Sierra Nevada, Spain’s highest in land peak, was the training ground for four of Hartpury’s rowers during the New Year’s festivities.
High altitude training is one of a rower’s worse nightmares. Sitting on a rowing machine at 2,320 meters above sea level, knocks the breath out of your lungs. It’s not only long miles sat on an erg machine that rowers have to contend with, bike rides and long distant runs are also two of the many activities that teams get up to.
dability: Needs improvement
Other teams such as the University of London and Durham University also headed out to the Spanish peninsular to take part in training camps.
Unlike Hartpury and the University of London, Durham opted to travel to Seville and train on the water on one of the countries longest rivers, the river Guadalquivir.
The difference between high altitude and water training is technique. With high altitude training you are training your body to be more resistant, compared to sessions out on the water where you are improving your technique in the boat.
Having arrived back in the country and commencing their second semester at college this week, the team will be hosting their first ever meal with the University of Gloucestershire’s rowing team later today at Revolution in Cheltenham.
The event is happening after the two teams decided to join forces on Wednesdays to form a girls eight.
UOG rowing’s vice captain, Oonagh McNair, said: “We are really trying to support Hartpury, a lot of them will advance to Team GB. We’ve decided to go to Revs for a meal together. We had to ask their coaches specifically if we could take them because alcohol is involved and they aren’t allowed drink because of the strict routines”.
Hopefully the union of the two clubs will still be in tact after tonight’s get together.
