PHYSIOLOGICAL-ASPECTS OF TRAINING IN ROWING

At the start of a rowing race, the boat is accelerated and the force o n the oars reaches between 1000 and 1500 N. During the race, the speed is maintained at a lower level with a peak rowing force of 500-700 N for 21.0-230 strokes for about 6.5 min. Rowers are adapted to this eff ort by a large muscle mass and high metabolic capacities. The muscles of successful rowers demonstrate 70 %-85 % slow-twitch fibers. Both sl ow- and fast-twitch fibers have increased oxidative enzyme activities reflecting elevated number and density of mitochondria. Rowing force a nd boat velocity correlate to maximal oxygen uptake (VO2) which reache s 6.0-6.61.min-1 (65-70 ml.min-1. kg-1) and to the VO2 during a race. In turn, the VO2 during a race is related to slow-twitch fibers conten t of the muscles, also to the aerobic-anaerobic threshold (AAT) and in versely related to the maximal blood lactate level. The AAT is 80 %-85 % of maximal performance in highly trained rowers. In successful rowe rs training intensity is 70 % -90 % of the training time below the AAT . Training eliciting a blood lactate above 4.0 mmol/l, sprint training and athletics training complete the training schedule, which may reac h 1000 h, or 5000-7000 km per year.