title: Consistency of pacing and metabolic responses during 2000-m rowing ergometry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the pacing strategy adopted and the consistency of performance and related physiological parameters across three 2000-m rowing-ergometer tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen male well-trained rowers took part in the study. Each participant performed three 2000-m rowing-ergometer tests interspersed by 3-7 d. Throughout the trials, respiratory exchange and heart rate were recorded and power output and stroke rate were analyzed over each 500 m of the test. At the completion of the trial, assessments of blood lactate and rating of perceived exertion were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ergometer performance was unchanged across the 3 trials; however, pacing strategy changed from trial 1, which featured a higher starting power output and more progressive decrease in power, to trials 2 and 3, which were characterized by a more conservative start and an end spurt with increased power output during the final 500 m. Mean typical error (TE; %) across the three 2000-m trials was 2.4%, and variability was low to moderate for all assessed physiological variables (TE range = 1.4-5.1%) with the exception of peak lactate (TE = 11.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Performance and physiological responses during 2000-m rowing ergometry were found to be consistent over 3 trials. The variations observed in pacing strategy between trial 1 and trials 2 and 3 suggest that a habituation trial is required before an intervention study and that participants move from a positive to a reverse-J-shaped strategy, which may partly explain conflicting reports in the pacing strategy exhibited during 2000-m rowing-ergometer trials.
authors.affiliation: School of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK.
authors.forename: Thomas I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Gee
authors.forename: Duncan N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: Karl C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Gibbon
authors.forename: Kevin G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016552:Ergometry; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D012767:Ships; D013177:Sports; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates