chgoss wrote:Perhaps not, but it certainly tells you what you can do today, given where you are at right now
For some, I would think for the majority, training is done in cycles, moving from basic fitness, to foundational rowing of various sorts (Level 4, UT2, RWBs, etc.), to UT1/threshold distance rowing, to AT efforts, to race pace work, to anaerobic intervals.
When you are at any of these levels, you can test how you are doing, but to be meaningful, the test must relate to the level you are working at (or some previous level), not some subsequent level.
For instance, for me, good tests for basic fitness are things like 1000 sit ups, an hour of jumping rope, a ten-mile run, a 50-mile bike, 30 pull ups, etc.--done in groups, daily, with no soreness, difficulty, etc. I do all of these pretty regularly, usually on a daily basis, and often in combination.
My basic fitness is sky-high.
When I was done with my RWBs work on technique and stroking power, I did 500r30 @ 1:30 and 1Kr24 @ 1:38. That's pulling 16 SPI. I suspect that no one can do either of these unless, when they are fully trained, they can pull a 2K under 6:30, perhaps under 6:20.
I now row well.
I am now getting ready for longer distance trials--FM, HM, 60min, 10K, 30min. This tests how you are doing at UT1. 2K predictions can be read right off of distance rows: FM is 2K + 14, HM is 2K + 11, 60min is 2K + 10, 10K is 2K + 8, 30min is 2K + 7.
I think that my distance rowing has been going well, but we'll have to wait for the results of my distance trials this month to see how well.
A good test of AT is 4 x 2K. 5K and 6K trials are also AT. These tests are also 2K predictors. 4 x 2K is done at 2K + 4. 5K is done at 2K + 5. 6K is done at 2K + 6.
A good test of TR is 20 x 500m. This workout is done at 2K.
A good test of AN is 8 x 500 (3:30 rest), which is done at 2K - 4, or 4 x 1K, which is done at 2K.
Each of these bouts of testing should be preceded by a considerable period of training at that level, During this training, you try to groove into the work demanded and work as hard at it as you can until your times plateau.
You are not ready to do your best 2K until you have done all of these things.
You don't test where you are at 2K when you are working on basic fitness or foundational training, etc.
That's silly.
When you are working on algebra in middle school, you don't take a college-level calculus exam to see how competent you are in math, although doing some arithmetic might still be relevant.
I suspect you get ten seconds or so over 2K from each of these six levels of training, as you do them in sequence, to a total of a minute over 2K.
ranger
Rich Cureton M 72 5'11" 165 lbs. 2K pbs: 6:27.5 (hwt), 6:28 (lwt)
