I’ve been getting lots of questions and comments from people asking what the point of the 2k erg experiment is.

But first I want to show you what the group of rowers and ergers did in the run in to the 2k last weekend as their ‘taper’.

Here’s what they did:
• 6 days before: 3 x 1000 meters
• 5 days before: 4 x 500 meters
• 4 days – no training and rest (or for some a light swim)
• 3 days – erg 40 minutes easy
• 2 days – 30 minutes easy with some power 10’s (3 – 4)
• 1 day – 20 minutes erg easy
• Day 0 – 2k Race

Goal # 1

Anecdotally, over the years I’ve learned a lot (through trial and error and instruction from world class rowing coaches) about the timing of the run into an important 2k erg or mini – peak. This is very different from peaking once and once only each season which I have already written about.

The goal of the experiment is to confirm my beliefs that:

Doing 1 x 1000 meters just below pace and 1 x 500 at finishing pace a few days before the test can considerably improve the chances of scoring well.

This is no big deal as most rowers use this or a similar type of approach to their tests.

Goal # 2

But the second more specific goal is to find out when the best time to do it is.

• Normally I’ve done this workout 2 days before the 2k.

• But I’ve heard of rowers having good results doing it 3 days before.

Also

Almost all of the rowers I’ve worked with all performed better when they did the ‘pipe opener’. And I want to confirm this (because the group did not do it this in the run-in to the first test).

I want to confirm my belief on when the best time to do the pipe opener is (2 or 3 days).
I won’t reveal which day I feel is better until after the 2k erg in case the tests get psychologically skewed.

As I say it’s just a non scientific test to have some fun and try to confirm some ideas I have developed over the years with my involvement with world and Olympic teams.

Inexpensively in a club environment.

And I would like to share it with you.

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