Tomorrow evening all fit training members of the club will do a 2k test, free rate. The first one of the season. I know that many very interesting people like to discuss the difference between a rowing machine and rowing on the water. Having looked at both for hours on end I am aware that there is a difference. It is my opinion that the rowing machine tests the athlete's ability to produce the power required to go fast on the water and their mental toughness.
A major factor in the execution of the test is exactly that, the manner in which the athlete undertakes it. While a good score will keep the individual happy, how useful is it if it is done with a completely different profile from anyone he or she will be racing with in the Summer?
Following a Winter of volume on the machines and water, and strength work in the gym, strength endurance will be fairly good. The biggest challenge at present will be moving as rate work is only just starting to come in.
The focus then is:
Keep moving
With secondary points:
Settle on your split early, moving rather than trying to smash more power into the flywheel
Get the legs on it, don't let the front end become heavy and pulled at.
Keep the arms loose, loose is fast.
Learn to love the 3rd 500
If you've been conservative then you can kill the final 500, this is 25% of the race and plenty of time to bring that score down. If you are still frustrated that you could have gone faster then you will have another opportunity, remember this is a physical test, not a be all and end all. If with 500m to go you're hanging out of your backside then there is plenty of time to add seconds to that originally shiny predicted time. Additionally, with this approach you will be massive dead weight in a crew. If that crew need a push to get the result you will not be popular.
A major factor in the execution of the test is exactly that, the manner in which the athlete undertakes it. While a good score will keep the individual happy, how useful is it if it is done with a completely different profile from anyone he or she will be racing with in the Summer?
Following a Winter of volume on the machines and water, and strength work in the gym, strength endurance will be fairly good. The biggest challenge at present will be moving as rate work is only just starting to come in.
The focus then is:
Keep moving
With secondary points:
Settle on your split early, moving rather than trying to smash more power into the flywheel
Get the legs on it, don't let the front end become heavy and pulled at.
Keep the arms loose, loose is fast.
Learn to love the 3rd 500
If you've been conservative then you can kill the final 500, this is 25% of the race and plenty of time to bring that score down. If you are still frustrated that you could have gone faster then you will have another opportunity, remember this is a physical test, not a be all and end all. If with 500m to go you're hanging out of your backside then there is plenty of time to add seconds to that originally shiny predicted time. Additionally, with this approach you will be massive dead weight in a crew. If that crew need a push to get the result you will not be popular.
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