Sweating

[Tsnor]

..However to contrast what some have said, it's the airflow which dries the sweat off you, not a 'cooling' effect.

Not following you. Do you agree with the following ? If so do you agree the fan provides cooling ?

When water evaporates it consumes heat and carries it off. The amount of heat consumed is well known. "Values for latent heat of evaporation (λ) of human sweat have been debated in the literature, considering the effects of temperature, humidity, and sweat osmolality, but suggested values ranging from 2,696 J/g (13) to 2,595 (27, 31) and 2,398 J/g (29) have finally converged to the latent heat of evaporation of pure water (33), only dependent on temperature giving a number of 2,430 J/g at 30°C".

The fan comes into play by changing the amount of sweat that evaporates on you cooling you vs the amount of sweat that falls off you and hits the floor. I believe the fan does this by changing the local water vapor density next to your skin. More air flow, more evaporation, more cooling. Same reason a wet bulb thermometer shows a lower temp under higher winds. Same for wind chill calculations.

There is also a convection cooling effect from the fan's airflow. Your skin temp is around 98F-100F. No air movement, the air around your body sits at the same temp, 98F-100F (ignoring some relatively slow convection currents). With fan induced airflow, larger amounts of cooler air comes in contact with your skin increasing the rate you can dump heat. There is a convection cooling effect even if you are not sweating if ambient air is less than 98F-100F. Think windy day in winter vs calm day.

[tryenerstep]

It's both common and wrong to row over a sweat puddle. If your sweat is puddling you are not getting the cooling you need. Try a BIG fan blowing hard at you.

This problem (inadequate cooling) is so common it even makes it into coaches education videos from USROWING. Check out the fan in this video https://youtu.be/kC5_0qOJhDk?t=5005

Thanks for the advice. Interesting that the coaches video also mentions it. I suppose using fans is pretty common then?

Another question: Do you drink water or replenish electrolytes during your sessions? I'd imagine that its possible to lose enough fluids via sweating to warrant it.

Lucas

[tryenerstep]

I also sweat easily, but it's all based on how hard your workout is, how warm your room is etc. I also use a 18 inch floor fan when I row, which is helpful but it doesn't stop the sweat.

Do you sweat a lot when you're doing an easy steady pace?

Room is normally 68F (20C). I guess I've never done an 'easy' steady pace. Maybe I will do a longer session at an easy pace and see. But normally I like doing 20-30min medium-high intensity. And in those cases, I'm definitely cooking by the end of them.

Lucas

[tryenerstep]

I never look forward to the summer months for rowing.

It's almost impossible to row a decent paced 10K in the summer.

Just posting to complain really.
I miss my freezing basement in the winter.

Heard. How much of a difference does it make on your 10k?

Lucas

[Tsnor]

I suppose using fans is pretty common then?

Another question: Do you drink water or replenish electrolytes during your sessions? I'd imagine that its possible to lose enough fluids via sweating to warrant it.

Lucas

From forum comments, some people who have their own erg at home use fans. That said, I've never seen a gym with fans near the ergs, nor are there any in the photos of C.R.A.S.H.-B. World Indoor Rowing Championships. So if you decide to skip the fan you are not alone. Do use a fan, though.

It's unclear from survey studies whether being dehydrated (down 2% or 4% of body weight) effects performance or training outcome. All sports teams seem to have their players hydrate during a match, so likely that's the best idea. Most OTW rowers bring a bottle of water in the boat with them and drink between pieces. I don't, but probably should. I do lose weight on longer rows/erg sessions. Given a 16 oz water bottle is only 1 lb, likely even the people who bring water lose weight during longer sessions.

[Erik A]

It's unclear from survey studies whether being dehydrated (down 2% or 4% of body weight) effects performance or training outcome. All sports teams seem to have their players hydrate during a match, so likely that's the best idea. Most OTW rowers bring a bottle of water in the boat with them and drink between pieces. I don't, but probably should. I do lose weight on longer rows/erg sessions. Given a 16 oz water bottle is only 1 lb, likely even the people who bring water lose weight during longer sessions.
[/quote]

i was always taught that if you are thirsty then its too late you are already dehydrated. so you should (even though you may not feel like you need to ) hydrate prior to and during an event (if you can) obviously during a short or intense event this may not be possible.
im training to walk a marathon at the moment and when i walk i sweat and i lose weight. my rough order of loss is 1kg ish for every 6-7km. this doesnt take into effect that for the short walks im doing currently (10-15km) i dont hydrate. so if i did hydrate then i would expect my weight loss to diminish a bit and environmental conditions would also have an effect. hotter/colder hilly/flat etc. i did a half marathon walk just before my 50th and i didnt listen to my body or take into account the dehydration effect. it wasnt until the last half of the walk that i started to make use of the water stations and i paid for it. the last 3km i was a mess my km times dropped significantly and i only just made my goal of sub 3hr (my registered time according to my tracker was 2:59.59) people after the event were asking if i was ok as the effect was quite significant.
this time i am better prepared (will carry water and use the water stations) and will be wearing better clothing to help with the sweat evaporation to counter heat buildup. my main concern is chaffing due to excessive sweat.

[btlifter]

I suppose using fans is pretty common then?

Another question: Do you drink water or replenish electrolytes during your sessions? I'd imagine that its possible to lose enough fluids via sweating to warrant it.

Lucas

From forum comments, some people who have their own erg at home use fans. That said, I've never seen a gym with fans near the ergs, nor are there any in the photos of C.R.A.S.H.-B. World Indoor Rowing Championships. So if you decide to skip the fan you are not alone. Do use a fan, though.

It's unclear from survey studies whether being dehydrated (down 2% or 4% of body weight) effects performance or training outcome. All sports teams seem to have their players hydrate during a match, so likely that's the best idea. Most OTW rowers bring a bottle of water in the boat with them and drink between pieces. I don't, but probably should. I do lose weight on longer rows/erg sessions. Given a 16 oz water bottle is only 1 lb, likely even the people who bring water lose weight during longer sessions.

I remember reading somewhere once (the highest form if evidence, I know!) that humans can typically sustain aerobic performance within a 2% bw fluctuation from hydration levels.

Anecdotally, this does seem to be the case for me, as well.... which typically means I'm fine for about 90 minutes of low intensity exercise without fluids if It's winter or I have my fan on. YMMV.

[Carl Watts]

Get a huge floor fan.

I used to sweat puddles it's not good for you or the rower if you sweat all over it.

A big fan actually drops the ambient air temperature by a couple of degrees and stops almost all my sweat from hitting the floor. A bonus is you can still row in temperatures during the summer you simply couldn't otherwise the difference is massive.

[Dangerscouse]

Room is normally 68F (20C). I guess I've never done an 'easy' steady pace. Maybe I will do a longer session at an easy pace and see. But normally I like doing 20-30min medium-high intensity. And in those cases, I'm definitely cooking by the end of them.

Lucas

That makes sense then. I'd always be sweating quite a lot if I did that type of effort. I don't drink during a session, unless it's over two hours, but I do drink about 350ml of water before I train, and I also drink a lot of water every day, which may also help.

[GlennUk]

i was always taught that if you are thirsty then its too late you are already dehydrated. so you should (even though you may not feel like you need to ) hydrate prior to and during an event (if you can) obviously during a short or intense event this may not be possible.

The drink on demand or to a schedule?

I found drinking small amount to a programme in my longer rows worked well for me, my biggest issues was if following the advice in the Eddie Fletcher FM/100k plan was that I couldn't drink the amount of fluid suggested )800-1---ml/hr if sweat rates unknown).

Over an 11.5hr, 116k row i consumed c.3,5litres of fluid, and taking into the 4 bananas/other foods I estimated that i was deficient by about 2-300ml of fluids over that time period, base don consuming c.1/3 of the fluid intake recommended.

Temp would no doubt have had a signfciant effect, it was c.15-16C in the gym that day.

The point is, that imo it is better to work to a position where you know your fluid requirements, getting fluid intake wrong (either over/under) can impact negatively on your performance and health.

For most of my shorter duration sessions i.e. anything up to 90 minutes, i would not normally drink.

I do take a few sips in between shorter reps, not entirely sure i actually need to (even in this heat) but i like to.

JMHO>

[Dangerscouse]

The point is, that imo it is better to work to a position where you know your fluid requirements, getting fluid intake wrong (either over/under) can impact negatively on your performance and health.

Good point. Drinking too much is worse than not enough, as you dilute the sodium and minerals in your body too much, and in a severe case it's life threatening.

It is important to try and get the right balance, albeit it's hard to tell what is right, usually as it's only when it's not right that you can tell.

I don't think I've ever adversely been affected by dehydration even when I've been significantly sweating, but there's no way to know for sure, but I do think that there is a tendency to overthink fluid replacement for the vast majority of sessions.

People are probably struggling because it's hard, or maybe they're already under hydrated so there tolerance to sweating is already under where it should, and could have been. As I drink circa four litres every day, I wonder if that's why I don't have an issue?

[dabatey]

..However to contrast what some have said, it's the airflow which dries the sweat off you, not a 'cooling' effect.

Not following you. Do you agree with the following ? If so do you agree the fan provides cooling ?

When water evaporates it consumes heat and carries it off. The amount of heat consumed is well known. "Values for latent heat of evaporation (λ) of human sweat have been debated in the literature, considering the effects of temperature, humidity, and sweat osmolality, but suggested values ranging from 2,696 J/g (13) to 2,595 (27, 31) and 2,398 J/g (29) have finally converged to the latent heat of evaporation of pure water (33), only dependent on temperature giving a number of 2,430 J/g at 30°C".

The fan comes into play by changing the amount of sweat that evaporates on you cooling you vs the amount of sweat that falls off you and hits the floor. I believe the fan does this by changing the local water vapor density next to your skin. More air flow, more evaporation, more cooling. Same reason a wet bulb thermometer shows a lower temp under higher winds. Same for wind chill calculations.

There is also a convection cooling effect from the fan's airflow. Your skin temp is around 98F-100F. No air movement, the air around your body sits at the same temp, 98F-100F (ignoring some relatively slow convection currents). With fan induced airflow, larger amounts of cooler air comes in contact with your skin increasing the rate you can dump heat. There is a convection cooling effect even if you are not sweating if ambient air is less than 98F-100F. Think windy day in winter vs calm day.

I think we are actually agreeing.

Rower sweats
The fan blows not providing a cooling effect in itself.
However the airflow from the fan dries the sweat.
The sweat evaporating provides cooling.

I was pointing out that the fan doesn't in itself provide cooling as such.

[Sakly]

I was pointing out that the fan doesn't in itself provide cooling as such.

This contradicts to

There is also a convection cooling effect from the fan's airflow. Your skin temp is around 98F-100F. No air movement, the air around your body sits at the same temp, 98F-100F (ignoring some relatively slow convection currents). With fan induced airflow, larger amounts of cooler air comes in contact with your skin increasing the rate you can dump heat. There is a convection cooling effect even if you are not sweating if ambient air is less than 98F-100F. Think windy day in winter vs calm day.

And I think everybody can feel the difference of windy days compared to no wind at same temp.

[Tsnor]

I think we are actually agreeing.

Rower sweats
The fan blows not providing a cooling effect in itself.
However the airflow from the fan dries the sweat.
The sweat evaporating provides cooling.

I was pointing out that the fan doesn't in itself provide cooling as such.

Agree. You, Sakly and I are saying the same thing. The fan doesn't make air cooler, it's the increased (temp unchanged) airflow that makes you cooler via convention and evaporative cooling. A fan by itself in a closed room is just going to make the room hotter from heat from the fan motor, no cooling.

If you row and sweat a lot while rowing GET A FAN. As Carl says "the difference is massive".

[Cant Climb]

I never look forward to the summer months for rowing.

It's almost impossible to row a decent paced 10K in the summer.

Just posting to complain really.
I miss my freezing basement in the winter.

Heard. How much of a difference does it make on your 10k?

Lucas

I don't think the heat and humidity make a huge difference on my overall 10K time for example.

It's more the the discomfort and the fact that I know my hands are going to be rubbed raw.
In the summer I'm more of a cyclist anyway but I still row - just not as many meters.