You know the thought - that devastating idea that staying in bed is much, much nicer than heading out for a row when the air temperature hovers near zero degrees centigrade.
And you also know that once you're out on the water and have warmed up, the feeling of rowing and the boat hull gliding while nature wakes up around you is unmissable.
How to transition out of bed
Tips that may help you overcome the inertia of a warm bed.
Firstly, you know that it'll be cold outside, and you're tempted to put on lots of clothes so that you're warm when you first sit in the boat. Don't.
Exercise physiologists have shown that while you are exercising, your body produces a lot of heat so that you feel between 5 - 11 degrees WARMER than the ambient air temperature. The proof? If you feel cozy warm when you sit in the boat, you'll be overheated and stripping off layers of clothing after you've rowed 1-2km and you're warmed up.
A friend's advice: You should feel slightly cold when you step into the boat - That's a sign that you are dressed for a workout, not a walk round the block.
Creative hacks from the 6 am rowing club
All rowers have braved early morning outings. Here are some hacks which you may like to try.
- Warm your clothes in the drier before stepping out of the door. A small burst of heat to see you through the first chilly minutes of exercise - this is a runners' trick - but I'm sure we can make this work for rowing too.
- If it's windy and cold the skin on your face and cheeks can physically hurt - coat your cheeks with a thin layer of vaseline to provide a barrier of protection from the wind.
- Drinkable hand warmer - put some hot water in your drink bottle and use this to warm your hands while half the crew is warming up and you're sitting idle in the boat. By the time you become thirsty, it'll have cooled down and be drinkable.
- Have a small hot (caffeinated) drink before leaving home. Not only do we feel less thirsty in cold temperatures, and risk dehydration, this boost of caffeine keeps your brain sharp and the heat encourages your body to regulate its internal temperature.
Got any other tips to recommend? Get in touch.
Further resources
- Staying warm at winter regattas
- Waterproof thermal socks for rowing
- Winter rowing clothing guide [podcast]
