Manhattan Island Swim Marathon

Leonard, Thanks for the details of your race. That is a funny story on your nephews. I hope that when you go to the doctor, they are able to treat and cure whatever your problem. You have all our thoughts and prays with you. John

wow lenord, i am new to this forum and i really enjoyed reading your post...My thoughts and prayers are with you!

Originally posted by bcswim wow lenord, i am new to this forum and i really enjoyed reading your post...My thoughts and prayers are with you! Thanks. I had the biopsy today (ouch! Funny how it's easy to swim youself into a coma, but a small needle makes me whine like a scalded dog.) and will know for sure next Friday, but the Doc says that he is currently leaning away from thinking that it is cancer. :D Read your question regarding nutrition on longer swims. I use "Jansen-aide" - This is a mixture of 3 scoops of orange Acceleraide and 1 packet of GU tri-berry energy gel mixed in 48 fluid ounces of water. I drink 12 ounces every 30 minutes during a race. Although straight Accelerade is OK, I have decided that it is a bit sweet and the Gu cuts that as it is mostly Maltodextrin, which is not very sweet. So far, no bonking and no puking. That, plus it makes a tolerable fruit punch flavor which is less intense than the Accelerade orange alone. Stay away from solids, even so-called Powerbars and the like - they take too long to digest. As to pre-race feeding, I tend to need to start a race with little in my stomach, so I will eat a powerbar PROTEIN bar about 2 - 2.5 hours before the race. It satisfies the desire to eat, gets perastalsis (sp?) going in the lower bowels and keeps blood sugar fairly level. About 5-10 minutes before race start, I'll drink 12-18 oz of straight accelerade. Hope that helps & good luck. -LBJ

Before a long race Abou Heif would eat one or two roasted chickens, me I preferred bacon, home fries, eggs and a cup of coffee. During the race I would have a light solution of tang, and glucose powder mixed, also two capsules of calcium cassinate, and 2 salt pills, and a capsule of caffeine (similar to wake up pills), the pills and capsules were given to me in a paper cup and I followed with the beverage. It is what tastes good to you. Leonard good luck I do not like needles and the worst pain I have ever felt is the removal of staples from my knee operations.

Leonard, I'm also new to the forum, and have been reading all the posts. I hope that whatever the problem is, it will be easily corrected. That story about your nephews had me LOL. Having done only one ocean swim, a one mile event, I can't even imagine attempting a marathon swim distance. To say I'm impressed is an understatement. (And I'd be much more afraid of the pollution than the animal life). There will be other swims and other challenges. Good luck.

Apologies for chiming in so late...! Leonard, first, I'm sorry to hear of the health issue, and I hope that whatever treatment is needed goes very well and you're back full force again to swim many more Manhattan Swim Marathons! I never cease to be amazed at the stories of people who do that--your "dnf" is five times longer than my longest swim event!! Prayers for you and your family!

So glad to hear the good news, Leonard! I think your wife has to buy you dinner or something for putting you to work so soon, heh! :)

Thanks to all for your kind thoughts. The good news is that I got the biopsy results on Friday & it is NOT cancer & IS rather easily dealt with. To put it mildly, we are relieved. My wife celebrated by telling me that I had no more excuses to not get to the remodeling, so I spent the weekend "celebrating" by pulling out all the old carpet in the house. Isn't love grand? Again, thanks to all. -LBJ

I was just lurking about and read about the cancelled Manhattan Swim so I thought I would let you all know about another chance to do some open water swimming in Hudson. Swim Across America is having it's Hudson River Swim on September 22, 2006. It is a 15-mile relay swim from the Tappan Zee Bridge to the George Washington Bridge to benefit cancer research. All the money raised goes to the Swim Across America Research Lab at Memorial Sloan Kettering. They are doing some really amazing and ground breaking research that would not be possible without the money raised from this event. This will be the 12th year of this event. Like every year, several former Olympians will be participating. This is an incredibly fun event that truly is for a good cause. For more information go to www.swimacrossamerica.org

Leonard, this is wonderful news! (I'm sorry I missed your post and took so long to respond). I'm so happy for you and your wife. Are you going to be able to escape the remodeling and do any more open water swims this season?