Steve Camplin: I was wondering if any other rowers get gut trouble when rowing long distances? I generally row 15,000 metres and I believe that with the continual strain I get, being polite, a slightly upset stomach. Is this normal or could it be dietary? I'm 44, 90 kg, and do 15,000 in 59 minutes. Terry O'Neill: So you're the bloke who is responsible for global warming and the recent floods. Yours is the first letter of its kind, so either fellow travellers are too embarrassed to come out of the closet or you are unique.When you train, the muscles demand the blood and body fluid that would otherwise be employed in the digestive system, so you could experience problems if you still have undigested food in the system when you start training. You could try leaving a longer period between your last meal and training, or simply avoid food that is harder to digest on training days. If it persists, however, then you may be wise to have a word with your doctor.************Mark Mackay: Can you please tell me how I can eliminate blisters? My hands always give up before my legs and arms. I've tried talc, glue, bike ribbon, strips of old towels. Or is it as my girlfriend says, you just have office hands my dearTerry O'Neill: It may well be that your girlfriend is right. You could try Grip Masters. It's a new fitness training hand pad that we are now selling. Check out our website: http://www.therowingcompany.com/v4/merchandise.php3. Good luck.************Phil Mahony: I have a puzzle that has been on my mind for a while and wonder if you could give me an answer to my dilemma.If I row at, say, 1:40 at 27 strokes per minute and increase my s.p.m. to 34 but maintain 1:40 per 500 metres, what is the effect on my final time? I am quite new to rowing and can't think of the logical answer that I know must exist.Terry O'Neill: The simple answer is that if you maintain a split of 1:40 for 2,000 metres then you'll complete the distance in 6:40, regardless of stroke rate.If you increase your stroke rate and there is no corresponding reduction in your split time, then you are wasting effort. There is an energy cost in moving your body up and down the slide, and the more times you move up and down the higher the cost.This energy is not measured by the monitor, which only measures the force applied to the flywheel, so if you have increased your energy output and are showing no increase in useable energy then you are working less efficiently.