Hurrah!!
By weird coincidence, I've just had my first rowing session for several weeks, and have actually been looking at the
Zurich Silvesterlauf ("New Year Race") website. 10 atmospheric kilometres round the festive streets of the old city in mid-December. Probably wishful thinking, but you never know.
I've had a mysterious foot problem all summer which cursed the 100 mile row-run plan and I've been too gloomy to even talk about it. It's finally receded so time to get rid of a few kilos.
Good luck, SW. I would kill for a few 11 minute miles. Not sure if I'll ever manage that again, but maybe a bit of de-ballasting will change everything.