High Energetic Demand of Elite Rowing - Implications for Training and Nutrition

Abstract

Purpose: Elite rowers have large body dimensions, a high metabolic capacity, and they realize high training loads. These factors suggest a high total energy requirement (TER), due to high exercise energy expenditure (EEE) and additional energetic needs. We aimed to study EEE and intensity related substrate utilization (SU) of elite rowers during rowing (EEE_ROW) and other (EEE_NON-ROW) training. Methods: We obtained indirect calorimetry data during incremental (N = 174) and ramp test (N = 42) ergometer rowing in 14 elite open-class male rowers (body mass 91.8 kg, 95% CI [87.7, 95.9]). Then we calculated EEE_ROW and SU within a three-intensity-zone model. To estimate EEE_NON-ROW, appropriate estimates of metabolic equivalents of task were applied. Based on these data, EEE, SU, and TER were approximated for prototypical high-volume, high-intensity, and tapering training weeks. Data are arithmetic mean and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: EEE_ROW for zone 1 to 3 ranged from 15.6 kcal·min^-1, 95% CI [14.8, 16.3] to 49.8 kcal·min^-1, 95% CI [48.1, 51.6], with carbohydrate utilization contributing from 46.4%, 95% CI [42.0, 50.8] to 100.0%, 95% CI [100.0, 100.0]. During a high-volume, a high-intensity, or a taper week, TER was estimated to 6,775 kcal·day^-1, 95% CI [6,651, 6,898], 5,772 kcal·day^-1, 95% CI [5,644, 5,900], or 4,626 kcal∙day^-1, 95% CI [4,481, 4,771], respectively. Conclusion: EEE in elite open-class male rowers is remarkably high already during zone 1 training and carbohydrates are dominantly utilized, indicating relatively high metabolic stress even during low intensity rowing training. In high-volume training weeks, TER is presumably at the upper end of the sustainable total energy expenditure. Periodized nutrition seems warranted for rowers to avoid low energy availability, which might negatively impact performance, training, and health.

Keywords: elite sport; exercise energy expenditure; indirect calorimetry; nutrition; rowers.

FIGURE 1

Total energy requirement by exercise energy expenditure and recommended energy availability (EA_REC) for an exemplary high volume (A), high intensity (B), and tapering rowing training week (C) (mean [95% confidence interval]). Calculation of exercise energy expenditure for rowing (EEE_ROW) training based on a non-protein table (Péronnet and Massicotte, 1991) and corrected for resting metabolic rate (RMR) and anaerobic energy contribution (Di Prampero and Ferretti, 1999). EEE for other training (EEE_NON-ROW) is approximated using corrected MET data (Kozey et al., 2010). EA_REC (dashed line #) is given as 40 kcal·kg⁻¹ fat free mass·day⁻¹ (Koehler et al., 2016). A total energy expenditure of three times the RMR (7,011 kcal·day⁻¹, dashed line *) was assumed to reflect the upper limit of the manageable total energy expenditure (Thurber et al., 2019).

FIGURE 2

Illustration of estimated, accumulated exercise energy expenditure over time during rowing (EEE_ROW) for a three-zone model, based on indirect calorimetry data obtained in incremental step testing. The Figure visualizes accumulated EEE for each training zone over time, assuming a linear progression with 95% confidence intervals. R ² ranged 0.968–0.988. Dashed line represents EEE of 3,668 kcal·day⁻¹, 95% CI [3,580, 3,756], which is assumably the maximum refuelable EEE.

FIGURE 3

Illustration of estimated glycogen depletion over time during rowing for a three-zone model, based on indirect calorimetry data obtained in incremental step testing. The Figure visualizes depletion of individually estimated glycogen stores (including blood, liver, and muscle; see text for details) over time, assuming a linear progression with 95% confidence intervals. R ² ranges 0.781–0.985. *Dashed line represents the 90% maximum depletion threshold of glycogen stores (Burke et al., 2017).