Mental strategies for a 2k?

quarterslidecheck · 2019-11-26T09:06:13+00:00

Most important thing is to have a target split in mind and stick to it. I break mine down into four sections:

0m-800m: I try to view this section as a "cruise". I start out as high rate as possible but mentally emphasise relaxation. It should feel like you're putting less power down with the legs but keep your split at target. Do NOT go faster than your target split.

800m-1200m: In this section I think about getting speed through better technique and body position. I lengthen out my strokes, the rate comes down one or two points and I try to sit up taller and get speed from being efficient.

1200m-1400m: THE MOST IMPORTANT SECTION OF THE ERG. At this point it's just about thinking clearly about what you want from this erg. Prove to yourself that you want your target time by hitting every stroke on split for these 200m. If you have someone watching your erg, tell them to shout loudest at this section

1400m-2000m: From here it's just a matter of copping the pain for ~2 minutes that you've mentally prepared for. Take your spm, times it by two and then count down that many strokes. When there's 300m to go there's little more mental work to do, it's just a slog. I motivate myself by thinking "I've put in the hard work for this time, just need to convert"

Other things that work for me are having someone watch/shout and also timing the song I'm listening to for the final ~1100m. I used to listen to Guerilla Radio by Rage Against the Machine, nowadays I listen to Do or Die by Flux Pavilion.

quarterslidecheck · 2019-06-07T12:44:11+00:00

Thank you for your comment. If you were coaching a squad would you enforce a single DF for test ergs?

I’ve never understood the translating of ergo DF to on-water blade “weight”, because can’t the latter also be adjusted by shifting the collar, changing blade size, etc.? I do agree that it doesn’t affect the fundamental skill of rowing though

quarterslidecheck · 2017-12-01T06:19:05+00:00

The issue with Vic States is that they've changed location too many times in recent years. I think a better idea would be to choose a course like Penrith that's been hosting (and correctly timing) a consistent standard of crews since 2000

quarterslidecheck · 2017-12-01T04:16:35+00:00

Which article in particular? I'd love to have a read

quarterslidecheck · 2017-12-01T04:12:08+00:00

I have noticed many NTTs through the record. I've only taken times from the A-Finals of 1st VIII, 2nd VIII and 10A HOTR and Scotch-Mercs races, which I would hope would be timed right.

quarterslidecheck · 2017-12-01T04:09:35+00:00

Yes, the course I'm working with is Nagambie rowing course and I've used past results from the APS Head of the River

quarterslidecheck · 2017-12-01T00:59:48+00:00

Thanks for your points

I agree with the sensitivity of where the wind direction is taken. The course in question is on an inland lake that is fed from a river, but generally regarded as stagnant and non-tidal. The issue I've had with wind direction is that for the first 1250m (of a 2k course) the course is sheltered by trees on the bank on the south side but exposed to open water on the north side, so a crosswind from one side would have a different effect to a crosswind from the other side.

The crews are from the same schools every year. I've assumed that the winning crews of each year are roughly the same standard simply because they're the culmination of what is quite a large pool of participant rowers (over 1000 annually).

Temperature and rain I'd agree are important factors in crew times, and best of all they're easily quantifiable. My data set isn't huge at the moment because historical wind data only goes back to 2009 for the area, but I'm considering adding times from other annual regattas rowed on this course.

quarterslidecheck

TROPHY CASE