Can Rowing Kill You?

[turboskiff]

In the here and now the benefits of being physically fit as we get older far out way any disadvantages.

^This.

I think too that with age the possibility to do too much is self limiting.

[gregsmith01748]

If someone gave me a choice - you can do endurance sports and train so you can compete at a decent level but it will shorten your life expectancy 5 years, maybe even 10, OR you can do moderate exercise and have the extra years. I'd take the former every time. In the interim, I'll just keep doing what I'm doing as long as it's fun, and if I get a distinct warning then maybe only then will I reign things in.

Really? You'd trade 10 years of life to compete at a decent level? I'm not sure I would. If I was given credible, evidence based feedback that I should avoid pushing my HR above, say 90% HRR, and it would help me avoid premature death, I think I could train to those constraints and be happy.

Now if the choice was giving up rowing entirely, it might be a tougher choice. I don't want this to sound like I want to live a risk free life. It's more along the lines that I don't want to take risks that are unwarranted.

[jackarabit]

Great posts by Bob Spenger and Hartmut Dicke. Thank you both.

[Edward4492]

A couple of thoughts. First, I find it very curious that almost everyone insists on calling Joe Friel... Joel Friel. Not picking on you Glen, I continue to do so myself in casual conversation and so do all my endurance junkie friends. Just....interesting.

Looking at my 60th birthday in December has really gotten me to thinking about how hard I push when doing a 2k in competition. I've found the OTW rowing to be enjoyable because my skill level is the limiting factor. Push too hard with undeveloped form and you go for a swim. I dig a lot deeper in the quad due to the extra stability. On the erg there's no constraints. I've even considered not doing the 2k events; but I'm not ready to give it up just yet. At 6' , 165lbs, bodyfat in the 12% range I consider myself to be in peak condition for my age. Zero meds, blood work all good, I run circles around my 30 something counter parts at work. I row with two women age 60 and 67....same thing. My wife at age 63 has it right. Does Tai chi, yoga, light aerobics. Doesn't push herself to hard. And in fairly decent condition. As Greg stated, not sure I would give up 10 years of decent living for a faster 2k erg score. I see myself gravitating more towards the OTW rowing as I can see huge potential for more speed through technique and skill. Pretty much at terminal velocity on the erg.

But......we are athletes! So we want to go faster, set PB's, and win races. That's why we do it. I guess the key is to monitor your health and not to ignore the signs that we may be doing damage.

[Gammmmo]

If someone gave me a choice - you can do endurance sports and train so you can compete at a decent level but it will shorten your life expectancy 5 years, maybe even 10, OR you can do moderate exercise and have the extra years. I'd take the former every time. In the interim, I'll just keep doing what I'm doing as long as it's fun, and if I get a distinct warning then maybe only then will I reign things in.

Really? You'd trade 10 years of life to compete at a decent level? I'm not sure I would. If I was given credible, evidence based feedback that I should avoid pushing my HR above, say 90% HRR, and it would help me avoid premature death, I think I could train to those constraints and be happy.

Now if the choice was giving up rowing entirely, it might be a tougher choice. I don't want this to sound like I want to live a risk free life. It's more along the lines that I don't want to take risks that are unwarranted.

Possibly. I'd be giving up 10 years of competitive cycling, a few years of mountain-biking, some running, half Ironman, and now erging. It's not just that though, if you're a lifelong competitor (possibly intermittent at times admittedly) training becomes an integral part of your life and for some is what helps other things fall into place more easily too. Without competition I would've felt like I'd been missing out.

That said, I've had many years of simply enjoying sport for it's own sake, and with mountain biking I found I could often get a buzz simply by riding a great trail or even by riding a technical line or completing a drop/jump which previously I'd been too scared to do. As I get older and I could quite see myself heading more this way and if I do compete if will be less results/numbers oriented and with more emphasis on completing something (difficult).

Incidentally I have long wanted to do full Ironman, but actually *do* worry a little about how healthy that sort of volume is...the jury is out on whether I get into that. Right now erging (those targets in my signature are there for a reason) plus weights suits me fine, with a little trail running, mtbing and road cycling.

[gregsmith01748]

I definitely agree with that sentiment. The biggest thrill of my season last year was competing in the Head of the Charles for the first time. It helped me incredibly disciplined about training and it was a rush to be rowing in the same event with olympians in front of thousands of people.

Now I have my sights on a 24 mile open water race for next July. This is a race around Cape Ann here in Massachusetts called the Blackburn Challenge. It's the kind of race where just finishing is the accomplishment.

So, I don't see a need to stop competing, or allow my training to devolve into some boring "duty", but I am seriously considering setting some reasonable limits. Maybe avoid going above 95% HRR, except in races. I don't see a point to limiting volume since rowing volume is basically nothing compared to what "normal" cyclists, distance runners and triathletes do routinely.

[ArmandoChavezUNC]

The biggest thrill of my season last year was competing in the Head of the Charles for the first time.

Slightly off topic, but are you racing the Charles again this year? There'll be a lot of Olympians there, again, it should be a great weekend.

[gregsmith01748]

I'm racing in a double this year with the guy who ran my "learn to row" class. It's been a fun challenge to figure out how to work together to get a boat moving. Both of us spend a lot more time in singles than together. We're in event #10, 11:15 on Saturday (Bow # 39).

Are you racing?

[Cyclingman1]

I think there is a lot room to trivialize, misunderstand, and/or misapply the original study. As the article says, it is not discussing congenital problems. A lot of sudden deaths are from such. They are speaking of cumulative effects over decades. Secondly, they are talking about runners. Yes, all endurance activities are similar but there are differences. IMO, running is the hardest endurance activity. They talk about 40 miles as not being extreme. That is a lot of running miles. At 8 min pace, over 5 hrs a week, not to mention all the surrounding time. I think they are concerned with those running 10 hrs a week with a good bit of intensity. That just does not apply to hardly anyone. I'm not say that it would not apply to someone reading these forums, but it would have to be a very small number. I suppose each one of us has to decide whether the study may apply personally. Also, I don't gather that it pertains to those who have taken up rowing late in life, per se. Yes, age itself limits activity and other factors come into play, but not the cumulative effects that the authors are discussing.

[ArmandoChavezUNC]

I'm racing in a double this year with the guy who ran my "learn to row" class. It's been a fun challenge to figure out how to work together to get a boat moving. Both of us spend a lot more time in singles than together. We're in event #10, 11:15 on Saturday (Bow # 39).

Are you racing?

I'll be racing the men's club 1x, bow #20, and the director's challenge parent/child 2x with my father (no bow # out yet). Pretty nervous for the 1x, given my technique is very suspect.

Good luck in your race!

Edit: Just looked at your event. That's a big event, lots of boats. Hope the slow ones get out of your way.

[gregsmith01748]

That's a big event, lots of boats. Hope the slow ones get out of your way.

I'm more worried about the ones behind us!

[SkySaw]

I don't think the answer to this question is mysterious or difficult. Taking care of the cardiovascular system is not just about exercise; it's also about eating right. High levels of cholesterol and triglycerides will contribute to atherosclerosis, and exercise does not stop or reverse this process. We all have arterial plaques in our arteries, and many of us have ongoing damage to those plaques. A heart attack occurs when one of those plaques ruptures and the scab clinging to the plaque blocks the artery. Intense cardiovascular exercise with a poor diet is probably a great way to cause a heart attack, and it's not surprising that the studies support the phenomenon.

For anyone concerned about the possibility of having a heart attack, I suggest reading How to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Caldwell Esselstyn, and The China Study by Colin Campbell. Eating a whole foods plant based diet has been shown to reduce the statistical likelihood of having a heart attack (attributable to heart disease) to zero.

[Tim K.]

Gammmmo and Bob do point in the right direction: Most people do not want to be reminded on the consequences of their doings. Ergateers (or any other sportsmen) who love to race (and win races even if it is only their own PB) most likely would not trade their performance with 2,3 or 5 years less longevity. The same is true for cigar or whisky connoisseurs or for people with great experience and knowledge of the entries in the Gault Millau.
At least I fell sorry for anybody who would live his life concentrating on his/her longevity alone. On the other hand and as it´s not only longevity we are talking about but general well-being there is alway room for some sort of compromise. IMO 60-120min of HIT-training per week is well within a reasonable compromise (I consider the same to be true for one or two cigars per week or oner or two after-training beers). - Cheers Hardy

It is easy to say we would not trade performance goals or achievements for longevity when we are healthy and living in the middle of it. Id be really interested in knowing what is going through the mind of someone laying on the pavement/ground/floor knowing they are in serious trouble and "know" they are not going to see their kid(s)/grand kids(s) next birthday/graduation etc. I can't imagine the number of things I would think of if all of a sudden I believed I had 30 seconds to live. Im pretty sure Id regret doing anything I did that put me there.

[Gammmmo]

Gammmmo and Bob do point in the right direction: Most people do not want to be reminded on the consequences of their doings. Ergateers (or any other sportsmen) who love to race (and win races even if it is only their own PB) most likely would not trade their performance with 2,3 or 5 years less longevity. The same is true for cigar or whisky connoisseurs or for people with great experience and knowledge of the entries in the Gault Millau.
At least I fell sorry for anybody who would live his life concentrating on his/her longevity alone. On the other hand and as it´s not only longevity we are talking about but general well-being there is alway room for some sort of compromise. IMO 60-120min of HIT-training per week is well within a reasonable compromise (I consider the same to be true for one or two cigars per week or oner or two after-training beers). - Cheers Hardy

It is easy to say we would not trade performance goals or achievements for longevity when we are healthy and living in the middle of it. Id be really interested in knowing what is going through the mind of someone laying on the pavement/ground/floor knowing they are in serious trouble and "know" they are not going to see their kid(s)/grand kids(s) next birthday/graduation etc. I can't imagine the number of things I would think of if all of a sudden I believed I had 30 seconds to live. Im pretty sure Id regret doing anything I did that put me there.

Yes but that's for 30s, look at the benefit/enjoyment you've had over years and years, and without the exercise you might not've made it that far anyway - who knows? It's all a matter of perspective for the individual - IMO better that way than something really drawn out.

[Tim K.]

There is absolutely zero judgment coming from me on the way anyone lives their life or where they place value. If you are informed and if chasing performance is what floats your boat, you need to do that. If smoking cigars and drinking wine is your thing, enjoy the hell out of it.

I dont think anyone on here would try to claim they or anyone else would be better off if they didnt exercise, certainly not what I was trying to say. Is a lifetime of pushing yourself in your best interest? IDK. If it is going to shorten my life I know I would (and incidentally have) chosen to not push distance efforts very much at all (easy choice as I really dont enjoy them and my asthma kicks my butt almost every time). Personal choice. Total respect to all those who are able to and choose to go after distance PBs and records. IMO it is much better than sitting on the couch, but again, my opinion doesn't matter. Gather the facts and other information, make an informed decision and live/die with the consequences, good or bad