6k erg test

Question
QUESTION: How long should you wait between doing 6k erg tests?

ANSWER: Hi David: A 6K test is grueling and your body will need some time to recover.  Give yourself at least 36 hours of rest to ensure optimal results.

Good Luck/AP

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the quick answer.  I was asking because I worked out all summer with weights, strength training and erging and I took my 6k erg test yesterday at the start of tryouts and I was so frustrated and disappointed as I went up 15 seconds from my last one in the spring and that one was down 30 seconds from the prior fall.  I felt I was in the best shape ever this time.  Two things I thought of - I warmed up and then had to wait 10 minutes to start and just sat there - my legs were stiff when I started and my heart rate was probably not up.  Also, my split was 1:54 and by the middle I just died.  Not sure if it was just because I was not warmed up and it was maybe too fast.  I was thinking of trying another one at home before the next test at school next weekend and trying to start at 1:58 and end at 1:56 and possibly lower the stroke rate.  Do you have any further suggestions?  This never happened to me before and I never expected it after the summer workouts I have been doing.  I am in high school and have been rowing for 2 years.  I need to improve the next one or I could be cut from the team for not PR ing.

Answer
Hi Again, David: Sometimes you feel as though you are in great condition for an event and it doesn't work out for you.  Then I've heard athletes who put up memorable record performances in an event and claim they were so sick that morning they were going to drop out.

As for you, you might not have been warmed up properly and/or you may have set too high of a pace so early in the season.

I definitely concur with the lower stroke rating for your next piece.  I would also recommend you not do another 6K before your weekend time trial.  Instead, maybe do 3X2000 or 4X1600 with a few minutes rest in between each piece.  When you do each piece, think of it as your first, 2nd, and 3rd 2K into a 6K. So your first piece would emphasize staying at 1:58 and your last 2K, 1:56 or better.

Finally, don't get so down on yourself if your 6K is not where you want it to be.  You have a whole season of crew ahead of you and no coach in the world is going to cut a well-conditioned rower with 2 years of experience.

Good Luck/AP