"Another thing, mentally, is that I probably wanted it too much so in training I was driving too hard and stressing too much and, as a result of that, I wasn't able to get it out in races."
The ideal scenario is for him to be relaxed and "let the times come to me rather than really going out there and chasing it".
No doubt, his sense of achievement comes with immense pride, not to mention the legion of exotic friends he's made around the world because he feels it's easy to have tunnel vision in chasing PBs.
"Sometimes when you're striving towards your goals you can become narrow minded and forget the other things it can provide."
That includes overlooking a healthy and happy lifestyle athletics provides.
"It's a sport of fractions so I hold the joint 800m Australian record with Ralph Doubell, who held that record since 1968 when he won the Olympics," says Rowe, emphasising how he equalled it down to a 100th of a second.
"That just shows how tired the sport is but, for me, I can only control the variables I can so I'm out there training the best I can."
The last few seasons, the post-graduate medical student at Monash University has flirted with 1m 45s but he longs to slip below that time.
"I guess I have to push myself for the world championships so if I can get there then, hopefully, I can advance as quickly as possible."
The last time Rowe competed at the Allan and Sylvia Potts Memorial Classic in Hastings was in 2011, when he travelled with the Aussie junior contingent to the Cooks Classic in Whanganui and then to the Capital Classic in Wellington.
"I had a fantastic time here as an 18-year-old when I came second in the 1500m race to Hamish Carson ... and then I won the 800 and the 400 as well," says the 24-year-old Melbournite who didn't hesitate when asked to return this weekend to take his mark with the elite men at the HB Regional Sports Park today.
Team manager Lisa Verstraten, who revived the hajj to North Island meetings, had approached him to compete in carefree arenas here that are away from the cut-throat Aussie environment.
As a junior, Rowe's passion was Aussie rules where he gravitated towards 800m to help improve his mobility with speed and aerobics on the footy field.
"Over the years gone by, I've found out I was too slow for the 400m and a bit too quick for the 1500, so 800 to me is better suited and something I enjoy as well, so it's a perfect match."
His footy fell away and he chose track events, a decision he hasn't regretted.
"I live at home with my parents so life's pretty simple and they [athletics and studies] balance each out," he says with a grin.
Coming to New Zealand meetings takes him out of "the microscope of Australia" where it can be quite cutthroat.
"Over there you have a lot more local eyes on you so there's a little bit more pressure but over here it's a different country so not too many people will know my story or who I am so I can race more carefree."
As an Aussie, he laps up balmy conditions so the heat wave here won't ruffle his feathers considering the 7.35pm start will lend to it.
At the Cooks Classic, the St Kevin's Amateur Athletics Club member intends to run in the 400m race as a precursor to focusing on the 800m again at the Capital Classic.
