Should there be breaks between Pete plan cycles?

[GlennUk]

FWIW my training plan doesn't refer to UT1/2 etc but simply uses % of HRmax combined with spm.

As I said previously i had wondered about the best approach to managing HR drift when considering a plan which sets a specific HR range however it defines it.

Its not something (how to approach the start of a rep in terms of HR increase to desired range) I discussed with Eddie (Fletcher who wrote the plan i use) when i had coaching sessions.

I did mean to discuss the details just never got round to it, but he did advise not to let the HR drift by more than 5bpm over the rep. Must watch video links posted.

[aussie nick]

Good video and I agree with everything he says.

that video certainly strikes a very powerful chord with my own steady state 'journey', where after trial and error based partly on results and partly on enjoyment, I've moved back towards fewer, more powerful strokes and a HR that rises a little above the % that would be prescribed.

Nick, there's one part of what he says that I would be interested in your pov/experience with. To be fair, it's hinted rather than explicit and he doesn't go into detail on it so I might be hearing something that isn't there. Gardner seems to be suggesting that during our steady state, we drop our drag factor to a level where we can ensure we generate a lot of speed in our stroke.

Speed is relative and we could all generate more leg speed at 80 than 180 drag and most of us use a different drag for a 500m tt than a 60min. So I'm guessing there's a sliding scale of usefulness. I'm interested in how much you have learned/adapted to vary your drag over the years? I've got access to a few high performance heavyweight rower's C2 logs where they are doing steady state on 90 or 100 and time trials/intervals far higher and others where the variance is far lower. I'm currently in the latter camp...doing ss and longer distance time trials at 120-25, a 2k or distance intervals at approx 135 and say a 1k or sprint interval piece at 145 but am open to changing and adapting.

I'm not asking for prescriptions, but you've been rowing at such a high level for such a long time that I'm interested in what test and learn periods you've been through and what conclusions you've drawn for your own training in terms of varying drag at different rowing intensities?

Nick, I always use a DF of 123, have used this since I got my own D back in early 2005. I don't change it at all. I don't do sprint distances like 100m and 500m and rarely 1000m.

I know what he means about connecting at the catch to accelerate the flywheel, this is why I don't have music playing in my ears because you need to listen to the flywheel to make sure the stroke is spot on.

He is also right about a one zone fits all, it doesn't.

When I was doing strict HR training 95% would have been UT2, UT1 and AT. The shorter TR and AN sessions would only be done during the 4 to 5 weeks before a race and UT2 dropped completely during that time.

All sessions would be HR capped not average HR for a session. UT1 and AT sessions would overlap but UT2 would always be strict.

For UT2 I would rate at 20, UT1 rate would be 22 to 26 with AT sessions 24 to 28 all depending on the format of the session.

The key for me was finding the correct HR values for each zone. Generic % of max HR would have been miles off for me.

interesting stuff Nick, thanks.