Training Intensity Distribution In A Chinese Top-level Women's Single Sculls Rower Preparing For 2008 Olympic Games Season

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was to report seasonal training intensity distribution characteristics in a Chinese top-level Women’s Single rower during 2007-2008, while season preparing for 2008 Olympic Games. METHODS: A Chinese top-level (33 y, height 177 cm, weight 71 kg) World Rowing Cup champion Women's Single Sculls rower participated in this case study. The season’s training load included overall duration (calculated in hours and km), frequency (calculated by overall sessions), and training intensity (measured by blood lactate and estimated by heart rate), Her performances at World Cup and Olympic competitions during the seasons, and 2000m ergometer test were also collected and analyzed. RESULTS: A training program of 46 weeks (33 weeks of pre-season and 13 weeks of in-season) was analyzed. 193 training days was performed during the season. Total training hours were 737 hours. Total training time consisted of 48.9% on-water rowing (362 hours), 9.18% ergometer rowing (68 hours), 15.2% condition training (112 hours), and 18.4% warm-up and recovery programs (136 hours). All training sessions were quantified using continuous heart rate monitoring, a subset of 117 training sessions was quantified using blood lactate measurements. Intensity distribution across rowing and ergometer training hours (n=489 hours) based on heart rate analysis and blood lactate analysis was 91.12% in zone 1 (74.5% ≤2.0 mM blood lactate, 16.8% between 2.1 and 3.5 mM blood lactate), and 4.13% in zone 2 (>3.5 and 5 mM blood lactate) and 4.75% in zone 3 (over 5mM blood lactate). 2000m ergometer trials performed in weeks 2, 12 and 24 was in times 6 minutes 57 seconds, 6 minutes 55 seconds and 6 minutes 46 seconds, respectively. Maximal power test was 309 W, 313 W and 334 W, respectively. Rowing performance improved 1.29% and 6.27% during the period. She finished the season in 3rd place in the World Cup and fourth place in the 2008 Olympic Games. CONCLUSION: Training-intensity distribution with an emphasis on low-intensity polarized training model led to the success in top Chinese top-level Women's Single Sculls rower in the 2007-08 season. Possible mechanisms underlying the association between intensity distribution and performance success require further investigation.