We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Indoor Sport Services website. For more information on how we use cookies, including how to clear them please see the
Cookies page in the Company section. By continuing to browse the website you accept our
Privacy Policy and
Cookie Policy.
Accept
Indoor Sport Services Training Guide
Our Indoor Rowing Training Guide is the ultimate training resource for the Indoor Rower.
Written by top education and coaching specialists, it includes information on technique and training,
with programmes on cross-training, 2,000m and marathon race training, weight management and keep fit.
There are guest chapters written by top names such as Jurgen Grobler and Chris Shambrook as well as
dedicated sections on psychology, nutrition and weight training.
Before and After Exercise - Warm Up
<< Exercise GuidelinesCool Down >>
The aim of a warm up is to prepare the athlete both physically and mentally for exercise. When starting exercise, the body begins to release adrenalin, which increases the heart rate and causes dilation of the capillaries in the muscles. This has the dual function of increasing the temperature and elasticity of the muscles to help prevent injury and improve the speed at which oxygen can be transported around the body.
The increased temperature allows the enzymes required for the muscular contraction to function more
efficiently. Warm ups also make us more alert as the increased body temperature allows nerve impulses to travel more quickly, improving the reaction time. There are also psychological benefits of a warm up, especially if you are superstitious and perform the same routine every time you exercise or compete.
Training Warm Ups
The warm up necessary for training sessions will depend on the type of work involved in the session. The lower the intensity the less time required to warm up. This also applies to time taken in the cool down. This should be gentle rowing with heart rate at twice your resting heart rate.
Table 1.1
Warm-up/Cool Down Times for Training Sessions |
Type of Session | Warm-up | Cool Down |
UT2 | 5-8 mins | 5-8 mins |
UT1 | 8-10 mins | 8-10 mins |
AT | 10-12 mins | 10-12 mins
|
TR | 12-15 mins | 12-15 mins |
AN | 15-20 mins | 15-20 mins |
Competition Warm Ups
Pre-competition warm ups should prepare you for maximum intensity exercise. For this reason they should start with a gentle warm up row until your heart rate is twice your resting rate. At this point you should stretch the muscles required in the competition. Once this is done, return to gently rowing until your heart rate has returned to twice your resting level. Once you have reached this point you should include a number of high intensity bursts; these should be no longer than ten strokes in length and you should do no more than four bursts in total. The time between bursts should be governed by the time it takes your heart rate to return to normal warm up level. Finally a 13 to 15 stroke start should conclude the work, then row gently until your heart rate has returned to warm up level.