I know what i like to eat during the swim and for several days before i'll be careful to hydrate well but does anyone have nutrition suggestions for the week or so leading into a long (8 mile) swim? Anything to build up strength reduce chances of cramping etc?
Thanks!
Your mileage may vary…
But from my experience, whatever you are doing to get in shape for the swim, from a nutrition perspective, should be what you stick with in the week/days before long swims. If you currently have problems with cramping and exhaustion in practice you need to address this now, not the week before the swim.
One of the worst things you can do is make radical diet changes in the days before a race. There are numerous stories of folks who have changed their eating habits prior to a race (or within the race), only to come down with a number of ailments (nausea, diarrhea, constipation, etc).
Now with that said, as I get close to race date for marathon swims, I will typically eat more pastas and bananas (just not in the same dish, however I do recommend PB & banana sandwiches). I also start drinking Enderox/Accelerade (which is what I will drink during the race).
Your mileage may vary…
But from my experience, whatever you are doing to get in shape for the swim, from a nutrition perspective, should be what you stick with in the week/days before long swims. If you currently have problems with cramping and exhaustion in practice you need to address this now, not the week before the swim.
One of the worst things you can do is make radical diet changes in the days before a race. There are numerous stories of folks who have changed their eating habits prior to a race (or within the race), only to come down with a number of ailments (nausea, diarrhea, constipation, etc).
Now with that said, as I get close to race date for marathon swims, I will typically eat more pastas and bananas (just not in the same dish, however I do recommend PB & banana sandwiches). I also start drinking Enderox/Accelerade (which is what I will drink during the race).
