Becoming a Late-in-Life Athlete

In the early days of the pandemic, I began sculling on a creek flowing into the San Francisco Bay – a waterway that’s home to egrets, herons, and the occasional northern spotted owl.  Wearing a mask inside the boathouse, I joined other fledgling rowers on a novice master’s team.

Four years later, I’m still rowing (despite a few pulled muscles early on and two comic-but-distressing moments when I flipped my single boat.) I lost fifteen pounds, vastly improved my strength, and am now on a women’s intermediate team.

Julia Flynn Siler at the Pacific Invitational Regatta in San Francisco, March 16, 2024

I’ve made some good friends and learned important lessons as a late-in-life athlete: arriving at practice ten minutes before the 5:30 a.m. start time to make sure I have time to warm up my aging muscles, pitching in more than expected, staying positive, and accepting that some days–just like some strokes–will be better than others.

This is the first time I’ve been on a team. I was in seventh grade when Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in school sports and other activities, came into effect. I’d never competed athletically until I began rowing in my sixties, at the time when many of our friends are becoming grandparents.

To my delight, I’ve learned that advanced age can be an advantage as a competitive rower because of the sport’s handicapping system. My height, alas, at 5’3”, is not.

Yesterday, I competed in the first regatta of the season – the Pacific Invitational Regatta on Lake Merced in San Francisco. I rowed in a quad – a four-woman scull where each rower has two oars (as opposed to sweep rowing, where each of the eight rowers only has one oar.) I was seated behind our far more experienced lead rower – our stroke, Jennifer Bowman – and my job was to support and mirror her movements as closely as possible.

Our results weren’t anything to boast about. Fighting the wind and a crowded course, we hit a buoy at the end of the course – a three (in our case four)  stooges-like move that you can only laugh about afterwards. As the photo our our boat shows, I have a lot more to learn (my catch, the moment when the blade enters the water is not matching up with Jenn’s.)

But we had a lot of fun and my affection for my teammates has only deepened. I sought out the boathouse as a way to exercise safely during a period of profound isolation. I’ve stayed for the comradery, which is just important as exercise to healthy aging and a happy life.

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15 Comments

  1. Alison Anne Quoyeser on March 17, 2024 at 3:50 pm

    I loved the article, Julie, especially this laugh-out-loud line: “Our results weren’t anything to boast about. We hit a buoy at the end of the course – a three (in our case four) stooges-like move that you can only laugh about afterwards.” Kudos to you for staying true to your resolve in joining a rowing team! Great muscles, by the way!

  2. Melanie on March 17, 2024 at 5:52 pm

    I’m one of the lucky ones to get to be on a team with you!!!Your positivity is infectious!!!! So glad we all made the decision to try a new adventure. Let’s keep the laughter going.

    • Julia Flynn Siler on March 17, 2024 at 5:56 pm

      Thanks, Melanie! We both started on the novice team during the pandemic and I am so glad we met!

  3. Jennifer Bowman on March 17, 2024 at 6:30 pm

    Nicely stated. Fun to row with you!!!!

    • Julia Flynn Siler on March 17, 2024 at 6:54 pm

      We were honored to row with you, Jen, especially since you’re much more experienced than the rest of us! Thank you again.

  4. stella white fisher on March 18, 2024 at 7:50 am

    i love that you row!
    another activity, like our singing, that reminds us how connected we are ~ as one!

    • Julia Flynn Siler on March 18, 2024 at 8:39 am

      Well put, Stella. Singing and rowing do have a lot in common (rhythm, breath, staying connected to each other.) I’m so lucky to get to sing with you most weeks!

  5. Ray Boyer on March 18, 2024 at 1:16 pm

    I couldn’t handle one oar much less two. But I completely identify with your enthusiasm for the athletic capacity of older adults. I was 66 when my riding partner and I did our first transcon bicycle ride. If the body is able, the only roadblock is the mind.

    • Julia Flynn Siler on March 18, 2024 at 3:03 pm

      I know you can handle two oars, Ray (after your and Charlie’s Chicago River adventure.) You and Mark are an inspiration with your long-distance riding!

  6. Kerry Cooper on March 19, 2024 at 7:48 pm

    Love this and rowing with you! ❤️

    • Julia Flynn Siler on March 20, 2024 at 3:36 pm

      And I love rowing with you, Kerry! Here’s to lots more fun and fitness going forward…:)

  7. Pia Hinckle on March 25, 2024 at 12:29 am

    Congratulations Julia!💪 It’s never too late and strangely doable. And the people are so great. I too became an athlete later in life, starting competitive open water swimming 10 years ago at 49. I just competed in my first ice swimming event. 🤪

  8. Shae on August 23, 2024 at 9:43 am

    So inspiring Julia! And so happy you are supporting Cody! I hope our collaboration on his behalf brings great things!

  9. Pam Hart on September 8, 2024 at 1:57 pm

    You are once again an inspiration Julia! The NatGeo article was amazing and I’m just finishing The House of Mondavi for my Sonoma book club. Bravo!

  10. hilde simon on February 23, 2025 at 10:25 am

    I finally connected the dots from a very nice and fit lady at my gym to you, the talented writer and late in life athlete! I’m older than you by at least a decade, maybe more, but we obviously share the late in life athleticism and a love of good writing. I loved your article and want to ask if you have read “Lessons in Chemistry”, featuring a late in life athlete who discovered rowing–I’m sure you have. We live on the bay and occasionally see rowers right by our house. It would be more truthful to say we ‘hear’ the coach on his/her megaphone, as it is usually calm and very foggy when the boats glide past. I would think there’s rowing opportunities in your new UK community so you stay in practice.

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