Why do one need so much endurance training?

[Cyclingman1]

Why do one have to do so much long distance training to get a good time at a 2K distance?

I just do think that is so. I'm certain that most anyone could develop a good 2K time without ever rowing over 30min at a time, and, even then, not all that often. 5K's and a variety of intervals are "needed" for a good 2K time. Over 30min may get you an extra sec, assuming intervals are not slighted.

Some people just like a lot of time on the erg. I don't. As I've gotten older, longer distances are hard to recover from. Intervals, while hard at the time, are easier to recover from. That is one reason the entire concept came into being many years ago. Researchers found that shorter interval workouts actually put people in better shape than far longer sessions. Of course, there are variations on that general idea. I'm not suggesting that one train for a marathon by doing 400m repeats on a track.

When I started erging about 3 yrs ago, I did not think that I would do distances at a hour or more. I got introduced to nonathlon and did do a few 60min and HMs and one disastrous FM. A series of medical issues have intruded, so I'm back to 30 min and less. I'll just have to live with the 0's in the nonathlon line. But I don't need all of the meters anyway.

[hjs]

Why do one have to do so much long distance training to get a good time at a 2K distance?

I just do think that is so. I'm certain that most anyone could develop a good 2K time without ever rowing over 30min at a time, and, even then, not all that often. 5K's and a variety of intervals are "needed" for a good 2K time. Over 30min may get you an extra sec, assuming intervals are not slighted.

Some people just like a lot of time on the erg. I don't. As I've gotten older, longer distances are hard to recover from. Intervals, while hard at the time, are easier to recover from. That is one reason the entire concept came into being many years ago. Researchers found that shorter interval workouts actually put people in better shape than far longer sessions. Of course, there are variations on that general idea. I'm not suggesting that one train for a marathon by doing 400m repeats on a track.

When I started erging about 3 yrs ago, I did not think that I would do distances at a hour or more. I got introduced to nonathlon and did do a few 60min and HMs and one disastrous FM. A series of medical issues have intruded, so I'm back to 30 min and less. I'll just have to live with the 0's in the nonathlon line. But I don't need all of the meters anyway.

Still, I myself also don,t like long work and don,t do it. If we look st every sport, running, swimming, cyling etc, the prople reaching the very top make lots of meters, the fastest ergers on 2k always, no exceptions, make lots of meters. But not fast, no racing, just making the body as aerobic as possible.
On top of those meters you need faster work, but % wise not much.

[Edward4492]

Every endurance athlete I know has put in periods of time when they logged high mileage. I don't think you need a steady diet of it all the time to be successful; but the body has to learn how to perform the task at hand. Our club has a very successful Master's 35+ racer ( several state championships, including this past season) and he is down to a diet of several short hard rides per week. His longest ride is our Saturday club ride, 47 miles in a little under two hours. Any of you cyclists out there can relate to these rides, they're brutal affairs and are typically harder than the "for real" races. This gentlemen does 2 - 3 other hard one hour rides-races per week and that's it. However, he's been racing for over 20 years and in his early days he did the 3-4 hour training rides and the 300 mile weeks. His body has all of the pathways established. The ground work has been laid. And I think that is the point. Once the skills have been learned, the body grooved by endless repetition, then it's time for short, hard efforts. My plan has been to do lots of long stuff (15k) and try and carry the watts/ stroke as best as possible as I rate up. Just started the short stuff and so far so good. My last (4) x 1000m was at 1:47.0, 285w, 20r. About 9.5 w/s. Last winter I was rating 34-36 for the same splits. I'll give it four weeks of 8 x 500 and 4 x 1000m and then have another go at a 2000m. I'm hoping I was able to develop a stronger, better stroke with all of the longish 20r, 200w rowing.

And of course, the 2k is still an aerobic event. So the long rows should help estabish that base.

Jim- 80s x 400m repeats? Yikes!

[Edward4492]

Uh.....make that 285w at a 30r, not at 20.
Sorry, not quite that strong.