Do I Actually Miss Boston?

Following Nottingham Autumn Head my slight cold has now turned into sinusitis.  This is not the news I wanted the week leading up to trials.  I have been on antibiotics since Monday and although I am starting to feel better it’s a little too late.  I did everything possible to try and get better ready for the weekend but after doing a 500m piece on Friday it was decide that I would hand in my medical exception.  Congestion does not aid breathing… 

I was so up for the trials as everything has been aimed at getting a good result here.  I am gutted that I didn’t get to go and race but very happy for those in the squad that have achieved personal bests on the 2000m ergo test today.  I wish them all the best for the 5000m water trial tomorrow.

For now I just have to get well and back to full training but bring on December trials!!!  Next on the agenda is Fullers Fours Head on 5^th November so time for some crew bonding.

Nottingham Autumn Head

Today saw the first race of the season with all our squad racing in 1x for the first division.  Not only was it a good race run through for GB trials it is also used to select our NRC crews for the Fullers Fours Head of the River.

 I’d had a good week on the water leading up to the head and I wanted to go out and put it into racing.  I felt I achieved a lot in today’s race and it has given me a lot more confidence going into next weekend.  Unfortunately due to my opposition scratching from the race I was racing for time where the event was concerned so there was no shiny stuff to be won today.  There was alot of satisfaction to be taken from my result coming 3rd within our squad.  Hopefully this will be enough to see me earn a place in the top 4x for Fullers Fours Head but as yet the crew is still to be decided. 

Lactate Testing

Well yesterday was a slow start…  We arrived at the Training Centre early and took a slow paddle down to the lake where we were to have our lactates tested.  The purpose of this testing is to work out our UT2 training pace from our lactates.  GB Rowing state that to train in your UT2 band you need to keep to 2mm of lactate which is around 55-70% of your maximum heart rate.

Lactate is produced when our energy system lacks oxygen.  This is not only happening at high intensity sport but also in day to day living.  High levels of lactate would be detrimental to performance and one of the key reasons for UT2 training is to enable the body to perform at a greater pace with a minimal amount of lactate. This will develop the aerobic capacity by means of capillarisation (formation of more small blood vessels, thus enhancing oxygen transport to the muscles) and by creating greater efficiency in the heart and lungs. If the aerobic capacity is greater, it means there will be more oxygen available to the working muscles and this should delay the onset of lactic acid at a given work intensity.

When we arrived there was some discussion amongst the coaches involved as there were too many athletes to run the testing in one group.  This then meant we would have to wait for the first group to finish before we could start our testing.  We went up to stretch in the lobby at Holme Pierrepont but not until we had had our porridge fix.  We then got to stretch whilst watching the first half of the England vs Scotland World Cup match. 

Once the first group had finished we then went down to start the testing.  We started by having our resting lactates measured for a starting point as everyone’s lactate will vary from person to person.  We then boated and started at 2 minute intervals to allow time for Caroline to take the lactates.  After each 4km loop of the lake we came into the landing stage and had our lactates taken before setting of for our next loop.  We were to do 4 loops 16km in total for the test however I did mine over 3 loops 12k as I have been suffering with a bit of back trouble. 

Once the testing had been completed Dez and Caroline got together to talk over the results and work out our UT2 training paces.  For all athletes involved UT2 pace was achieved in the second loop and this now means we know what pace we need to paddle at to get the benefits of UT2 training.