Anaerobic threshold is the highest possible intensity (boat speed) where lactate and other waste products start to accumulate in the blood. Continuing to work at the same intensity will lead to premature fatigue.

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Jarek Mäestu
Sports Scientist (PhD),
Ex rower and rowing coach,
Rowing Academy Scientist
SPORTLYZER
ROWING ACADEMY
ANAEROBIC
THRESHOLD IN
ROWING

2. SPORTLYZER
ROWING ACADEMY
Anaerobic threshold is the highest possible intensity (boat speed) where lactate and other
waste products start to accumulate in the blood. Continuing to work at the same intensity
will lead to premature fatigue.
Therefore, increases in this intensity level
are important to tolerate higher workloads
without blood lactate accumulation. For a
given workload, lactate concentrations are
lower in rowers who have higher anaerobic
thresholds.
Figure 1. Relationship between anaerobic threshold
and blood lactate accumulation.
In terms of performance development, it must be considered that besides increases in
anaerobic theshold, the ability to sustain the threshold intensity for a longer time is of
great importance.

3. SPORTLYZER
ROWING ACADEMY
If the training process is carried out properly, anaerobic threshold can be increased
despite the levelling or even slight decrease of the VO2max that may happen after
several years of training. The anaerobic thresholds for highly trained rowers correspond
to about 90-95% of VO2max intensity, while for less trained rowers to only 60-65% of
VO2max.
Since the relationships between the anaerobic threshold intensity and 2000 m rowing
performance are very high, anaerobic threshold is an attractive parameter to monitor in
rowers.
Figure 2. The relationship between VO2max and
anaerobic threshold in rowers during a successful
rowing career.
395
400
405
410
415
420
425
430
435
440
250 270 290 310 330 350 370
2000mtime(s)
Anaerobic threshold (W)
Figure 3. Relationship between the intensity at 4
mmol/L lactate concentration and 2000 m rowing
performance.

4. SPORTLYZER
ROWING ACADEMY
There are lots of factors influencing anaerobic threshold, including:
• VO2max. The higher the VO2max intensity of a particular athlete, the higher can
anaerobic threshold theoretically be developed.
• Muscle fiber type. Those athletes who have higher percentages of slow twitch fibres
are able to exercise at higher intensities without blood lactate accumulation.
• Lactate removal abilities. With training the athletes can stimulate the lactate
clearance from the blood and use lactate as an additional source of energy for
muscles.

5. SPORTLYZER
ROWING ACADEMY
Things to remember
For practical application, the main two reasons for evaluating or monitoring the anaerobic
threshold are:
• Anaerobic threshold is very highly related to rowing performance on 2000 m distance.
It is even more valid than maximal oxygen consumption. Therefore, the measurement
of anaerobic threshold is important to predict the performance of rowers.
• Individual anaerobic threshold is a critical intensity to determine the intensity zones for
the athlete, therefore a vital parameter for increasing the effectiveness of training.

6. SPORTLYZER
ROWING ACADEMY
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