Ergometer Sprint Performance and Recovery with Variations in Training Load in Elite Rowers

Abstract

The effects of 3 weeks of a 30% increase in training volume, followed by 1 week of reduced volume (approximately 75%) training, on ergometer sprint performance and physiological recovery responses, were determined from an initial group of ten male and eight female elite rowers. No significant (p > 0.05) differences in mean (+/- SD) 500 m time trial performances were found when comparing 500 m times prior to, and after 3 weeks of overload training (89.4 +/- 7.3 s vs. 88.1 +/- 7.3 s), or from the end of the overload training to after the regeneration week (88.6 +/- 6.8s), or over the full 4-week overload-regeneration cycle. Peak and recovery heart rate responses to the test did not differ with training. However, recovery blood lactate concentrations increased, and blood ammonia decreased, after the third and fourth weeks of training. The results indicate that 3 weeks of overload training did not compromise ergometer sprint performance, but altered the metabolic responses during passive recovery. A subsequent 1-week period of 25% reduced volume training was insufficient for positive regenerative adaptations and improved performance.

Effects of Tapering on Performance

“…Criterion for study exclusion was that the set of data has been previously published in another article that has already been included in the present analyses (5 articles). A total of 27 studies were included in the analysis (2)(3)(4)8,14,(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)22,26,(29)(30)(31)(32)34,35,40,42,43,48,51,52,54,63,70).…”

The Relationship Between 500 M and 2000 M Simulated Rowing Times for Schoolboy Rowers Over a Training Period of Three Years

“…The time of the 2000 m distance in the first year of training was longer, that in schoolboy rowers aged 16.9 years [24], but in the competitive phase of the second year of training it was shorter. The mean power output during the 500 m rowing distance throughout our study was markedly lower and the times significantly longer than in elite senior rowers aged about 24 years [25,26]. These differences were due to the subjects' shorter training experience, but also to their markedly smaller body size (both in mass and height) of our participants vs. elite senior rowers.…”

“…According to Smith [25], elite rowers' best times for the 500 m distance strongly correlated with their 2000 m test performance (r = 0.960). Thus, the study found the 500 m time performance could account for 92.2% of the time variable of the 2000 m distance.…”

An Integrated Data Acquisition System for on‐Water Measurement of Performance in Rowing

“…As to the aspects related to ergometric training, initially it has to be said that a big effort has been made to provide athletes with reliable systems suitable for gathering and post-processing quantitative information regarding kinematics, kinetics, performance and form [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. Unfortunately, the wellknown differences between on-water and dry-land rowing techniques [28,29] suggest that ergometric training must be monitored carefully by experienced coaches not to have a reduction of the athlete's effective performances.…”