Study of Training Cycles in Kayak Rowers

during Yearly Training Cycle

R. Dadelienė

Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences, Studentu 39, Vilnius, Lithuania

1 OBJECTIVES

The aim of our research was to investigate

Lithuanian elite kayak rowers’ (K-2) preparation

during the yearly training cycle, as well as to

evaluate the development of aerobic capacity.

2 METHODS

The research was carried out in the first year of the

Olympic four-year cycle, preparing for 2013 World

Championship, where two (1,2) athletes became the

winners of the 10

place in 1000 m event (K-2).

The applied training workload for aerobic

development was classified into five zones of

intensity:

 first zone – working intensity HR - 140±10

b/min, blood lactate concentration (BLC) – up

to 2 mmol/l.

 second zone – working intensity HR - 155±5

b/min, BLC – 2,1-3 mmol/l.

 third zone – working intensity HR - 165±5

b/min, BLC – 3,1-5 mmol/l.

 fourth zone – working intensity HR - 175±5

b/min, BLC – 5,1-8 mmol/l.

 fifth zone – working intensity HR – 180-185

b/min, BLC – 8,1 mmol/l and higher.

Our devised training program underwent

discussion by athletes, coaches and scientists; it

hardly experienced any changes within the process

of athlete’ preparation.

Boat speed, distance and athletes’ heart rate had

been estimated using computer system Garmin

Connect Forerunner 910 XT.

Work intensity had been evaluated by examine

of lactate concentration (La) (mmol/l), which was

measured by analyzer Lactate Pro LT-1710 (ver.

1,0), ARKRAY, taking capillary blood from finger.

Gas analyzer Oxycon Mobile 781023-052 version

5.2 (Cardinal Health Germany 234 GmbH,

Germany) was used for establishment of the

athletes’ aerobic capacity indices: pulmonary

ventilation (PV) (1/min), heart rate (HR)

(beats/min), oxygen uptake (VO

) (1/min,

ml/min/kg), oxygen pulse (OP) (ml/beat), working

capacity (W), rowing economy (1 W/ml) at the point

of the anaerobic threshold and the point of the

critical intensity. Aerobic capacity indices were

tested three times: at the beginning of one year cycle

in October, in the middle of one year cycle in Mart

and before competitor period – in July.

3 RESULTS

According to the results of the research, preparation

of the athletes for 2013 World Championship was

compiled of one macro-cycle, and possessed

characteristics for its features (Table 1). During this

macro-cycle, the training load carried out by the

athletes was not high and amounted to 707 hours.

Considering the zones of intensity, the greatest

training load was carried out in the third zone and

made up to 31.2 percent. In the fourth zone (mixed

aerobic-anaerobic) such work compiled 12 percent,

and only 1.2 percent of the training load was carried

Table 1: Characteristics of workload of kayak rowers in

the first year of Olympic four-year cycle.

Proc. time in five zones of intensity Month

1 2 3 4 5

14 17 49 20 0 1

16 40 38 5 1 2

6 13 48 31 2 3

18 19 41 21 1 4

24 27 22 25 2 5

43 23 19 13 2 6

39 19 23 18 1 7

37 21 25 16 1 8

39 18 27 15 1 9

47 17 25 10 1 10

40 23 28 8 1 11

36 22 29 12 1 12

29.9 21.6 31.2 16.2 1.2 Total

Dadeliene R..

Study of Training Cycles in Kayak Rowers during Yearly Training Cycle.

 2014 SCITEPRESS (Science and Technology Publications, Lda.)

Table 2: Changes in kayak rowers’ aerobic capacity

indices during the first year of Olympic four-year cycle.

Testing Athletes Critical intensity limit La

b/min

VO2

ml/min/kg

I 1 168 56.1 280 11.9

2 156 61.2 240 7.2

II 1 178 67.5 320 12.2

2 135 64.7 280 12.3

III 1 174 66.7 340 12.1

2 147 73.4 320 12.9

out in the fifth zone of intensity. Training sessions,

which were carried out during the competitive

period, were not of increased intensity, the athletes

participated in eight competitions (28 starts).

During the preparation period, aerobic capacity

indices under investigation used to progress

remarkably for both of the athletes (Table 2).

The obtained research data on aerobic capacity

have disclosed individual skills of the athletes, as

well as the evolution of such skills.

4 DISCUSSION

The training load which is applied in preparing

athletes is divided into different zones of intensity

base on various indices. Bompa, Haff (2009) explain

such division into zones for the sport by prevailing

aerobic capacity due to biochemical processes in

muscles. According to Vescovi et al (2011) at the

beginning of the season training on the boat is

introduced three times a week, dedicated to the

development or recovery of aerobic capacity with

long outings (60-90 minutes), performed at a HR

between 50 - 60% of the maximum. With the pre-

competition phase, the workout on the boat increases

and reaches up to six times a week. The total amount

of workout is decreased with a further intensification

of the introduced exercises. Our investigation

showed decreased amount of workload hours in

competitive period in the first and the second zones

of intensity, and it was increased in the third zone of

intensity. According to Issurin (2008) the work in

this zone improves the function of cardio respiratory

systems without great acidity effect on the body.

Rowing 1000 m distance causes reaching critical

intensity limit and VO

max (Bishop et al., 2002).

Analysis of the intensity and volume of our

investigated athletes’ training sessions in

competitive period shows that very little workload

used to be carried out in the fifth zone of intensity

while preparing for first competition of the season.

Although flat water kayaking performance is highly

supported by aerobic metabolism, it does require a

large anaerobic contribution what reduces the

absolute importance of the aerobic energetic

pathway (Galrcia-Pallares et al., 2010).

Low-intensity work remained widely unchanged

at approximately 95% throughout the season. In the

competition period, the athletes exhibited a shift

within <2 mmol exercise toward lower intensity and

within the remaining approximately 5% of total

rowing toward more training near VO

max intensity

(Seiler, 1009).

The obtained research data on aerobic capacity

have disclosed individual skills of the athletes, as

well as the evolution of such skills. The results

provide preconditions for more individualized

preparation of the athletes, and prove the fact that

training load should not be decreased remarkably in

a short transitory period, as the purpose of such load

is to maintain aerobic capacity.

REFERENCES

Bishop, D., Bonetti, D., Dawson, B., 2002. The influence

of pacing strategy on VO2 and supramaximal kayak

performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and

Exercise. 34(6): 1041-7.

Bompa, T., Haff, G.G., 2009. Periodization. Theory and

Methodology for training. Human Kinetics. 5

edition.

Garcia-Palleres, J., Garcia-Fernandez, M., Sancher-

Medina, L., Izquierdo, M., 2010. Performance changes

in world-class kayakers following two different

training periodization models. European Journal

Applying Physiology. 110. 99-107.

Issurin V., 2008. Block Periodization: Breakthrough in

Sport Training. Yessis M. ed. Michigan: Ultimate

Athlete Concepts.

Guellich A, Seiler S, Emrich E., 2009. Training methods

and intensity distribution of young world-class rowers.

International Journal of Sports Physiology and

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Vescovi, M. M.D., Bronzini, D., Bruttini, F.M.D.,

Mortara, A., Nakou, I.M.D., 2011. Building kayak

excellence: from the adolescent to the elite athlete.

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference

Proceedings. 5 (2). Article 8.