Like swimming, rowing is considered an overall workout, due to the combination of muscles required to move the boat. At peak physical conditioning, rowers have almost no body fat. To maintain the energy required to accomplish six hours of training a day, at peak performance an elite rower will require about 4,500 calories daily, a good portion of which they will burn off while working out. A typical day for an Olympic rower involves about six hours of training. This includes a technical practice of lighter intensity and a regular session of cross-training which can include lifting weights or playing soccer.
Rowers are in bed early and up early the following day.
Maunder, who was born in St. John's, Nfld., and trained out of Victoria and St. Catharines, Ont., among other cities, retired from competitive rowing two years ago at 27. She took up rowing at 15 as a sport to complement her swimming, her first sports love. After rowing, she stepped up her strength training. To increase endurance, Maunder recommends working on a stationary rowing machine in the off season. Her rowing regimen in her competitive days was especially rigorous.