When Juan Carlos Zarate turned 50, his knees started screaming: stop running. The longtime marathon runner and cardiologist completed his last 42.2-mile race four years ago at the age of 55. Like many former runners, he turned to road cycling as a gentle alternative, but was concerned about the growing number of cyclist deaths from vehicles.
Dr. Zarate, 59, lives in a sheltered cove in the city of Niceville on the Florida Panhandle. Instead of going to the gym, he turned to the waterways around his house to find a safe place for nature and exercise. The younger of his two sons, Lucas Zarate, rowed in high school, which inspired him to try his hand at rowing.
Sculling is a rowing discipline that requires two oars. The narrow boats, also called seashells, range from a 27-foot solo boat to a 58-foot boat that seats eight. Mussels are fitted with sliding seats with the oars attached to the boat.
Dr. Zarate signed up for a lesson and was surprised that the exercise strained his legs as much as it did his upper body. “You go through your legs to introduce the force of the blow,” he says. “People think rowing is about brute force, but it’s really about technique. It’s a very technical sport. You are constantly learning and improving. “
He bought a shell for his wife Robin Zarate and now they are both addicted. The couple joined the Pensacola Rowing Club, just over an hour away, and they are considering starting a local club.
