How to Train For a Regatta

Rowing is becoming a more and more popular sportthe deciding factor in who wins the overall regatta at
as the years go on, and with this popularity people arethe end. Sometimes that slight inch lead right off the
becoming more and more familiar with it and its terms.start will be the only thing separating you from second
For those of you who don't know rowing, the properplace. I can't tell you how many times I have seen
terminology for a rowing race is a regatta. Training forboats jump off the start, and lead by an inch to the
a regatta can be grueling, and one of the hardestfinish line. This is very common so you want to be the
things you have ever done in your life. You want to beone who jumps off the start first, and holds that lead
sure you don't leave any aspect of the training out, orto the end. Be sure your start is well practiced, no
you will have some serious issues in the middle of thecrabbing at the beginning and losing the race for your
race. Let us go into three basic aspects of what towhole team!
cover before going to your regatta.3.) Come up with a game plan before you race. This is
1.) Determine the type of race you will be participatingEXTREMELY important because you want to make
in. This will have a huge affect on the type of trainingsure you can pull strong all the way through the race.
that you will be doing. If you are in a head race, thenSprinting the whole way will not work and you will end
you will want to do some endurance training so youup in last place, no one has the stamina to sprint a full
will last the full 5/6k. If you are doing sprints, then yourace, I don't care who you are. You want to focus on
will want to do intervals to improve your explosivethe rate that you will settle at, and how long off the
power over time. The best type of training to use forstart you will be able to settle. The best way to do it is
sprints is to run hills. Everyone hates to run hillssprint from the start to the 500 meter mark, hold off at
because after ten hard runs up the hill you almosta 30 rate for the next thousand meters, bring it up to
always get sick, but this can make a huge difference34 at the 1500 meter mark, then go all out the last
during the race. You want to train harder than the race200-250 meters depending on where you stand.
will be so you can push yourself as hard as possibleWhen done together and properly you will place very
during the race and not "die" at the halfway point.well if you have the adequate training under your belt.
2.) Work on your starts. The start of the race can be