Continuing rowing? Or back to another sport?

[Sb13ky]

Hey everyone,


I’m not sure if this is the right place to post but hopefully it is.

I started erging about a year ago after competing in triathlon for about 10 years. I had quick success pulling a 6:48 2k after a few weeks last August. I pulled a 6:42 in February and a few months ago a 6:34. I’m thinking I’m in 6:30ish shape now. Training in the winter was 80-100k a week on the erg with a mix of steady state and intensity. I’m not super big at 5’9 and around 70-73 kg. I started rowing on the water in May of this year in a single and double and have learned at a good pace. Since May I have done 5-6 hours a week of rowing and erging. I’m competing for my university in the fall for a small program in Canada in a double most likely. Based on my learning curve and fitness I’m confused as to whether I should keep rowing after or go back to triathlon. If I want to race the Ironman I want I need to sign up very soon. But I also want to see my potential in this sport. I raced triathlon at an elite level and I do like rowing, just not as much as triathlon. But if it means I could be rowing at a national/international level in 2023-2024 then I would love to pursue this sport. My job as a teacher will be very flexible the first few years to pursue sport. Based on my times, age and other information, would it be logical to try to pursue rowing at an elite level in the next few years?


Thank you!!

[Dangerscouse]

I assume you're 25 years old and male? Your 2k is really good, especially for a LWT, but it's no way near elite level. If you were nudging sub 6, and you were still in your teens, then maybe, and that is a very big maybe, you might be able to consider it.

If you look at last year's 2k LWT 19-29 rankings, a 6:30 2k would only have been 20th and that won't include any national rowing team members, as they don't post their times.

What you've got to remember is your progression curve is not linear and it will becoming increasingly more difficult to make improvements as your time drops.

If I was you I'd choose whatever you enjoy the most, but it sounds like triathlon is your best bet if you want to be really competitive.

[Dutch]

The fact you are 71kg and 5ft 9 will dicate that you will probably be lightweight for the forseeable future should you decide to try your hand at rowing.
Elite triathlon participation would indicate potential to me that you possibly have the ability within you physically and mentally.
I think you really need to find out what the top guys in your country and weight category are actually doing time wise. That would be your number one priority as I see it.
It could be a case that you need to be thinking of 6.10 2k before you could even make the national training squad. Is 6.10 within your ability ? It could be lower as danger says, even sub 6 mins.
The fact that you are going to be competing for the uni, would I hope give you access to half decent coaches and training programs to max out your ability.
You are not going to lose anything by giving it ago and you will certainly always wonder if you dont try I reckon. 1 year out will not hurt you and on a proper focused training program you will certainly see what your potential is.

[Sb13ky]

I assume you're 25 years old and male? Your 2k is really good, especially for a LWT, but it's no way near elite level. If you were nudging sub 6, and you were still in your teens, then maybe, and that is a very big maybe, you might be able to consider it.

If you look at last year's 2k LWT 19-29 rankings, a 6:30 2k would only have been 20th and that won't include any national rowing team members, as they don't post their times.

What you've got to remember is your progression curve is not linear and it will becoming increasingly more difficult to make improvements as your time drops.

If I was you I'd choose whatever you enjoy the most, but it sounds like triathlon is your best bet if you want to be really competitive.

In my country it seems about sub 6:25 will get you into a development national team rowing and a 6:17 will gain you access to training at the national training centre. I figured it’s not going to be linear as I could erg a 6:48 just hopping in an erg and as I get closer to sub 6:30 it’s a slow profession. I don’t expect to erg a 6:15 in a year. I was figuring if I could go sub 6:25 next spring I would be on a good track.

[jamesg]

But if it means I could be rowing at a national/international level in 2023-2024 then I would love to pursue this sport.

Who wouldn't. National programs no doubt will look at all who show their faces; and then decide who they take on board. But if you don't show up, that process cannot start.

[OregonERG]

Based on my learning curve and fitness I’m confused as to whether I should keep rowing after or go back to triathlon. If I want to race the Ironman I want I need to sign up very soon. But I also want to see my potential in this sport. I raced triathlon at an elite level and I do like rowing, just not as much as triathlon. But if it means I could be rowing at a national/international level in 2023-2024 then I would love to pursue this sport.

I am jealous of your improvement. I wish I could say I've rowed that fast! Nice work. I don't know your triathlon goals, but it would be interesting to see which set of results are closer to elite times.

That said, I also know kids who have quit rowing because 6:34 just isn't good enough. They were 18-19 years old and didn't want to spend four more years just fighting to get down to 6:10 and still not make a team.

But that really isn't why any of us have stuck with sport for all these years. Most of us enjoy it and love getting out there each day. Training and competing, at whatever level, is one of the great joys in life. I love it and I think a lot of others here do as well. So if you are really into rowing, go for it, but don't let "making the team" be your motivation. If you love it, do it. If not, then you aren't likely to make it in this kind of sport anyway (where intrinsic motivation is everything).

p.s. I would also love to know your 10km running PR and your 1500m swim time. Ironman these days, as you know, is being raced at a flat-out pace right now and even among masters athletes the times are outrageous. So unless you can run sub-2:50 off the bike and swim closer to 50 minutes than 60 (for 3800m), you'd be best off just doing what you love. You are lucky though, since it sounds like you are really talented and either option would be great fun!

[Sb13ky]

Based on my learning curve and fitness I’m confused as to whether I should keep rowing after or go back to triathlon. If I want to race the Ironman I want I need to sign up very soon. But I also want to see my potential in this sport. I raced triathlon at an elite level and I do like rowing, just not as much as triathlon. But if it means I could be rowing at a national/international level in 2023-2024 then I would love to pursue this sport.

I am jealous of your improvement. I wish I could say I've rowed that fast! Nice work. I don't know your triathlon goals, but it would be interesting to see which set of results are closer to elite times.

That said, I also know kids who have quit rowing because 6:34 just isn't good enough. They were 18-19 years old and didn't want to spend four more years just fighting to get down to 6:10 and still not make a team.

But that really isn't why any of us have stuck with sport for all these years. Most of us enjoy it and love getting out there each day. Training and competing, at whatever level, is one of the great joys in life. I love it and I think a lot of others here do as well. So if you are really into rowing, go for it, but don't let "making the team" be your motivation. If you love it, do it. If not, then you aren't likely to make it in this kind of sport anyway (where intrinsic motivation is everything).

p.s. I would also love to know your 10km running PR and your 1500m swim time. Ironman these days, as you know, is being raced at a flat-out pace right now and even among masters athletes the times are outrageous. So unless you can run sub-2:50 off the bike and swim closer to 50 minutes than 60 (for 3800m), you'd be best off just doing what you love. You are lucky though, since it sounds like you are really talented and either option would be great fun!

When I was racing I could have probably ran around a 36:00 minute 10k and my 1500m short course in the pool was mid 17:00s. I probably could have swam low 50:00 for a Ironman swim. I don’t think I will ever see a 2:50 marathon..

[OregonERG]

When I was racing I could have probably ran around a 36:00 minute 10k and my 1500m short course in the pool was mid 17:00s. I probably could have swam low 50:00 for a Ironman swim. I don’t think I will ever see a 2:50 marathon..

Then I think it is fair to say you should just do whatever you enjoy and love most. Obviously the times of the pros are so insanely fast now that anything over 30 (for 10km) or 2:50 (in a an Ironman) is just not competitive anymore. But this fact is liberating for you. You aren't close enough in triathlon to temp you away from rowing, assuming you want to go all-in on rowing.

But bottom line, I would just follow my inclinations. If I had put all my eggs in one basket (athletically speaking), I would only have ever been a runner. I would have never broken 7 in the 2km, done an Ironman, fallen in love with open water swimming, climbed Mont Blanc, or raced cyclocross. Those kind of "distractions" didn't really help my running, but who cares? My running wasn't going to be much better anyway and as it was, I've made the most of every athletic experience I could soak up. It has been so much fun!