Seeing that George is back from Mexico and long distance swims are once again part of the board's consciousness i thought I'd ask about long swim nutrition.
I've found lots of reports of channel swims that indicate feeding once every 30 minutes is a common way to go.
On the other hand Penny Lee Dean in an article on the cataline channel swim website says that 8 ounces of fluid every 15 minutes is a good way to go, bearing in mind that stops should be less than 10 seconds.
I've tried that method and seem to have fair results with it. 8 ounces per hour was not enough though at 5.5 hours I got really loopy someone asked me a question and it took forever to think the answer through. I upped it to 10 to 12 ounces per 15 minutes or for the scientifically minded ad libitum at each stop. But 10 to 12 ounces is three gulps, rather than one or two. Meaning that my stops in practice have been up around 20 to 30 seconds. When I tried doing them faster I swallowed a lot of air, didn't swallow properly etc.
At any rate, I still have a month before the Tampa Bay Swim and am open to hearing what works for you.
The times I did Tampa Bay I did 20 ounces of Endurox at half strength (which is pretty much the same as full strength Accelerade) every 30 minutes. Before the swim I put down 40 – 60 ounces a couple of bananas and a couple of bagels. Also, I didn’t start feedings until the 1 hour mark. At the 4 and 8 hour feedings I had my crew include a dose of liquid Tylenol. I stayed away from solids during the swim, because I have never gotten the knack for chewing food and swimming (and before I hear it from other posters, yes I can chew gum and swim).
20 ounces is more than most people need, but after years in college practicing chugging liquids, I’ve been able to pound down 20 ounces in just a few seconds and I seem to hold my swim together, better, if I am well hydrated. I don’t recommend this much fluid intake unless you train with this intake.
And a couple of notes on Penny’s swims/nutrition, Penny is not a big person and she also had an excellent support crew, so she didn’t need as much fluid overall as a typical male and her crew handled feedings like a pit crew at Daytona so she was able to make more frequent fast feedings, instead of spending 5-20 seconds just getting your cup or bottle from your paddler.
If 8 ounces works best for you, then stay with 8 ounces every 20 minutes (8 ounces per hour besides making you loopy is not healthy). 8 ounces every 20 minutes, assuming 20 seconds per feeding, will add about 11 minutes for a 12 hour swim (an average for Tampa Bay).
The times I did Tampa Bay I did 20 ounces of Endurox at half strength (which is pretty much the same as full strength Accelerade) every 30 minutes. Before the swim I put down 40 – 60 ounces a couple of bananas and a couple of bagels. Also, I didn’t start feedings until the 1 hour mark. At the 4 and 8 hour feedings I had my crew include a dose of liquid Tylenol. I stayed away from solids during the swim, because I have never gotten the knack for chewing food and swimming (and before I hear it from other posters, yes I can chew gum and swim).
20 ounces is more than most people need, but after years in college practicing chugging liquids, I’ve been able to pound down 20 ounces in just a few seconds and I seem to hold my swim together, better, if I am well hydrated. I don’t recommend this much fluid intake unless you train with this intake.
And a couple of notes on Penny’s swims/nutrition, Penny is not a big person and she also had an excellent support crew, so she didn’t need as much fluid overall as a typical male and her crew handled feedings like a pit crew at Daytona so she was able to make more frequent fast feedings, instead of spending 5-20 seconds just getting your cup or bottle from your paddler.
If 8 ounces works best for you, then stay with 8 ounces every 20 minutes (8 ounces per hour besides making you loopy is not healthy). 8 ounces every 20 minutes, assuming 20 seconds per feeding, will add about 11 minutes for a 12 hour swim (an average for Tampa Bay).
