Hey all,
I'll be swimming in a 5.25 mile race in August... I'm trying out different gels and wanted to get some input from those of you who have done longish salt-water races.
I have a good sense of the gels that work well for me when I run, and a recent experience with one such gel during a swim workout made me especially aware that a gel that works fine for running might not mix as well w/ swimming.
I took a vanilla flavored Powergel about 45 mins. into a longer swim, and while I digested it w/ no problem and got some energy from it, I noticed a stronger vanilla aftertaste than when I used the same gel for running (exhaling vanilla flavor, you might say). This didn't bother me too much, altho I wondered how I'd like that aftertaste for four miles...--but I wonder if the mixture of taking a gel w/ swimming in chlorinated or salt water affects how the gel works in one's system. For those who both swim and run, do you find you need to use different products when swimming than when running or have the same types of gels and sports drinks worked on both land and water?
If this is a totally newbie question, thanks for bearing with me!
I contemplated taking a Clif Shot gel with me across the Chesapeake Bay last weekend, but opted against it. I reasoned that I wouldn't have the first clue as to when would be the most beneficial time to eat it, and that if I did stop to eat it, I would regret it later, either because I lost time or got sickly.
Now that swim was 4.4mi long. I think that is a "short" enough distance to deal with whatever you've eaten and hope for the best. I would certainly consider chowing something during something like the Potomac River Swim (7.5mi).
For my longish salt water I was as much concerned about hydration as carbs, so I always went with energy drinks instead of gels. For races of 10K or less I found that water or Accelerade worked fine.
And if possible try whatever you will use during a salt water training swim. Some things that taste ok when swimming in a chlorinated pool are down right disgusting when taken during a salt water swim.
Thanks for your input! Your swim sounds not too different in distance than mine, and you raise a good practical point.
Did you have someone with you in a kayak? In the race I'm going to be in, swimmers have to get someone to accompany them by kayak, which allows for a little more help with gels and such.
I have been guessing on my needs based on my running training, which involved taking a gel every 45 mins. or so. But I do notice they act differently inside me when I swim than when I run. Not in a huge way, but noticable. I don't want to find myself bonking and only halfway across. But also don't want digestive issues either!
Do you during water during the runs or just do gels?
There are a number of other threads that address escorted open water swims. You may want to look these up to see how to position your kayaker, using a feeding stick, signals, navigation, schedules etc.
Having an escort does make feeding easier (much better that feeding stations) With kayaks, make sure to have everything pre-mixed, and labeled.
Do you during water during the runs or just do gels?
There are a number of other threads that address escorted open water swims. You may want to look these up to see how to position your kayaker, using a feeding stick, signals, navigation, schedules etc.
Having an escort does make feeding easier (much better that feeding stations) With kayaks, make sure to have everything pre-mixed, and labeled.
Again, thanks for the thoughts. Also, sorry I somehow missed your earlier post about practicing in a salt water swim. Good point about it affecting taste of gels. I always take water w/ my gels, running or swimming. I've heard they can cause cramping otherwise. But still felt a little bloated taking them while swimming--although not enough to be a major problem, just a minor annoyance.
Thanks for the advice on the kayak prep. The guy who's kayaking for me has topnotch recommendations and has experience with the Manhattan Island and Atlantic City marathon swims, so I think my swim will be a quick jaunt for him in comparison. I felt very confident when I talked with him. He seemed to really know his business.
