Fuel duing 4 mile OW swim

Nah, just hydrate well and eat a decent breakfast.

I feel you should fuel during a 4 mile swim. For most of us, that is a swim of 1.5 to 2 hours and the body needs something. I feel that since you are swimming in the ocean that what you need is some that is light on the electrolytes and has a good carb to protein ratio. I use a Hammer product called Sustained Energy. Last weekend I did a 3 mile OW and was wishing I had something at about the 2 mile mark. :)

i find i can go 2 hours comfortably without feeding. from about 2 - 3 hours i am ok with a hammer gel or two (but don't wait until you need it). i like sustained energy as well as perpetuem for longer stuff, but only if there is someone else to carry it along. good luck

Thanks for all the great replies thusfar. Animal- My longest pool swim was a 90 minute swim a few days ago. I felt fresh coming out of the water and felt like I had alot more in the tank.

Chaos is correct about feeding, do not wait until you need it to fuel up. Bonking is a very terrible feeling. A Hammer gel could do it, but if you have someone in a kayak or some feeding station with the other recommendations that would work also. Last note, what is your longest swim in the pool without feeding? That will give you some idea of what you need to do. Good luck!

I did a 5 mile last year, Tour of the Buoys in La Jolla. I drank Pedalite. I to ate nothing and that was a mistake,..for me. Being a slow swimmer it took me 2 hr. 55 minutes. I`m doing it again Aug. 2 and I will take some gel packs and a couple of banannas. I`m betting that I will be at the 3 hour make,..I attended a 2 day Total Immersion Workshop in May and have been able to swim further and not get as tired,..but my speed has dropped off a bit. I want to be able to swim all day and not feel beat-up.