What do you do to keep your mouth from getting sore/pickled from longer ocean swims. The first hour of so is okay but after 3 my mouth is gettign very sore and stays that way for a few days. I think its from salt water getting in when I breathe. I'm now recovering from a 6 mile swim-my mouth is the only hting that hurts, and contemplating a 10mile swim and I need HELP so my mouth can make it! I was drinking water/sports drink every 20-30 minutes although i don;t always have that opportunity.
Thanks!
From the USMS Open Water Clinic Manual, available at www.usms.org/longdist/owclinicman.pdf
907 How to Feed
Swimmers may not hang on to the feed boat, feed pole, or a person in the feed/escort boat so a method of feeding must be determined.
A Cup: Use when you can get close enough to your escort craft to be handed a cup of feed.
B Water bottle: In rougher conditions, swimmers often use a water bottle attached by a string. The trainer will hold one end of the string so it can be retrieved. It is slower for the swimmer to feed this way, but if conditions are rough it is better so that the water you are swimming in doesn't get into your feed, and you can't really spill it either if it is in a water bottle.
C Stick/pole: If conditions are such that getting close enough to the boat to be fed is not possible a feeding stick/pole is necessary. You need something like a broomstick with a basket or cup holder on the end (something that the cup can be securely placed in). Conditions that necessitate this are high side boards on the boat, large waves that could potentially push you into your boat, oars if rowboats are used or a swimmer’s fear of a motor.
...
And another suggestion when training – instead of leaving your food and drink on shore why not bring it along? Take 2 kickboards, wrapped with a bungee cord. Attach this to one of those Stretch Cord Belts (I prefer using 8-12 foot stretch cords). You can tuck a couple of water bottles along with a zip lock bag of jellybeans, nachos or whatever under the bungee. And just drag everything along. This way you don’t need to go to shore to feed. If you get it set-up right (keeping the nose of the board up) you hardly feel any resistance. It also gives you an opportunity to rest, if you are getting in trouble.
From the USMS Open Water Clinic Manual, available at www.usms.org/longdist/owclinicman.pdf
907 How to Feed
Swimmers may not hang on to the feed boat, feed pole, or a person in the feed/escort boat so a method of feeding must be determined.
A Cup: Use when you can get close enough to your escort craft to be handed a cup of feed.
B Water bottle: In rougher conditions, swimmers often use a water bottle attached by a string. The trainer will hold one end of the string so it can be retrieved. It is slower for the swimmer to feed this way, but if conditions are rough it is better so that the water you are swimming in doesn't get into your feed, and you can't really spill it either if it is in a water bottle.
C Stick/pole: If conditions are such that getting close enough to the boat to be fed is not possible a feeding stick/pole is necessary. You need something like a broomstick with a basket or cup holder on the end (something that the cup can be securely placed in). Conditions that necessitate this are high side boards on the boat, large waves that could potentially push you into your boat, oars if rowboats are used or a swimmer’s fear of a motor.
...
And another suggestion when training – instead of leaving your food and drink on shore why not bring it along? Take 2 kickboards, wrapped with a bungee cord. Attach this to one of those Stretch Cord Belts (I prefer using 8-12 foot stretch cords). You can tuck a couple of water bottles along with a zip lock bag of jellybeans, nachos or whatever under the bungee. And just drag everything along. This way you don’t need to go to shore to feed. If you get it set-up right (keeping the nose of the board up) you hardly feel any resistance. It also gives you an opportunity to rest, if you are getting in trouble.
