#indoor rower

[exitrowiron]

Today’s project.

I tried to squeeze the rowing machine into the workout room but it wouldn’t fit, so it has been languishing in the garage. Rowing machines are a great workout but without a TV it can be nearly as boring as swimming.

We had an old BestBuy Insignia TV from our old house so I mounted it in the garage. I added a device that streams Bluetooth from the audio jack to my hearing aids. I had my first session tonight and rowed 6,551 meters in 30 minutes. Thirty minutes doesn’t sound like a long time but it is when you’re rowing!

[halo-belkastrelka]

Indoor Rower Half Marathon

[saah-sims]

Indoor Rower Half Marathon

[dcwneyjr]

Indoor Rower Half Marathon

[bodyalive]

At 93, he’s as fit as a 40-year-old. His body offers lessons on aging.

The human body maintains the ability to adapt to exercise at any age, showing that it’s never too late to start a fitness program

By Gretchen Reynolds

For lessons on how to age well, we could do worse than turn to Richard Morgan.

At 93, the Irishman is a four-time world champion in indoor rowing, with the aerobic engine of a healthy 30- or 40-year-old and the body-fat percentage of a whippet. He’s also the subject of a new case study, published last month in the Journal of Applied Physiology, that looked at his training, diet and physiology.

Live well every day with tips and guidance on food, fitness and mental health, delivered to your inbox every Thursday.

Its results suggest that, in many ways, he’s an exemplar of fit, healthy aging — a nonagenarian with the heart, muscles and lungs of someone less than half his age. But in other ways, he’s ordinary: a onetime baker and battery maker with creaky knees who didn’t take up regular exercise until he was in his 70s and who still trains mostly in his backyard shed.

Even though his fitness routine began later in life, he has now rowed the equivalent of almost 10 times around the globe and has won four world championships. So what, the researchers wondered, did his late-life exercise do for his aging body?

Lessons on aging from active older people

“We need to look at very active older people if we want to understand aging,” said Bas Van Hooren, a doctoral researcher at Maastricht University in the Netherlands and one of the study’s authors.

Many questions remain unanswered about the biology of aging, and whether the physical slowing and declines in muscle mass that typically occur as we grow older are normal and inevitable or perhaps due, at least in part, to a lack of exercise.

Start the year fresh

If some people stay strong and fit deep into their golden years, the implication is that many of the rest of us might be able to as well, he said.

Helpfully, his colleague Lorcan Daly, an assistant lecturer in exercise science at the Technological University of the Shannon in Ireland, was quite familiar with an example of successful aging. His grandfather is Morgan, the 2022 indoor-rowing world champion in the lightweight, 90-to-94 age group.

What made Morgan especially interesting to the researchers was that he hadn’t begun sports or exercise training until he was 73. Retired and somewhat at loose ends then, he’d attended a rowing practice with one of his other grandsons, a competitive collegiate rower. The coach invited him to use one of the machines.

“He never looked back,” Daly said.

Highest heart rate on record

They invited Morgan, who was 92 at the time, to the physiology lab at the University of Limerick in Ireland to learn more, measuring his height, weight and body composition and gathering details about his diet. They also checked his metabolism and heart and lung function.

They then asked him to get on a rowing machine and race a simulated 2,000-meter time trial while they monitored his heart, lungs and muscles.

“It was one of the most inspiring days I’ve ever spent in the lab,” said Philip Jakeman, a professor of healthy aging, physical performance and nutrition at the University of Limerick and the study’s senior author.

Morgan proved to be a nonagenarian powerhouse, his sinewy 165 pounds composed of about 80 percent muscle and barely 15 percent fat, a body composition that would be considered healthy for a man decades younger.

During the time trial, his heart rate peaked at 153 beats per minute, well above the expected maximum heart rate for his age and among the highest peaks ever recorded for someone in their 90s, the researchers believe, signaling a very strong heart.

His heart rate also headed toward this peak very quickly, meaning his heart was able to rapidly supply his working muscles with oxygen and fuel. These “oxygen uptake kinetics,” a key indicator of cardiovascular health, proved comparable to those of a typical, healthy 30- or 40-year-old, Daly said.

Exercising 40 minutes a day

Perhaps most impressive, he developed this fitness with a simple, relatively abbreviated exercise routine, the researchers noted.

Consistency: Every week, he rows about 30 kilometers (about 18.5 miles), averaging around 40 minutes a day.

A mix of easy, moderate and intense training: About 70 percent of these workouts are easy, with Morgan hardly laboring. Another 20 percent are at a difficult but tolerable pace, and the final 10 at an all-out, barely sustainable intensity.

Weight training: Two or three times a week, he also weight-trains, using adjustable dumbbells to complete about three sets of lunges and curls, repeating each move until his muscles are too tired to continue.

A high-protein diet: He eats plenty of protein, his daily consumption regularly exceeding the usual dietary recommendation of about 60 grams of protein for someone of his weight.

How exercise changes how we age

“This is an interesting case study that sheds light on our understanding of exercise adaptation across the life span,” said Scott Trappe, director of the Human Performance Laboratory at Ball State University in Indiana. He has studied many older athletes but was not involved in the new study.

“We are still learning about starting a late-life exercise program,” he added, “but the evidence is pretty clear that the human body maintains the ability to adapt to exercise at any age.”

In fact, Morgan’s fitness and physical power at 93 suggest that “we don’t have to lose” large amounts of muscle and aerobic capacity as we grow older, Jakeman said. Exercise could help us build and maintain a strong, capable body, whatever our age, he said.

Of course, Morgan probably had some genetic advantages, the scientists point out. Rowing prowess seems to run in the family.

And his race performances in recent years have been slower than they were 15, 10 or even five years ago. Exercise won’t erase the effects of aging. But it may slow our bodies’ losses, Morgan’s example seems to tell us. It may flatten the decline.

It also offers other, less-corporeal rewards. “There is a certain pleasure in achieving a world championship,” Morgan told me through his grandson, with almost comic self-effacement.

“I started from nowhere,” he said, “and I suddenly realized there was a lot of pleasure in doing this.”

[hoursofreading]

In my journey finding role models for the highest form of perseverance, I discovered Philip Doyle, an Olympic athlete and a medical doctor in the UK. In an Instagram post, Philip shared a video where people ask him if he finds indoor rowing hard, and he said yes. I would think someone as skilled as an athlete wouldn’t find his own sport hard but rather easy, effortless, smooth. My apologies for making a far-fetched conclusion but if an internationally recognized rower still finds his practice hard, most of us don’t have good reasons to quit hard things. Is it not coincident that the people who we respect most in society are those that possess high perseverance: doctors, nurses, firefighters, scientists, teachers, professional musicians, athletes? We revere them because they hold deep commitment to their craft and education, despite the grunting hours and working conditions. When you persevere, you respect yourself first by increasing your own credibility. If you can provide the evidence that yes you can show up and you can do the work when things suck and are ugly, you trust yourself when you dream bigger. Then you allow others to give you the respect you have rightfully earned.

Why We Need Perseverance - by Minh D - Life with MD

[lenbryant]

"The body fat of a Whippet?" At age 93?

(Washington Post) At 93, he’s as fit as a 40-year-old. His body offers lessons on aging. | The human body maintains the ability to adapt to exercise at any age, showing that it’s never too late to start a fitness program

by Gretchen Reynolds

PHOTO: Richard Morgan competes in an indoor rowing competition in 2018. (Row2k.com)

For lessons on how to age well, we could do worse than turn to Richard Morgan.

At 93, the Irishman is a four-time world champion in indoor rowing, with the aerobic engine of a healthy 30- or 40-year-old and the body-fat percentage of a whippet. He’s also the subject of a new case study, published last month in the Journal of Applied Physiology, that looked at his training, diet and physiology.

Its results suggest that, in many ways, he’s an exemplar of fit, healthy aging — a nonagenarian with the heart, muscles and lungs of someone less than half his age. But in other ways, he’s ordinary: a onetime baker and battery maker with creaky knees who didn’t take up regular exercise until he was in his 70s and who still trains mostly in his backyard shed.

Even though his fitness routine began later in life, he has now rowed the equivalent of almost 10 times around the globe and has won four world championships. So what, the researchers wondered, did his late-life exercise do for his aging body?

“We need to look at very active older people if we want to understand aging,” said Bas Van Hooren, a doctoral researcher at Maastricht University in the Netherlands and one of the study’s authors.

Many questions remain unanswered about the biology of aging, and whether the physical slowing and declines in muscle mass that typically occur as we grow older are normal and inevitable or perhaps due, at least in part, to a lack of exercise.

If some people stay strong and fit deep into their golden years, the implication is that many of the rest of us might be able to as well, he said.

Helpfully, his colleague Lorcan Daly, an assistant lecturer in exercise science at the Technological University of the Shannon in Ireland, was quite familiar with an example of successful aging. His grandfather is Morgan, the 2022 indoor-rowing world champion in the lightweight, 90-to-94 age group.

What made Morgan especially interesting to the researchers was that he hadn’t begun sports or exercise training until he was 73. Retired and somewhat at loose ends then, he’d attended a rowing practice with one of his other grandsons, a competitive collegiate rower. The coach invited him to use one of the machines.

“He never looked back,” Daly said.

Morgan joined researchers at the physiology lab at the University of Limerick in Ireland. (Lorcan Daly) Highest heart rate on record

They invited Morgan, who was 92 at the time, to the physiology lab at the University of Limerick in Ireland to learn more, measuring his height, weight and body composition and gathering details about his diet. They also checked his metabolism and heart and lung function.

They then asked him to get on a rowing machine and race a simulated 2,000-meter time trial while they monitored his heart, lungs and muscles.

“It was one of the most inspiring days I’ve ever spent in the lab,” said Philip Jakeman, a professor of healthy aging, physical performance and nutrition at the University of Limerick and the study’s senior author.

Morgan proved to be a nonagenarian powerhouse, his sinewy 165 pounds composed of about 80 percent muscle and barely 15 percent fat, a body composition that would be considered healthy for a man decades younger.

During the time trial, his heart rate peaked at 153 beats per minute, well above the expected maximum heart rate for his age and among the highest peaks ever recorded for someone in their 90s, the researchers believe, signaling a very strong heart.

His heart rate also headed toward this peak very quickly, meaning his heart was able to rapidly supply his working muscles with oxygen and fuel. These “oxygen uptake kinetics,” a key indicator of cardiovascular health, proved comparable to those of a typical, healthy 30- or 40-year-old, Daly said.

Exercising 40 minutes a day Perhaps most impressive, he developed this fitness with a simple, relatively abbreviated exercise routine, the researchers noted.

Consistency: Every week, he rows about 30 kilometers (about 18.5 miles), averaging around 40 minutes a day. A mix of easy, moderate and intense training: About 70 percent of these workouts are easy, with Morgan hardly laboring. Another 20 percent are at a difficult but tolerable pace, and the final 10 at an all-out, barely sustainable intensity. Weight training: Two or three times a week, he also weight-trains, using adjustable dumbbells to complete about three sets of lunges and curls, repeating each move until his muscles are too tired to continue. A high-protein diet: He eats plenty of protein, his daily consumption regularly exceeding the usual dietary recommendation of about 60 grams of protein for someone of his weight.

PHOTO: Richard Morgan with his wife, Rita. (Family photo)

How exercise changes how we age

“This is an interesting case study that sheds light on our understanding of exercise adaptation across the life span,” said Scott Trappe, director of the Human Performance Laboratory at Ball State University in Indiana. He has studied many older athletes but was not involved in the new study.

“We are still learning about starting a late-life exercise program,” he added, “but the evidence is pretty clear that the human body maintains the ability to adapt to exercise at any age.”

In fact, Morgan’s fitness and physical power at 93 suggest that “we don’t have to lose” large amounts of muscle and aerobic capacity as we grow older, Jakeman said. Exercise could help us build and maintain a strong, capable body, whatever our age, he said.

Of course, Morgan probably had some genetic advantages, the scientists point out. Rowing prowess seems to run in the family.

And his race performances in recent years have been slower than they were 15, 10 or even five years ago. Exercise won’t erase the effects of aging. But it may slow our bodies’ losses, Morgan’s example seems to tell us. It may flatten the decline.

It also offers other, less-corporeal rewards. “There is a certain pleasure in achieving a world championship,” Morgan told me through his grandson, with almost comic self-effacement.

“I started from nowhere,” he said, “and I suddenly realized there was a lot of pleasure in doing this.”

Do you have a fitness question? Email YourMove@washpost.com and we may answer your question in a future column.

#refrigeratormagnet

[kiraziwrites]

tagged by @pretty-thief! Thank you for enabling this interlude of procrastination.

1. Were you named after anyone?

Not a specific person, but I have a very common first name so I think there were several ambient namesakes.

2. When was the last time you cried?

At SF Pride a couple weeks ago I saw a little knot of marchers carrying solidarity signs with (banned for most of the past decade) İstanbul Pride, including the Turkish pride slogans “yasak ne ayol” and “aşk örgütlenmektir,” and burst into messy public tears. I get weepy over music and writing on the regular, but it’s not usually full-on crying.

3. Do you have kids?

Nope! But I like kids and have found a happy medium as a doting auntie (not so much wine aunt as bourbon aunt) to both my actual niblings and my friends’ kids.

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

A fair amount, but not as much as I used to.

5. What sports do you play/have you played?

I’m a runner (slacking of late, but I have a 5k next week; have done several 10-15ks and one half-marathon and still hope to attempt a marathon someday if my bad knee cooperates) and a former rower (eights, always in bow pair on account of my height). I’m thinking about giving indoor climbing a try.

6. What's the first thing you notice about someone?

This is a fascinating question and honestly I’m not sure! Probably their voice if they are speaking, and their coloring (clothing included) if not.

7. Eye color?

That weird indeterminate blue that can appear blue-green or gray depending on the light and what I’m wearing.

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

Happy endings by default (I’m a wimp about onscreen horror) but I love a good bittersweet or tragic film too. I want satisfying endings more than happy ones.

9. Any special talents?

A good memory for useless trivia, and I process textual information very fast.

10. Where were you born?

Washington (state).

11. What are your hobbies?

Reading, writing, organizing/activist stuff, travel, hiking, language learning, internet shitposting (semi-retired).

12. Do you have any pets?

One spoiled, affectionate, talkative tabby cat.

13. How tall are you?

5'4" and change, or 163 cm.

14. Favorite subject in school?

History.

15. Dream job?

Hmm, if academia hadn’t been destroyed by late capitalism it would probably still be professor (or field scientist in a different discipline). Otherwise journalist or perhaps screenwriter, but see above re: late capitalism.

tagging @firesign23 @sdwolfpup @auntieclimactic @destinationtoast if they feel like it, and anyone else in the mood!

[chrisabraham]

I'm off to bed. As an extremely boring guy who doesn't drink, I'm going to listen to some Art Bell Somewhere in Time on KNZR via steam and then go to sleep early. I'm participating in a 1/2 marathon, 21,097m, #acbahalfmarathon2022 on my Concept2 Model C indoor rower, AKA erg. Wish me luck! I'll gladly be DFL just to finish.

[sportsvillage]

MODEL D

The Model E offers presence and durability with its 20 inch frame height, nickel-plated chain, and double powder coat with glossy finish. From a practical standpoint, the higher frame means easier on-and-off for those with tired knees or mobility considerations. The nickel-plated chain (also featured on the Model D) requires less-frequent oiling. The finish protects against scratches. Aesthetically, the Model E is the luxury machine of the indoor rower world. Solid and sleek in light gray or black, the Model E will hold its own in a fitness center, your home gym, or the living area of your midtown loft. Best of all, it does all of this while providing the unparalleled full-body workout of our other indoor rowers. If you’re familiar with our equipment, the Model E is everything you’ve come to expect in a Concept2 Indoor Rower and more. If you’re trying us for the first time, the Model E will satisfy even the most discriminating buyers. The Model E is available in two colors: light gray or black.

[prosports]

The Sole Fitness Indoor Rower

The Sole Fitness Indoor Rower is a premium-quality fitness machine designed to provide an effective full-body workout. Engineered with durability and performance in mind, this rower offers smooth and quiet operation, making it suitable for home or gym use.

[activefitnessstoreblog]

Elevate Your Home Gym Experience with Essential Equipment from Active Fitness Store: Embracing Fitness Trends

Are you ready to take your fitness journey to the next level? Look no further than Active Fitness Store, your ultimate destination for premium home gym equipment. Whether you're into strength training, cardio, or sports-specific workouts, we've got you covered with top-quality gear from leading brands like Concept 2, Matrix, and more. From bicep preacher curl machines and punching bags to table tennis tables and the Concept 2 Model D Rower, our extensive selection will help you achieve your fitness goals in style. Let's explore how these essential pieces of equipment can enhance your home gym experience.

Bicep Preacher Curl Machine:

Say goodbye to flabby arms and hello to sculpted biceps with our bicep preacher curl machine. Designed to isolate and target the biceps effectively, these machines provide a comfortable and stable platform for performing preacher curls. Whether you're a bodybuilding enthusiast or simply looking to tone and strengthen your arms, adding a bicep preacher curl machine to your home gym is a game-changer.

Punching Bag:

Unleash your inner fighter and release stress with our high-quality punching bags. From heavy bags for power punches to speed bags for improving hand-eye coordination, Active Fitness Store offers a wide range of punching bag to suit every need and skill level. Incorporating boxing or martial arts training into your workout routine not only improves cardiovascular health and endurance but also enhances agility, speed, and overall strength.

Concept 2 - Model D Rower:

Rowing is one of the most effective full-body workouts, engaging muscles from head to toe while providing low-impact cardiovascular exercise. The Concept 2 Model D Rower is a favorite among fitness enthusiasts for its smooth performance, ergonomic design, and advanced monitoring features. Whether you're a seasoned rower or new to the sport, this versatile machine offers customizable workouts to help you achieve your fitness goals efficiently and effectively.

Table Tennis Table:

Looking for a fun and engaging way to stay active indoors? Look no further than our table tennis table. Whether you're playing solo or challenging friends and family to a friendly match, table tennis provides a fantastic cardiovascular workout while sharpening reflexes and hand-eye coordination. With our durable and sleek tables, you can enjoy endless hours of entertainment and fitness benefits right in the comfort of your home.

Matrix:

Experience the pinnacle of innovation and performance with Matrix fitness equipment. From treadmills and ellipticals to strength training machines and functional trainers, Matrix products are designed to deliver unparalleled results. With features like touchscreen displays, virtual training programs, and ergonomic designs, Matrix equipment elevates your home gym experience to new heights.

At Active Fitness Store, we're committed to helping you build the home gym of your dreams. With our extensive selection of premium equipment and accessories, you can create a personalized workout space that caters to your unique fitness needs and preferences. Visit our website today to explore our full range of products and start transforming your fitness journey from the comfort of your own home.

[bad-at-names-and-faces]

When the Rain Comes

Very loosely took the day 18 prompt "time of my life" with Elsa and Mattias in the Rowing AU (continuing with the loose plot I've been following this month)

There was a light rain as Elsa began driving to the boathouse that morning, and very little traffic because it was so early. Since she was alone, she sang along at the top of her lungs to the radio. 

“I’ve had the time of my life…”

It wasn’t her favorite song by a long shot, but she had heard it enough times that she knew all the words, and it was fun to sing along to.

Some Beatles came on next.

“When the rain comes…”

The rain could only be described as torrential by the time she arrived at the boathouse.  She always had several extra layers of rain gear ready to change into in the trunk of her car, since Coach Mattias was not about to cancel practice if he didn’t have to, and she knew the weather could change quickly.

“Good morning, Elsa,” he called out from his office.

“Good morning,” she called back. “Are we going out today?”

“We’ll try to,” he said.

Just then, they heard a boom of a thunder strike.

“I spoke too soon, didn’t I?” he laughed.

“Let me put away my rain gear and I’ll help set up in the weight room,” Elsa said.

There were never quite as many rowers in the spring as there were in the summer, since all the college students were away at school, so they would all fit inside easily enough. 

“How is Eric doing?” she asked as she began setting up stations. 

“He’s pretty well. He’s going to be resting another week, then hopefully he’ll be back.”

“I’m glad to hear it.  That was pretty scary.”

“We’re lucky we found him when we did,” he said. “You did a good job stopping the boat and getting everyone back, Elsa.”

“Thanks,” she said.

There was some more thunder as other people began arriving.

“Indoor practice!” Elsa called out.

[aramtraining]

Para Upgrade Kit BIOROWER Pro 2024 from aramtraining on Vimeo.

Turns your BIOROWER Pro into the worlds most realistic Indoor Para Rower. For #paralyzed #rowers and #paraathletes as well as #physiotherapy and #rehab

#indoorrowing #wheelchair