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Objectives To determine the impact of long distance rowing (160 km, nonstop) on standard biological parameters and to study the relation between inflammation, myocardial necrosis , lipid profile , heart rate and energy expenditure. Methods Electrolytes, lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), procalcitonin (PCT), high-sensitive troponin T (hs-cTnT), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), were measured on non-fasting venous blood samples collected 8 h before and after the rowing race on five healthy competitors. Heart rate and energy expenditure were measured using sporting self-measurement devices. Results After 16.5 h of race, significant increases in median CRP (+ 25.2 mg/l; p = 0.04), IL-6 (+ 1.85 pg/ml; p = 0.04), TNF-α (+ 1.2 pg/ml; p = 0.04) and NT-proBNP levels (+ 88.8 pg/ml; p = 0.04) were observed, and a close to significant elevation for hs-cTnT(+ 6 ng/l; p = 0.06) and PCT (+ 0.14 μg/l; p = 0.07). On the other hand, significant decrease in median total cholesterol (− 0.5 mmol/l; p = 0.04), triglycerides (− 0.7 mmol/l; p = 0.04) were observed. Furthermore, significant correlations between the maximal heart rate reached during the race and CRP (r = 0.90; p = 0.03), IL-6 (r = 0.90; p = 0.03), and NT-proBNP (r = 0.90; p = 0.03) were observed, whereas no such associations were retrieved with median heart rate, the percentage of time passed over 70% of maximal heart rate or energy expenditure during the race. There was no association between PCT, NT-proBNP, hs-cTnT, inflammatory biomarkers, lipid profile or heart rate parameters. Conclusions Long distance rowing induces inflammation and myocardial strain related to the maximal effort generated during the race, but has a favourable effect on lipid profile.