Hi all,
I've been rowing on and off for about 2 years, but have finally decided to get serious about it. I row for the 30 minute time period, and I'm making steady improvement, but I have a problem. by the time I hit about 15 minutes, I am REALLY thirsty. like choking on my own accumulated[thick and concentrated] spit. ick.
how much water should I drink, and when, so that I don't have to stop and rehydrate mid workout? is it possible to skip that step?
Water Intake
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Shadowfalls
- Paddler
- Posts: 2
- Joined: May 17th, 2007, 9:21 pm
Water Intake
i might not be the fastest, and i might not be the strongest, but I never give up :)
That doesn't sound like a hydration/fluid intake problem. Do you warm up at all? Do you cough, or gag or have any other trouble breathing? If you get to that point, stop rowing and drink right away do you feel better? Do you sweat much? Is it really spit from your mouth you feel like you're choking on? Or is it perhaps mucus you've brought up from your lungs?
Hi,
I'm not an expert, but here are a few thoughts:
1. How is your hydration for the rest of the day before you row? For example, I usually row around 8 AM. I get up at 5:30, have about 8 oz. of water with some fruit. Then another 8 oz. around 6:45 while I'm getting my son ready for the babysitter. Then another 8-16 oz. on my way to the gym to use the erg. I warm-up for 5-10 minutes, sip some gatorade or water from the bottle (maybe 4 oz.) then do my longer workout, usually 30-40 minutes without needing a drink. I guess the point is that maybe you are not hydrated enough before you row. I think hydration an hour or so before rowing is just as important as drinking right before rowing.
2. Repeating a previous question, do you warm-up? As I mentioned in above point, maybe rest for 30-60 seconds after a brief warm-up then drink more before hitting the body of the workout.
3. I read somewhere that by the time you feel thirsty, you may already be dehydrated, so perhaps you may not be drinking enough water in general? I'm a water fan. I drink about a gallon a day.
I hope this helps. Let us know how it goes.
Best regards,
Bryan
I'm not an expert, but here are a few thoughts:
1. How is your hydration for the rest of the day before you row? For example, I usually row around 8 AM. I get up at 5:30, have about 8 oz. of water with some fruit. Then another 8 oz. around 6:45 while I'm getting my son ready for the babysitter. Then another 8-16 oz. on my way to the gym to use the erg. I warm-up for 5-10 minutes, sip some gatorade or water from the bottle (maybe 4 oz.) then do my longer workout, usually 30-40 minutes without needing a drink. I guess the point is that maybe you are not hydrated enough before you row. I think hydration an hour or so before rowing is just as important as drinking right before rowing.
2. Repeating a previous question, do you warm-up? As I mentioned in above point, maybe rest for 30-60 seconds after a brief warm-up then drink more before hitting the body of the workout.
3. I read somewhere that by the time you feel thirsty, you may already be dehydrated, so perhaps you may not be drinking enough water in general? I'm a water fan. I drink about a gallon a day.
I hope this helps. Let us know how it goes.
Best regards,
Bryan
Shadowfalls,
Are you breathing through your mouth?
Typically breathing heavily through your mouth drys out your salva and makes your throat seem parched. And you can cough. Happens to me all the time, especially if I'm not breathing correctly and on faster workout pieces over 1K in distance.
During warmup and cooldowns, lower your stroke rate and practice breathing only through your nose. When you increase your stroke rate to the rating your normally row, try to at least breath in through your nose. That does help reduce the parching.
As long as you have water before and after your row, you aren't getting dehydrated during a 30 minute set. Have a sports bottle of water handy during your rowing session and if you're not doing a timed piece reach down and take a sip or two to rewet your mouth and throat.
If you're having breathing and coughing problems, but you doctor doesn't see any asmatic condition, slowing your rating and taking longer exhales during your recovery will help reduce that tendency.
Are you breathing through your mouth?
Typically breathing heavily through your mouth drys out your salva and makes your throat seem parched. And you can cough. Happens to me all the time, especially if I'm not breathing correctly and on faster workout pieces over 1K in distance.
During warmup and cooldowns, lower your stroke rate and practice breathing only through your nose. When you increase your stroke rate to the rating your normally row, try to at least breath in through your nose. That does help reduce the parching.
As long as you have water before and after your row, you aren't getting dehydrated during a 30 minute set. Have a sports bottle of water handy during your rowing session and if you're not doing a timed piece reach down and take a sip or two to rewet your mouth and throat.
If you're having breathing and coughing problems, but you doctor doesn't see any asmatic condition, slowing your rating and taking longer exhales during your recovery will help reduce that tendency.
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Shadowfalls
- Paddler
- Posts: 2
- Joined: May 17th, 2007, 9:21 pm
hmm. I don't warm up actually. I stretch thoroughly beforehand and start on the workout immediately. is that something I need to change?
I probably should have mentioned. I breathe almost exclusively through my mouth during my workout. I tried to breathe through my nose a couple times and it really hurt my performance (by about 500m) and I usually keep some water next to the rower, but since I do timed workouts stopping for the drink costs me distance
Thanks for the advice all
I appreciate it 
I'll try it and see how it goes tommorrow (esp making sure I'm properly hydrated beforehand)
I probably should have mentioned. I breathe almost exclusively through my mouth during my workout. I tried to breathe through my nose a couple times and it really hurt my performance (by about 500m) and I usually keep some water next to the rower, but since I do timed workouts stopping for the drink costs me distance
Thanks for the advice all
I appreciate it I'll try it and see how it goes tommorrow (esp making sure I'm properly hydrated beforehand)i might not be the fastest, and i might not be the strongest, but I never give up :)