Why We NEED To ERG in March for 2k Success
What’s up Everyone!
March is here, and spring racing is around the corner! I can’t wait to be back on the river and watching athletes put their hard work from this winter to the test!
With that, now that the off-season is coming to a close, most of us will be placing our ergs back in storage until next December when winter training is again upon us…
PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS!
If you want to truly capitalize on your off-season training, and see BIG PR’s in your 2k tests… March is THE most important time to keep erging!
Why?
Below are four reasons we NEED to be ERGING this spring season…
Because you WILL BE 2k Testing soon - Every coach understands the value of an erg test for boat selection. It’s the number one determinant of whether or not an athlete should be in contention for that seat. YOU WILL have another 2k this spring. Probably a few. See point #2 to understand why it is important to “stay ready”.
The Water is NOT the Erg - Your high school coach may not agree… but please go ask any college coach. The erg and water are different! The pressure on the handle, dealing with wake and boat traffic, bad lineups that make it hardly rowable, etc. It’s very challenging to get the same physiological stimulus on the water. Not to mention the difference between erg intensity and water intensity. We have to expose ourselves to the erg to feel confident on the erg.
12+ Weeks to Build Fitness - March to June is a LONG SEASON! If all we are doing is “rowing on the water”, we will at best, maintain fitness. On the flip side, imagine if you took the time to add in 2-3 additional erg sessions into your weekly routine, alongside your 5-6 water practices. That’s 12 weeks of BUILDING fitness. Then tell me you don’t feel confident heading into that next test opportunity!
We Test BETTER with Teammates - This goes without saying. We always perform better when with a group versus solo. Always. And if, see point #1, we will be testing, we should take every measure to maximize those tests while our teammates are around to do it with us. It won’t be the same once the season is over. You won’t have these same opportunities. Take advantage of the energy a team provides!
Lastly, with all this being said… IT DOESN’T TAKE MUCH!
We recommend 2-3 additional erg sessions per week. 40 to 60 minute steady state sessions, at 18 to 22 splits above 2k, at rate 18 to 22. Be creative with intervals, prioritize technique and how your rowing the machine, and aim for consistency over intensity.
Stack multiple weeks of good consistent erging on top of your current practices… I promise you will feel like a superhero heading into that next 2k test!
With that, work hard, and Keep Steppin’ Into it.
Kevin
