Related to what the other girl asked about mental issues with the erg – I have the same problem and can’t do anything without covering my split & predicted time. I recently pr’ed on my 1k (4:14, I’m a novice lightweight) but have only finished one 2k which was over 9 minutes. I need to be able to do an 8:40 2k, but I just don’t know how to do it. I can easily do 4x10minutes so I know I’m physically capable, but I don’t know how to do it. I just panic and stop. Help.

This is a really hard question to answer because it’s so personal. Only you know why you stop. I think in order to get past it you have to first figure out why you panic and what you’re afraid of. Only after you’ve done that can you actually acknowledge what’s making you stop so that when the point comes during a test, you can ignore it and keep going.

Related: Hi there! Your advice is absolutely wonderful and I love your blog. I am a second-year varsity rower at a D3 school. My question is about ERG tests. Recently I’ve hit a mental block on my 2ks. My PR is 1:58.3. Last year, my 2ks were my best test, but on my past 2 I have literally stood up at about the 700 mark and the 1000 mark, respectively, somehow afraid of the pain/speed. I’ve never done this before. Do you have any advice on how to push through that moment in tests where you want to stop?

It starts with baby steps … first think back on your previous tests. Why do you stop and what scares you about continuing? Once you have that figured out, think about a solution. If you’re scared because you know it’ll hurt, that’s just something you have to accept. You can’t be a rower and not be a low-level masochist. Then try erging with just your splits uncovered. When you can comfortably do that, uncover your split and projected time. You can row with your eyes closed too, there’s not really a “rule” against that. For me though as a coxswain and a coach, I’m a firm believer that you have to look at the screen and be aware of where you’re at, otherwise how are you going to know how to approach the rest of the test or where to start sprinting, etc? Having a plan going into the piece tends to help alleviate a lot of nerves because you’re not just blindly erging – you’re actually completing mini-goals each time you pass a certain meter mark.

I hate to say you have to just “suck it up” because I know it’s harder than that, but at some point that’s what you have to do. You have to sit down and tell yourself that you are NOT going to let something stupid like an erg test defeat you. Between you and the erg, you have to be the bigger person.