Dry Throat on Erg

[Barbara Ryan]

Does anyone else experience an extremely dry throat when doing an all-out
2000 erg piece (and longer)? During the last 500 meters I almost feel like
I can't breathe because I'm trying so desperately to swallow!

Thanks,
Barb Ryan

[Gareth G Price]

Sounds like the room that your in is overly humid or something like that try
putting water on the radiator etc. If that doesn't work then try doing the
erg outside and see if the same thing occurs.

Gareth

"Barbara Ryan" <barb...@home.com> wrote in message
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[NO]

Sure thing. I get some nasty phlegm build up too. It's just because
you're breathing so much that your saliva dries up, and since you're
not swallowing much, your throat dries up as well.

Joe

"Barbara Ryan" <barb...@home.com> wrote:

To get in contact with me via email, please remove the NOSPAM from the email address.

[Keith Thomas]

Yes, it's known as erg throat. If it lasts for more than an hour after your
piece, you know you have worked hard. Nothing to worry about. Wear it as a
badge of honour. In fact you should be aiming to row so hard on the water
that you get it there too.

It is not a matter of saliva (which is confined to the mouth); it is the
drying out of the mucus lining the trachea. The coughing is a response to
the unaccustomed dried-out surface of the trachea and I guess it's the
body's way of trying to spread the mucus evenly over all its surface to
restore its natural state.

The saliva is another matter; don't confuse the two. If I were you I'd
experiment to see how close to the start of a piece you can drink water.
Have half a litre two hours before and another half litre one hour before
your piece so your body starts "saturated", but not with water sitting in
your stomach. In a long piece, you might also pause every 20 minutes or so
for a mouthful of water. Dry mouth could also be a nervous reaction. You
have read in novels how someone's throat went dry during a tense moment.
You probably have the same tension causing dryness during a flat-out erg
piece.

Keith
Canbera
Australia

Barbara Ryan wrote in message ...

[Walter Martindale]

It may be a few things causing this - if you're a bit dehydrated this could be
a problem. If you didn't warm up enough it could also contribute. If you're
working really hard it could occur too - one of those facts of life that you
have to acknowledge. The throat could just be a signal that you're working in
a new range of "ouch". Then, when you adapt to that fitness level, your tests
are just that much harder, and with 500 to go, there's your throat again....

If the sore throat and hacking cough lasts longer than about 20 minutes, you
didn't do enough "warm-down". You can get your blood lactates (and acidity
levels) back to nearly resting levels if you row at a light pace (your 90
minute steady-state pace) for about 15-20 minutes. If you just stop and sit
with no active recovery, your blood lactates stay high for - a day or so.

Walter

[Emma V]

Hi there, I get a similar thing when I work hard on the erg. I usually keep
a glass of water beside me (on the floor) so that when I've finished I can
take a few sips. It does make me feel better. If it's causing big problems
and you dont mind looking silly, you could try one of those hats with a
built in bottle and straw! (It came to me suddenly). It would allow you to
drink while keeping your hands free to row. Ingenious!!!

It may be worth doing for the Comic Relief million metre row too! See what
you think, good luck,

Emma V.

[Gareth Wynn]

I also get a really dry throat whilst erging (although my knees are ok
thanks Anu). I *always* chew gum on the erg although if you try it and then
chuck your head around as a response to the final 500m push and then choke
to death then please don't blame me. I haven't died yet though.
:-)
G

"Barbara Ryan" <barb...@home.com> wrote in message
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[Carl Douglas]

Barbara Ryan <barb...@home.com> writes

>Does anyone else experience an extremely dry throat when doing an all-out
>2000 erg piece (and longer)? During the last 500 meters I almost feel like
>I can't breathe because I'm trying so desperately to swallow!
>

Could it be due to dust, or dust mite, inhalation?

An ergometer creates a fair old breeze, & the C-II Model C gradually
chokes itself up with dust. So maybe folk who get a dry throat when
erging but not when rowing should consider this possibility?

Does anyone get this problem on a Water-rower?

Otherwise it could be due to low humidity.

In winter the actual humidity of the outdoor air (its total water
burden) is very low, even on a wet day. In a warm room the air may be
20C or more above the external temperature but its actual humidity may
be the same as outside. At that higher temperature air can hold 10
times as much moisture as vapour before becoming saturated, so its
relative humidity (RH) will be only about 10%. Breathing air at only
10%RH & at high volumes will certainly cause rapid dehydration of the
moist surfaces of all the airways. A nasty dry throat is the inevitable
result.

If you get the problem in summer on a Water-rower, I'm afraid I can't
help you :)

Cheers -
Carl

Carl Douglas Racing Shells -
Fine Small-Boats/AeRoWing low-drag Riggers/Advanced Accessories
Write: The Boathouse, Timsway, Chertsey Lane, Staines TW18 3JZ, UK
Email: ca...@carldouglas.co.uk Tel: +44(0)1784-456344 Fax: -466550
URLs: www.carldouglas.co.uk (boats) & www.aerowing.co.uk (riggers)

[Adriaan Koster]

I tend to start gagging towards the end of a hard piece on the erg.
Recently (friday december 29th) I did an erg out on our docks, in the
snow. 3x20 minutes steady state. At the end of the 3rd set I was gagging
like crazy, and after I finished I threw up! I had drank a few gulps of
water between the sets and it was very cold outside. My theory is that
the water sloshing around in my belly in combination with the cold
convinced my intestines that they should perform an emergency
anti-peristaltic purge manouver. I suffer from this gagging more often
though (the throwing up was a one time bonus I hope).

So now you know (and sorry to paint such a vivid picture).

A3aan.

[Freewheeling]

Barbara:

I don't really worry about dehydration on a 2000 meter piece, so it is
probably the air rasping through your nasal passages and throat drying out
or irritating the mucous membranes (as someone has already mentioned). This
could be exacerbated if there is dust, pollen, or some other impurity in the
air. Perhaps a humidifier and/or air purifier would help?

However, I wanted to use the opportunity you've afforded to suggest that for
longer pieces, of 30 minutes or more, it might be a good idea to use some
sort of hydration system. I have found that a Camelbak has a tube that is
long enough that I can set it on a small table or stool next to the erg, and
clip the end of the tube to my jersey so that I can put the mouthpiece in my
mouth with a brief movement of my hand. Taking a swig of H2O once in awhile
helps to keep the throat from drying out, but more importantly keeps me
hydrated so that my heart rate stays lower for the same performance level.
For longer pieces I should think that this setup ought to even be allowed in
competition. I'd like to know if this has ever come up before, and if
anyone else uses a system of hydration for longer pieces (at least 30
minutes)?

--
-Scott

"Barbara Ryan" <barb...@home.com> wrote in message
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[Barbara Ryan]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Barb Ryan

Barbara Ryan <barb...@home.com> wrote in message
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