Periodization and performance in endurance sport: a competitive phase analysis of trained, non-elite female rowers.

Introduction: The strongest predictors of 2000m rowing ergometer performance across all performance levels are aerobic capacity (V̇O2max) and peak velocity, both obtained from incremental testing. Findings are not consistent across age, ability, and sex however, and the potential impact of training phase at the time of testing has not been explored. This research proposed to determine through an observational participant-researcher study if non-elite female rowing training was periodized through the New Zealand club season, and whether changes in 2000m ergometer performance occurred within this. The effect of training on selected variables associated with 2000m ergometer performance was also examined. Methods: Ten experienced competitive female rowers from the same club participated in this project over an eleven-week period from November to February. The research period encompassed two training blocks (mesocycles), and testing was conducted at the beginning and end of the first block (six weeks), and at the end of the second block (five weeks). The study concluded two weeks prior to participants’ peak competition of the annual cycle. Testing involved two sessions no more than five days apart: peak ergometer power, peak high pull power and an incremental ergometer protocol to exhaustion, before physical and anthropometric measures and 2000m ergometer performance. Results: Baseline aerobic capacity (mean 3.60 +/- 0.29l.min-1) and 2000m ergometer performance (mean 461.0 +/- 12.3s) indicate that study participants were fitter than most other studies conducted in non-elite females. Periodization was observed in the prescription of on-water training only, and was restricted to general variation, and an increase in training intensity and sports specific sessions as the season progressed. There was an absence of decreased duration with increased intensity of training, regular loading and subsequent unloading, variation within land training modes, and individualization across the training prescription. A significant improvement was found in 2000m ergometer performance (p=0.00) between the beginning and end of the first block only; no change occurred during the second. Relative V̇O2max, high-pull peak power, and the power associated with ergometer performance were the only variables to show significant change (improvement) during the study (p