AUTHOR=Boillet Alice , Haas Bastien , Samozino Pierre , Morel Baptiste , Bowen Maximilien , Cohen Caroline , Messonnier Laurent A. 

TITLE=Is the Most Commonly Used Strategy for the First 1,500 m of a 2,000 m Rowing Ergometer Race the Most Appropriate?

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.827875

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2022.827875

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p>This study investigated time-courses of physiological and psychological parameters of rowers during the first 1,500 m of a simulated race on a rowing ergometer using different pacing strategies. This provided a picture of the physiological and psychological state of the rowers at the start of the last 500 m of their race. Investigated strategies corresponded either to a degressive (<italic>degr</italic>), a progressive (<italic>prog</italic>), or a stable (<italic>stab</italic>) power output over the traveled distance. Thirteen French rowers (4 oarswomen and 9 oarsmen) of national and ex-international levels volunteered to participate. Handle force and velocity, oxygen uptake, heart rate, blood lactate concentration, and peripheral oxygen saturation were measured during the trials. Power output, generated energy [by <italic>O</italic><sub>2</sub> consumption (<italic>E</italic><sub><italic>oxi</italic></sub>) and blood lactate accumulation (<italic>E</italic><sub><italic>non</italic>−<italic>oxi</italic></sub>)] and efficiency were computed. Rowers also rated their perceived exertion (<italic>RPE</italic>) and protocol preference. In the explored strategies, no significant differences were found for <italic>E</italic><sub><italic>oxi</italic></sub>. Final blood lactate concentration ([<italic>La</italic>]<sub><italic>blood</italic></sub>) and <italic>RPE</italic> were similar for all strategies. However, the increase in [<italic>La</italic>]<sub><italic>blood</italic></sub> and <italic>RPE</italic> occurred sooner for <italic>degr</italic> than for <italic>stab</italic> and <italic>prog</italic>. Therefore, the time spent at higher [<italic>La</italic>]<sub><italic>blood</italic></sub> and <italic>RPE</italic> was longer for <italic>degr</italic> than for <italic>stab</italic> and <italic>prog</italic>. According to the questionnaire, <italic>degr</italic> was the least preferred protocol. While during 2000 m races, the first 1500 m are usually and empirically often conducted in a <italic>degr</italic> way, the present results indicate that this strategy was the least preferred by the rowers and led to a higher time spent at high [<italic>La</italic>]<sub><italic>blood</italic></sub> and RPE.</p>