Rowing vs running times

[Flo]

Leo,

Hmmm, this is difficult because they feel so different to me, and I'm not conditioned at all for the row. My best guess is half marathon effort - probably 20:30-21:00 min - so about 2 minutes faster than the 22:45 row. I dropped down to 2:05's the last 1000 in the 22:45 5k, so I didn't row evenly. This throws off the feeling some. Next row, I thought I might start at 2:16's (the 22:45 pace), and drop down again until I start feeling limits. My goal in the first 5k row was just to do sub- 2:20 pace. Does this help?

[ThatMoos3Guy]

Only real way to find out is to go for it. Considering that you don't have a lot of experience rowing it might take you a little while to figure out pacing, but your times should improve pretty rapidly.

[c2jonw]

I think a persons weight is one of the primary determinants here, with a heavier athlete doing better at rowing and a lighter athlete being faster at running. When I was in my 40s and doing a fair amount of both erging and running at 170-175 pounds, my best running and erging 5k times were equal at 18 minutes or so. C2JonW

[Flo]

ThatMoos3Guy,

I would love to just give it a try, but I am still primarily a runner and don't want to completely throw in the towel with running. The race is in February before the Spring running season, so I am trying to determine if it is a realistic goal. I can do at least 4-6 weeks of rowing to see how my times drop. I still want a sense of how much people improve in rowing to make my decision. Regardless, at 5'8'' and 122 lbs., the strength gained from rowing does seem to help my running. I don't think this is true for everyone, but it seems to help me as a woman in my mid thirties with little upper body mass. Any power I generate comes from long levers, decent timing, and springy muscles; definitely not muscle mass.

[Atorrante]

A good runner is a runner and a good rower is a rower. A runner tend to be a light, slim athlete not taller than maybe 5'10", while a rower tend to be a muscular big athlete probably over 5'10". In other words, you can't have the best of both worlds.

[Flo]

A good runner is a runner and a good rower is a rower. A runner tend to be a light, slim athlete not taller than maybe 5'10", while a rower tend to be a muscular big athlete probably over 5'10". In other words, you can't have the best of both worlds.

Yes, but the elite LIGHTWEIGHT FEMALE rowers seem to all be under 5'8'' and all are required to be under 130-135.(??) Elite middle distances runners can be as tall and can weigh as much as elite lightweight rowers. Couldn't there be some athletes who can transfer from one sport to the other and be good at both?

[Steve G]

Reckon if you are a good runner and LW you can become a decent erger but not top class without the extra weight and muscle.
I started on the erg in 2000 and did the following erg Pbs in 2003 (Age 52) weighing in at usually under 140 lbs, height 5 ft 9in. I mixed erging and running, circa 60K per week on the erg and around 35-40 MPW running.

500m 1.33.3
1K 3.17.9
2K 6.55
5K 8.16
6K 22.05
30 mins 8034m
10K 37.43
HM 1.26.08

Started running in 1981, running times in my best erg season (2002-2003) were approx
5K 17.00, 10K 35.25, HM 1.18, 10 mile 56 odd.
All time PBs 5K 16.20, 10K 33.16, 10 mile 54.40, HM 73.48

All the best

Steve
60 144 lbs UK

[Flo]

Started running in 1981, running times in my best erg season (2002-2003) were approx
5K 17.00, 10K 35.25, HM 1.18, 10 mile 56 odd.
All time PBs 5K 16.20, 10K 33.16, 10 mile 54.40, HM 73.48

Geez, Steve, I'm not sure how running impacted your rowing, but your age-grade times for the 2003 season at age 52 are 14:30/30:29/1:07:48/48:29. This is markedly better than your all-time running bests. This would seem to indicate, at the very least, rowing made you a much stronger runner. Do you feel this way? I know for sure that weight impacts running performance significantly. I believe everyone on the board when they say the same is true for rowing but in an inverse fashion. Masters runners have to be more careful with running to avoid injury. I wonder if you figured out how to avoid injury with running by supplementing it with rowing, with very good outcomes for running. Becoming a good rower made you a great runner, it seems.

I would be happy with being a good rower, especially if it helped me to become a great Master's runner. For reference, here is the age grade calculator I used: http://youngerlegsforolderrunnersage-gr ... gspot.com/

Impressive times, Steve.

[Steve G]

Started running in 1981, running times in my best erg season (2002-2003) were approx
5K 17.00, 10K 35.25, HM 1.18, 10 mile 56 odd.
All time PBs 5K 16.20, 10K 33.16, 10 mile 54.40, HM 73.48

Geez, Steve, I'm not sure how running impacted your rowing, but your age-grade times for the 2003 season at age 52 are 14:30/30:29/1:07:48/48:29. This is markedly better than your all-time running bests. This would seem to indicate, at the very least, rowing made you a much stronger runner. Do you feel this way? I know for sure that weight impacts running performance significantly. I believe everyone on the board when they say the same is true for rowing but in an inverse fashion. Masters runners have to be more careful with running to avoid injury. I wonder if you figured out how to avoid injury with running by supplementing it with rowing, with very good outcomes for running. Becoming a good rower made you a great runner, it seems.

I would be happy with being a good rower, especially if it helped me to become a great Master's runner. For reference, here is the age grade calculator I used: http://youngerlegsforolderrunnersage-gr ... gspot.com/

Impressive times, Steve.

Thanks Flo
As for your question did rowing make me a stronger runner, who knows. It probably kept me injury free, but over time my run times dropped off.
This was probably a result of running less mileage and putting on more muscle and hence body weight. I have just replied on another thread with this theory.
Extra weight for running makes a lot of difference!
PS I like those age graded times, never thought of them before, although at the age of 60 I would have to do 60 mins for ten mile to equal my 52 year old time, not a chance, I would be happy with 67 minutes this weekend!

Cheers
Steve