Heart Rate Training

[kylearyehjames1]

So, I began doing heart rate training during 15k's from 150-160 bpm at 22-18 spm. I first started ranging from a 2:03-2:01 (splits), now im ranging from 2:00 -1 :55(splits) same heart rate. How does this relate to my anaerobic erg tests/mygeneral performance on erg tests? Is my lactate threshold higher?

[jamesg]

Looks fine, keep at it. Power levels depend on age and size, so only very rough guidelines can be used such as W/kg > 2 for training.

On the UK site there's a nice test: pull for four minutes as quick as possible and check your distance against the age/weight table. A good warm-up helps a lot.

http://therowingcompany.com/training/oneill_test

Sites say working at up to 80% HR Range holds lactate levels down for long pieces and so trains lactate clearance; and maybe lots of other things we don't need to know about.

The size of the hard spots on your hands can also be a good guide; in the days of waterman apprenticeships, that's what the final examiners looked for.

[kylearyehjames1]

To add to my post, I am 6'1" 157lbs 18yrs old male

[AnimalNige]

I do not see the utility of heart rates when you have an objective work rate monitoring apparatus on your erg.

Coming from cycling, where HRMs have been in use for years, cyclists are switching to power meters where affordable/available.

The heart rate is only a proxy for the power being produced by the body system. On a bike with surface, gradient, rain, winds, drafting etc, you could never know your work rate reliably until HRMs came in to provide some approximation of work rate.

I recommend using the absolute measures from your PM(3|4) ergometer. Wattage, 500m split, rate (if you have the kit, stroke length and force)

That does not lie. Heart rates can vary wildly.

[jvincent]

I think part of the rationale for the HRM training is to keep track of how your body is reacting to training.

I upgraded to a PM4 last year with a HRM and while I don't specifically train for heart rate, I do keep an eye on it. On days where I am feeling tired, say the day after a hard interval day or a stretch of hard sessions, rowing at a given pace will give me a noticeably higher heart rate than the same pace when I am rested.

To me that's an indication that I might want to take it easy since I may be overtraining. Or that I'm a wussy and need to stop whining.

[AnimalNige]

I agree. That is the most useful thing about heart rate.

It's an indication of how your body is responding.

I might start wearing the belt!

[Viktor Chebrikov]

This is about cycling but the principles apply to rowing.


http://www.pbscience.com/training-artic ... power.html


"The mechanism behind this is related to oxygen demand. At the start of an endurance training session, the body selectively recruits the (predominantly slow twitch) muscle fibres that are most adapted to aerobic exercise. As these fibres fatigue, you are forced to recruit other fibres, including fast twitch fibres which are not as well adapted to aerobic exercise. In fact studies have shown that fast twitch fibres require approximately twice as much oxygen as slow twitch fibres for the same power output (Coyle, 1992). This extra oxygen requirement is delivered by an increase in heart rate."