Hi everyone!
I am brand new to these forums, but definatly not new to the sport. I've been swimming competitvely since I was in 4th grade and I'm now 20yrs old and a college junior. Now, me being here, asking the questions I am asking is kinda ironic since I am definatly when it comes to competitive in pool swimming a sprinter. But, I train 6 days a week, right now doing between 5,000-5,700yards in a 2hour practice, but after the holidays that will increase to 10,000yards+ a day in 2 2hour sessions...so while I race sprints...I still know what distance feels like.
But, my question to you all is....how do people like Martin Strevl complete these insanely long CONTINUOUS swims? I mean he has swam for 84 hours and 10minutes continuously!! How does he feed if its a continuous swim? I mean know on most of his swims they're for distance and he stops and sleeps for 5hours each night and all, but how did he manage that particular swim where he did swim continuously? Anyone have any insight? I am greatly intrigued.
oh and I'm planning on swimming a marathon which is why I am here :thhbbb: haha. I posed the above question in the general discussion, but thought that it might get more responses here, so here it is!!
Thanks!
.Blaine's Apprentice.
Former Member
Blainesapprentice,
Hi, it's me again. I have noticed that you obviously have had no one to truly answer your question even though I gave you my thoughts on this when you posted under the general forum.
Have you considered going to the English Channel Discussion Board? I haven't joined that one, but I know you can and maybe people who not only have done the Channel, they also may know more than most of us in the way of nutrition and continually swimming for hours on end.
I also don't know how to contact Susie Maroney and even though she is retired now, she would be a great person to give you insight. If these avenues fail, you might want to speak to a sports nutritionist.
Donna
My marathon swims have been limited to 20 – 30 miles and all less than 12 hours, so I can’t give you much advice on the multi-day swims. However if you are looking to complete a traditional marathon swim, I’d suggest getting Marcia Cleveland’s and Penny Dean’s books on marathon training.
Both are good references and make wonderful Christmas presents.
As for feeding, I would assume continuous swim rules are similar to marathon swim rules, you can stop to feed whenever and for however long you like ( this may be different for continuous swims), provided you don’t touch any escort craft. You are allowed to stand on the bottom.
What distance are you planning to swim?
But, my question to you all is....how do people like Martin Strevl complete these insanely long CONTINUOUS swims? I mean he has swam for 84 hours and 10minutes continuously!! How does he feed if its a continuous swim? Well just like during any other ow swim I guess.
I think world record for longest time on an ergocycle is 77 hours in a row maintaining an avg over 20kmh (I met with the world record holder).
I donno about the other disciplines but I'd expect that it'd be the roughly the same (80hours of rowing and the like).
oh and I'm planning on swimming a marathon which is why I am here :thhbbb: haha. I posed the above question in the general discussion, but thought that it might get more responses here, so here it is!! If you have training or strategy related questions, feel free. We're listening now !
I thought you were asking "how do you feed" and the answer is that someone tosses you a bottle or whatever you want to eat, you roll over on your back (while continuing to kick on a good day), swallow the contents and toss it back. There are variations such as using a cup on a stick or bottle tied to a line.
If you were asking what do you drink/eat there are many answers and if you look back thorugh the last year or two of threads here you'll see some answers ( I seem to recall chicken, pizza, gatorade, power bars and gels)!
wow thanks everyone for ur responses.
In answer to what distance im planning on swimming..its kinda undetermined...I'm gonna set a time, and just swim consecutively for that time as part of the fundraiser. But, somewhere around 24hours.
I actually do have some questions in regards to training. How should one go about training for a long consecutive swim? I currently train between 2-4hours a day with my collegiate team-swimming anywhere from 5,000-12,000 yards depending on the day. And I also try to get in for 2 more hours each day and just swim consecutively for those 2 hours nice and long and loose with no speed goals or anything.
Thanks again!
As a collegiate swimmer, putting in 40-50K+ per week, you already have the physical base to compete a 24 hour swim. The only question is can you hold it together mentally, but I assume from your posts that you are motivated and will be up to this challenge.
A couple of suggestions:
1) Figure out as soon as possible what nutrition you will need during the swim and your feeding schedule (I usually went with 20oz of Endurox every 30 minutes) and practice your long swims using this schedule.
2) If possible start the swim in the early evening, after a big high carb meal (with some protein). Starting in the evening means that the toughest part of the swim will be during the day, and most of us swim better at 2PM rather than 2AM.
3) You may want to ask for a Swimp3 for Christmas. Some tunes as you swim may help relieve the monotony.
Good luck
As I continue these long continuous swims each day, I am beginning to believe I do infact need to invest in the swimp3, I am sure it will get plenty of use!
Either that, or I need to find some more mind games I can play while I swim, or maybe even both. Today I did about 4000 yards in an hour, it felt really good, but by the end of the hour my tongue was completly numb--the pool must use some kinda chemical I am not accustom to.
I am also one of those bad swimmers who goes a whole 2 hour collegiate practice without drinking anything, and I completly understand how important staying hydrated is for these longer more continuous swims, but now for another question. I dont drink during practice because I tend to get naseous after putting all that liquid in my stomach, how do I get over that on these longer swims? Any suggestions?
Thanks everyone I am learning so much from you all!:groovy:
You mentioned putting so much in your stomach. I, too, am now experimenting with feeding/hydration this year so I will know what I truly need to do for the actual swim next year.
This is where you may want to consider carb replacement products because you don't need to take in so much. I love Gatorade, but I will tell you, after drinking say 8 to 12 ounces of it twice an hour, hour after hour, I am really weighted down and it sloshes around.
So I will be experimenting also with the right types and amts of replacement fluids.
And as mentioned before, Penny Lee Dean's Open Water Swimming gives you charts that show how to build the mileage for up to I believe a 21 mile swim. it shows monthly schedule by weeks and the mileage accordingly. This example was for the 21 mile swim (which is less than what you will do) and it takes the swimmer through 11 months of training.
Best of luck to you!!!
Donna
And as mentioned before, Penny Lee Dean's Open Water Swimming gives you charts that show how to build the mileage for up to I believe a 21 mile swim. it shows monthly schedule by weeks and the mileage accordingly. This example was for the 21 mile swim (which is less than what you will do) and it takes the swimmer through 11 months of training.
I just ordered this book on Amazon, and also the book by Lynn Cox about swimming to Antartica. Can't beat Amazon!
Yeah what kinda other alternatives to gatorade or other sports drink do you all use for feeding/hydrating during long swims?
I just ordered this book on Amazon, and also the book by Lynn Cox about swimming to Antartica. Can't beat Amazon!
Yeah what kinda other alternatives to gatorade or other sports drink do you all use for feeding/hydrating during long swims?
I use a Hammer Nutrition product called Perpetuem with Endurolites.
