As a runner, I don't eat anything heavy or difficult to digest before I run. Specifically, I don't usually eat anything an hour before I run. But I'm curious as to what works for swimmers? I can't get out of my head that warning that was floating around when I was a kid: don't eat anything for two hours before you swim otherwise you'll get cramps and die. I know it is different for everyone, but what works for you?
Also in the field of food questions, what foods are good for swimmers? I assume we like carbs and protein, but are there other food groups or foods I should be paying attention to?
I go running and then swimming almost every day, and it's hard for me to know when to.eat for swimming. I get off work at 5, and go running immediately after for about an hour. Then I usually rest for an hour and eat a little, like some fruit or something, but otherwise I wait to really eat until I get done swimming around 9 or so. Any help or.suggestions for this new swimmer is greatly appreciated.
Obviously the "you'll get cramps and die" thing is nothing more than an old wives' tale. As you said, though, it really is different for everyone. Some people will tell you they can't eat before swimming. Others can eat like a horse with no adverse effects. I think you'll need to learn by trial and error, but there is no inherent reason NOT to eat before swimming. The same kind of foods that you'd want to eat before or after a running workout would work for swimming. No difference there that I know of.
Obviously the "you'll get cramps and die" thing is nothing more than an old wives' tale. As you said, though, it really is different for everyone. Some people will tell you they can't eat before swimming. Others can eat like a horse with no adverse effects. I think you'll need to learn by trial and error, but there is no inherent reason NOT to eat before swimming. The same kind of foods that you'd want to eat before or after a running workout would work for swimming. No difference there that I know of.
