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!
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.
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.
