The Longest Row: Inside the Human Body’s Journey Across the Atlantic Ocean

Imagine a difficult physical activity. For some, it may be a marathon or ultra-marathon. For others, it may be swimming across the English Channel or completing an Ironman triathlon. Now, imagine doing that every day for a month and, at the same time, sleeping on a small boat in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

The annual World’s Toughest Row competition attracts athletes and adventurers from around the globe to engage in the grueling challenge of crossing an ocean in a rowboat.

With the finish line in such close proximity to American University of Antigua (AUA), professors and students in the College of Medicine take a particular interest and study the effects of this ultra-endurance event on rowers’ brainwaves and metabolic adaptations.

The 3,000-mile race tests the limits of each competitor’s resolve and physical and mental abilities. The event begins in December on the shores of San Sebastian de la Gomera in the Canary Islands, and the first rowers arrive in AUA’s backyard at Nelson’s Dockyard in mid-January.

The row requires that two-person teams are self-sufficient while participating and takes longer than a month. As part of this, participants experience prolonged physical exertion, limited energy intake, sleep deprivation, unpredictable weather conditions, and the psychological strain of isolation. Teams row more than 1.5 million oar strokes, and rowers each burn more than 5,000 calories daily.

A recent study, published in the journal Cureus in partnership with AUA, asserts, “During periods of stress, the brain reallocates energy from non-essential processes to those involved in threat detection and response. This energy shift reflects an evolutionary adaptation so the body can prioritize survival during “acute stress.” In other words, this research analyzes the fight or flight stress response by examining the rowers’ brainwaves and how energy is reallocated within the body while engaging in this ultra-endurance sport.

AUA researchers and students believe that studying these rowers presents a valuable opportunity to improve the understanding of humans’ physiological adaptations and how to conserve energy and perform during periods of intense and prolonged stress. In turn, these studies will contribute to future advances in both athletic performance and broader public health.

Through endeavors like this research, AUA is able to promote the creation of new knowledge and encourage students to drive discovery and take part in projects with real-world impact. With Antigua hosting the finish line, it’s an optimal opportunity for students on the island. With an expanding research enterprise, AUA takes pride in the studies students participate in and how they leverage their local and global geographies to engage with the world and increase our understanding of it.

Read the study to learn more about the AUA research study on brainwave patterns and metabolic adaptations of athletes in the World’s Toughest Row.