Confused About 2ks...

[[old] RowTheSouth]

Hey I'm 15 and I've been rowing for my school for about 6 months. I'm pretty small, but I haven't given up and its paying off.<br /><br />Our first 2k test is on Wednesday, and we've never done an all-out 2k before like this one is supposed to be.<br /><br />5k pb = 20:48 (2:04.8s)<br />Height = 5'4<br />Weight = 118<br /><br />What should I attempt for my 2k? It's a very important test and the major deciding factor.. It's me versus one other kid in the last spot in the frosh 8.

[[old] RowTheSouth]

Also, if I'm sick how much worse should my performance be expected to be?

[[old] dgivnish]

I'm not an expert, but you should be able to get about 5-7 sec lower on your 2k split than your 5k PB (if you're healthy). Take it out around a 1:57-1:58 for as long as you can and bring it home with whatever is left in the tank.<br /><br />Good luck.<br /><br />DaveG

[[old] Ray79]

Dave is right, about 7 seconds in pace less than your 5km pace would seem reasonable. Settle on your target split quickly and stay there. Dont try and race the other guy stroke for stroke. He may go off harder but may die in home stretch. When you get to 300m from the end, empty the tanks, give it everything (is is only about 30 strokes - less than a minute). Hopefully you will be leading at this point or close enough to your competitor so as to just blow him away. And hopefully this will impress your coach as well.<br /><br />However I am confused as to why your coach is using the erg to make a decision like this. Surely whoever is the best boat mover should be in the boat. And I cant believe that you and the other kid are of identical technical ability that this is the only way to seperate you. In my experience some coaches use the erg because they either can't or dont want to make decisions.<br /><br />Best of luck anyway.<br /><br />P.s If you are sick, then your performance will not be at all good, and I would almost tell you not to bother doing it. An all out 2km is strenuous enough when your fit and healthy never mind when your not firing on all cylinders.

[[old] Mark Keating]

<!--QuoteBegin-RowTheSouth+Jan 23 2006, 07:52 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(RowTheSouth @ Jan 23 2006, 07:52 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->What should I attempt for my 2k? It's a very important test and the major deciding factor.. It's me versus one other kid in the last spot in the frosh 8. <br /> </td></tr></table><br />I did a 2K ten days ago, it was my first attempt in almost a year. The strategy that I used was passed on by jamesq quite some time ago - <br /><br /><!--QuoteBegin--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->do a 500 m test 2-3 days before the race, to get a reliable reference pace;<br />race at 92, 89, 89 and 91% of the 500 test speed. </td></tr></table><br /><br />It worked bang-on for me. My 500 test pace was 1:39 so I pulled 1:48, 1:51, 1:51 and 1:49 (a bit faster actually) for each of the 500 m intervals. My target was 7:20, I finished in 7:16.<br /><br />Hope this helps.<br /><br />Mark

[[old] John Rupp]

Your 5k is excellent, especially considering your weight and your age.<br /><br />Since you don't have a 2k, I'd do the whole thing by feel.<br /><br />If you can hold 2:00 splits the first half, and then pick it up, that would be great.<br /><br />Or cover the monitor and do it all that way.

[[old] samdkrc]

have to agree with John there, top 5k mate<br />try holding a 1:58/500m for 1k and see how you feel, should have something left in the tank judging by the 5k. sprint once you hit 500m.<br />Good luck<br /><br />Sam

[[old] mpukita]

<!--QuoteBegin-Ray79+Jan 24 2006, 05:29 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Ray79 @ Jan 24 2006, 05:29 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->However I am confused as to why your coach is using the erg to make a decision like this. Surely whoever is the best boat mover should be in the boat. And I cant believe that you and the other kid are of identical technical ability that this is the only way to seperate you. In my experience some coaches use the erg because they either can't or dont want to make decisions. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Ray:<br /><br />Interesting observation. From what I've seen, in the US and Canada we use erg scores to a much greater extent than the rest of the world to select a team or boat, and then seat race for best order of rowers from that bunch to set up the order (seats) in the boat. I'd be interested in how your team does it ... you're a university rower, yes?<br /><br />Thanks -- Mark

[[old] hjs]

<!--QuoteBegin-mpukita+Jan 25 2006, 04:45 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mpukita @ Jan 25 2006, 04:45 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-Ray79+Jan 24 2006, 05:29 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Ray79 @ Jan 24 2006, 05:29 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->However I am confused as to why your coach is using the erg to make a decision like this. Surely whoever is the best boat mover should be in the boat. And I cant believe that you and the other kid are of identical technical ability that this is the only way to seperate you. In my experience some coaches use the erg because they either can't or dont want to make decisions. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Ray:<br /><br />Interesting observation. From what I've seen, in the US and Canada we use erg scores to a much greater extent than the rest of the world to select a team or boat, and then seat race for best order of rowers from that bunch to set up the order (seats) in the boat. I'd be interested in how your team does it ... you're a university rower, yes?<br /><br />Thanks -- Mark <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Mark,<br /><br />I think you are right, It's not just in rowing but also in a lot of other sports, the way the us selects athletes is quit harse. I think it is due to the fact that you are a large country and have a lot of potentieel. The us can affort to be hard. <br />

[[old] Ray79]

<!--QuoteBegin-mpukita+Jan 24 2006, 10:45 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mpukita @ Jan 24 2006, 10:45 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Ray:<br /><br />Interesting observation.  From what I've seen, in the US and Canada we use erg scores to a much greater extent than the rest of the world to select a team or boat, and then seat race for best order of rowers from that bunch to set up the order (seats) in the boat.  I'd be interested in how your team does it ... you're a university rower, yes?<br /><br />Thanks -- Mark <br /> </td></tr></table><br />Hi Mark,<br />I used to be a university rower, but no longer unfortunately. I have had to join the real world <br />I agree that the erg should be used for some selection procedures but not in the case above.<br />The system you mention that the US and Canada use would be what I would do too. Erg scores first and seat racing second - not the other way around.<br />When I was at Uni, our erg scores were taken into account (we did tests etc) but at the end of the day I was the boat movers that got into the higher boats. We did very long technical sessions, Matched 8's races and seat racing. But generally those with high fitness levels, good technique and relatively good erg scores (and of course those that always turned up for training - very important especially as a student) were placed in higher boats. A monster erg score did you no good if you rowed like a monkey in the boat.<br />I didnt really mean to critise the coach in this case, but it seems that a decision could be made in a simpler fashion by him (although at 15 I suppose I would be a tough one to accept just being told your in or your out)<br /><br />Edit: My most recent club (before I had to move for work) was very small - only 4 senior men!! So I was guarenteed a seat in the top boat there anyway

[[old] jfo]

<!--QuoteBegin-RowTheSouth+Jan 24 2006, 02:52 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(RowTheSouth @ Jan 24 2006, 02:52 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Also, if I'm sick how much worse should my performance be expected to be?. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />When you're sick your body needs rest to recover.<br />You should not row in that condition.<br /><br />Good luck to you.

[[old] RowTheSouth]

Well, I did my first 2k!<br /><br />7:53.8<br />still a little sick, and I know it's not a score to be proud of... but I'm pretty happy with it since it is my first 2k and I know in two weeks for my next test I will improve.

[[old] TomR/the elder]

Well done. Anytime you row a full-out 2k, you can be proud, no matter what the score.<br /><br />Now that you know what you can do, and next time, you can do a little better.<br /><br />By the way, how did the sesson go?<br /><br />How fast did you go out? Were you able to hold your pace? Could you sprint a bit at the end, or were you just hanging on, wondering where all the oxygen in the room had disappeared to?<br /><br />Tom

[[old] RowTheSouth]

<!--QuoteBegin-TomR/the elder+Jan 25 2006, 09:31 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(TomR/the elder @ Jan 25 2006, 09:31 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Well done. Anytime you row a full-out 2k, you can be proud, no matter what the score.<br /><br />Now that you know what you can do, and next time, you can do a little better.<br /><br />By the way, how did the sesson go?<br /><br />How fast did you go out? Were you able to hold your pace? Could you sprint a bit at the end, or were you just hanging on, wondering where all the oxygen in the room had disappeared to? <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I went out at about 1:57s because the only universal thing I've heard about 2ks (besides them hurting) is to not start off too hard. i settled into 1:58s for most of the time but I reached 2:00s twice (only for one stroke). At the end, I sprinted but only for 180 or so meters because my entire body felt like lead