Are there ever aid stations on a 5k?

Some do and some don't . i always try to have an aid station at the half way point in the races i run.

Not sure, some may. My first one a few weeks ago (salt water river) didn't, but the swim only took me 50:50 so it wasn't "that" long. Just hydrate really well beforehand and you should be fine. Its really not much different that doing a really long set in practice (if you are doing 6-8K yards)

I did a very long swim once with a water bottle down the back of my suit. Of course it was a recreational swim, not a race, but it worked! :blush: This would be technically illegal in a race. The water bottle should be considered a device that could aid buoyancy.

I did a very long swim once with a water bottle down the back of my suit. Of course it was a recreational swim, not a race, but it worked! :blush:

This would be technically illegal in a race. The water bottle should be considered a device that could aid buoyancy. Water bottles should be banned. Or, we could have two categories; Water bottles that have no air in them, and water bottles filled to the brim. Seriously, if you have a paddler, they could carry your fluid of choice. Or, if your own paddler isn't allowed ask one of the safety people before the race. I'll bet they will help you out.

Most of the 5Ks I have ever done had no aid stations, did not permit personal escorts, and were in water at or below 70F. I did one in water over 80F (Lake Travis) where we did have an aid station, and I've done just a few that permitted personal escorts (at least one of which, Naples Island, has stopped permitting them, probably for safety reasons). I have done 5Ks that had multiple laps (Elk Lake, Big Shoulders), during which a really thirsty person could probably have grabbed water from a bottle left on the beach and then gone back in the water to keep swimming. Plenty of people take a lot longer than I do for 5K and seem to be fine with only the venue to drink (which I do not recommend). I drink water all through a one-hour pool practice but I have always been fine for 5K without a drink. I drink a lot before and after. I don't think I would want to do more than 5K without a drink and a snack, but I think most 10K races do have either aid stations or personal escorts or both. If you are worried about drinking, ask the race organizers if they will have an aid station or if they will permit personal escorts. If the answer to both is "no," then choose another race. You will be, or should be, DQ'd if you carry your own bottle(s) or accept aid from the safety personnel. Or, if your own paddler isn't allowed ask one of the safety people before the race. I'll bet they will help you out. I bet not, if personal escorts are not allowed. For one thing, the paddlers don't usually know exactly where they will be on the course until they actually go out there. For another thing, their job is to scan all the swimmers for trouble, not to watch for the guy who asked them for personal help. For a third thing, if the race is offering an aid station, it will be available to all equally; and if it is not, it is not.

What if I strapped a bunch of partially filled gallon jugs to my body?