2k strategy

Question
I'm a junior lightweight in high school, and i've been rowing for three years. I've done more 2k tests and races than i care to count, but the other day it hit me: our coach never actually taught us a strategy for it. Considering the Pittsburgh Indoor Championships are coming up, and I'm really hoping to pull a 6:48 on this one (my last test was 6:55), is there any particular strategy that you found effective?
Like, should i do a power 10 at the half, or ones at 1500 and 500, or should i save it all for the last 300?

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Jim: The advice I'm giving you is from a former coach of mine named Mike Teti.  Mr. Teti went on to coach the U.S. Olympic Men's Eight to gold in the 2004 Summer Games and now coaches at Cal. Berkeley.  

His strategy for an erg piece was to approach it that it was best to come out smoking right from the start.  He didn't believe you should save anything because there might not be much in the tank by then.  He thought you should just keep rowing high and hard for as long as you can because you are going to fade in the middle no matter what approach you take.  Then just hang on until the end.  Your very fast first 1000 will compensate for your last 1000.

Of course, Mr. Teti was an elite rower who was in peak condition.  I wouldn't recommend you trying this for your upcoming erg meet without practicing this for awhile. So just try a Start-and-30 or 40 at a maximum stroke rate where you are still somewhat controlled.  By the 500 meter mark, settle in for what you can handle through the 1500 meter mark.  I would not worry about doing power tens in the middle part of the piece unless you really feel like your split needs a pickup.  The last 500 should be an all-out sprint with whatever is left in your tank.

Good Luck/AP