With less than six months to go until the 2012 Olympics, elite athletes across the country are busting a gut to make sure they are on the start line in London.

But what does that actually mean?

The Nation on Trial initiative – sponsored by the GB Rowing Team’s partner Siemens – launched this week and pits the public against the clock to mark the build-up to the team’s senior trials in March.

Two kilometres is the distance GB’s stars will race on water at the Olympic Games this summer, but for anyone aspiring to join the squad the year-long selection process begins with a 2km test on a rowing machine.

Sir Matthew Pinsent, who won Olympic rowing gold in 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 and had to go through the trials every year of his GB career, said: “The trials are something the rowers train for and work towards all winter.

“The Nation on Trial is a great opportunity for the public to get a feel for what the GB rowers are going through as they battle for.”

Throughout February, Surrey Comet sports editor Stuart Amos, in association with Nuffield Health in Twickenham, is taking up the challenge to see for himself what the likes of Molesey Boat Club’s Andrew Triggs-Hodge and Greg Searle will be putting themselves through in the build up to London 2012.

Here is a flavour of what is in store for Stuart this week:

Monday: 1 x 30-40 min jog or swim. 1hr cycle or other activity.

Tuesday: Rest

Wednesday: 3 x 5 min on ergo, rate 18 strokes-per-minute (spm), minimum of 3 minutes break/light paddle.

Thursday: 2 x 20 min jog or swim, 5 minutes break. 1hr cycle or other activity.

Friday: 1 x 10 min on ergo, rate 20-22spm, minimum 5 minutes break/light paddle. 2 x 500m, rate 24-26spm minimum of 3 minutes break/light paddle.

Saturday: 1 x 40 min run or swim. 1hr cycle or other activity.

Sunday: 1 x 2,000m ergo  rate 24-26spm, do 10 strokes at 30+, then drop to rate 24-26.