body ready for the 2000m event.

“During longer ergs (20 minutes to 30 minutes), I break it up with interval work - 30 second sprints to kick the old body into action.

“[It is] great to see Drew Ginn back rowing and hopefully he is able to race in the Australian Indoor Championships at Caulfield. I have always followed his career and hope his back holds out.

“[I] was a bit disappointed to see he had taken up cycling so it is good to see he is back doing a proper sport.” Conrad chuckles.

The final event in the Rowing Victoria – Concept 2 Indoor Rowing Tri-Series will be hosted by the Boardwalk Restaurant in Bendigo on the 11th September.