Quote:
Originally Posted by Montecore
Re: breaking mentally on endurance intervals, I know that feel, feel.
There's nothing magical about 5x1500 or 4x2000, so you don't need to do that specific workout if you don't want to. Gardner's take on this sort of thing is that doing these kinds of exercises *because* they suck and "breed mental toughness" can have some very limited value, but that they're typically overprogrammed (he doesn't think highly of the Pete Plan). In his opinion, the important part of it is the time you're working (i.e. the training stress isn't somehow less effective if you're resting 8 minutes between pieces instead of 5). His standard advice is to rest until you feel ready to go at it again.
Regarding AT work specifically, you can check out my log, but iirc what he's had me do is 2x16' where I'm pulling hard (at a defined stroke rate) for 1:20 and then lightly paddling for 0:40 for a total of eight "reps".
That’s interesting re the 1.20/40 and also re the rest times. Tbh it was the length of the working interval that was the biggest challenge rather than the pain - I can’t really explain why but o just couldn’t get my head through the distance for some reason
Broader programming point - I found myself on the British Olympic rowing site yesterday and their schedules for the Olympians has a **** ton of very long UT2 and UT1 rows and not that much AT stuff... it looked a lot like what you’re doing although more volume and extra sessions.
I still can’t get my head around doing say 150k+ per week when you’re training for a 2k but they clearly know their stuff!