back to training on the erg

[Erik A]

after a hiatus for a while and concentrating on running i am looking to get back onto the erg. i had an injury that when investigated a bit further raised an issue that now prevents me from being able to run or do any hi impact activities.
background.
after training for a marathon that i completed in 2022 i suffered after the event for a significant period. i had real issues with my hips and it took about 3 months for me to come right and to be able to walk for any sort of distance without any pain. i then started to train again for the half marathon which i completed in 2023 with similar issues but with a significant reduction in recovery. shorter distance shorter recovery. Dr indicated i may need replacement hip surgery sooner rather than later.
kept up training and went to do the 2024 version of the half. we do these events as a family so me and my sisters, kids and nieces and nephews and my 89yo Dad. we do a range of events from full marathon, half and 10km dependent on what each person feels up to. most do the 10km.
a few months before the 2024 event i twisted my ankle on a rock while out training with the dog. didnt affect my ankle but after a couple of days my hips locked up and i couldnt walk without significant pain. went to the Drs and she gave me pain relief and i could walk again. stop taking pain relief and i stop being able to walk. i was referred back to my surgeon for more investigation and 2 days before my 2024 half marathon i got called in to discuss the xrays etc that i had taken. this is when he said that the good news was i had no issues with my hips
but that i had moderate to severe osteoarthritis of my L5 and S1 vertebrae and to stop all forms of impact activities. of course i asked about the weekends half and he said no. so i did it anyway and did a PB. go out with a bang.
so now i walk the dog every day but i want to do something else as part of me doing halfs and a full was to work up to an Ultra which i was doing my first in Feb 2025 (a 50km)
so now im getting back on the erg (along with the daily walking) to maintain and build on my low level of fitness and to build up to another event. im thinking a 100mile cycle event in 2025. or take up ocean long distance swimming.
my log indicates that i was last on the erg in Dec 2022. so starting from scratch again

[Sakly]

Not a doctor here, but probably you should drop some kilos and work on your muscle strength to support your spine better. Rowing will support this for sure, but more intense strength training will typically have much more benefit (and weight loss will exponentially help with it).

[winniewinser]

Welcome back Erik.....sounds like you at least completed a few goals prior to running retirement. Hopefully the long term impact on health can be minimised with some erg work as it's defintely less impact for sure.

[Dangerscouse]

Welcome back Erik, and make sure you do what's the best thing for you as that sounds worrying to me.

[Erik A]

thanks for the responses.
i know im overweight and thats another goal. but as usual im a great procrastinator. my meds are elevated but not excessively so weight loss will help with that. i have no issues like diabetes and my cholestoral is mildly elevated. I think my surgeon wants me to sit on the couch until i die but i am a fan of the saying "movement is life" i often see people that look and act like they are on deaths door but are not that old. my dad is coming up 90 and he is out and about all the time. he cant sit still he has to be doing something. and he has no health issues at all. I have more issues than he does. my daily walk with the dog is between 5 and 10kms. prior to finding out about my back and pre half marathon i was doing between 15 and 20km a day 7 days a week. a mixture of running and walking. i have a goal to do something epic by the time im 70. initially that was a 200mile ultra in Australia (closest 200mile). now i have to rethink that. a friend of mine recently rode his bike the full length of NZ. as it was an event he had to complete in 30 days which he did. recently heard about the big lap. circumnavigation of australia by road. roughly 15000km. still looking at something to do thats not going to wreck my back completely.

[Sakly]

my meds are elevated but not excessively so weight loss will help with that. i have no issues like diabetes and my cholestoral is mildly elevated.

Again, no doctor, no medical advice coming.
Being overweight and taking meds is clearly showing there are issues. Both is not the natural physical state of the body, even not at high age.
Not being diagnosed with diabetes is a good thing, no question, but that's by far not the only issue one can have. Mostly doctors are not measuring fasting insulin, which is a real good indicator, if your metabolism already has problems regulating blood sugar. This can be the case even if your long term blood sugar seems to be fine or only slightly elevated. Many other things are related to obesity, so diet should be the very first concern.

[iain]

after a hiatus for a while and concentrating on running i am looking to get back onto the erg. i had an injury that when investigated a bit further raised an issue that now prevents me from being able to run or do any hi impact activities.
background.
after training for a marathon that i completed in 2022 i suffered after the event for a significant period. i had real issues with my hips and it took about 3 months for me to come right and to be able to walk for any sort of distance without any pain. i then started to train again for the half marathon which i completed in 2023 with similar issues but with a significant reduction in recovery. shorter distance shorter recovery. Dr indicated i may need replacement hip surgery sooner rather than later.
kept up training and went to do the 2024 version of the half. we do these events as a family so me and my sisters, kids and nieces and nephews and my 89yo Dad. we do a range of events from full marathon, half and 10km dependent on what each person feels up to. most do the 10km.
a few months before the 2024 event i twisted my ankle on a rock while out training with the dog. didnt affect my ankle but after a couple of days my hips locked up and i couldnt walk without significant pain. went to the Drs and she gave me pain relief and i could walk again. stop taking pain relief and i stop being able to walk. i was referred back to my surgeon for more investigation and 2 days before my 2024 half marathon i got called in to discuss the xrays etc that i had taken. this is when he said that the good news was i had no issues with my hips
but that i had moderate to severe osteoarthritis of my L5 and S1 vertebrae and to stop all forms of impact activities. of course i asked about the weekends half and he said no. so i did it anyway and did a PB. go out with a bang.
so now i walk the dog every day but i want to do something else as part of me doing halfs and a full was to work up to an Ultra which i was doing my first in Feb 2025 (a 50km)
so now im getting back on the erg (along with the daily walking) to maintain and build on my low level of fitness and to build up to another event. im thinking a 100mile cycle event in 2025. or take up ocean long distance swimming.
my log indicates that i was last on the erg in Dec 2022. so starting from scratch again

Welcome back Erik. A positive attitude is great, but has to be balanced by moderation. I also have experience of doctors being over cautious and advising for the short term (ie reduced immediate risks) at the expense of an unhealthy longer lifestyle. Remember surgeons deal with acute issues and don't always view issues or solutions longer term. I am also no doctor and would not advise ignoring yours, however it may be worth raising your concerns and asking for a timescale on limiting exercise. As I see it the best solution would be a gradual increase in low impact activities to build the strength that will enable you to resume a full active life. However I think you should clear rowing with the doctor as swimming might be better in the short term as some people struggle with their backs cycling as well as rowing. I definitely think you should aim to be free from pain killers before resuming serious rowing.

JMHO

Iain

[Erik A]

thanks again. just to be clear i am not taking meds for anything. when i said meds i probably should have said blood tests. all my indicators that are tested every 6 months are in the upper range of normal. once i am over this flu that is hanging around i will be back on the erg. will see how my back handles it. strengthening my core is a high priority

[Sakly]

thanks again. just to be clear i am not taking meds for anything. when i said meds i probably should have said blood tests. all my indicators that are tested every 6 months are in the upper range of normal. once i am over this flu that is hanging around i will be back on the erg. will see how my back handles it. strengthening my core is a high priority

Oh, understood wrong then, sorry
Nevertheless, I stand by what I wrote, reducing weight is the first goal, as it is the main driver of to much pressure/load on joints and ligaments. If that comes with a good training, it is absolutely a win!

[Dangerscouse]

thanks again. just to be clear i am not taking meds for anything. when i said meds i probably should have said blood tests. all my indicators that are tested every 6 months are in the upper range of normal. once i am over this flu that is hanging around i will be back on the erg. will see how my back handles it. strengthening my core is a high priority

That's good to hear about the meds. What are you doing for your core? I assume you've got a structured plan? Having done Pilates for about 12 years I'm a massive advocate of it.

[jamesg]

background.

Looks quite normal to me. The catch is trying to carry on regardless, rather that accept it. This implies non-impact activities, such as erging, swimming, rowing, even cycling if we can avoid falling off.

It's the same with eating, it's not good for us if done wrong or to excess, and demand decreases with age anyway.

And drinking and smoking, even if not our case, were for sure invented by old Nick or his acolytes.