I've ahd this question for a long time and now I se it being address for runners at least, in the NYT
www.nytimes.com/.../new-york-city-marathon-a-restroom-plan-can-relieve-some-worry.html
I've been lucky that I've always been able to finish the 2.25 mile "race" I do without it being an issue. One year I was in the porta potty for the official start. Another year, I found a bathroom immediately after coming out of the water. I swam kinda fast that last quarter mile or so, too!
I prep at bit before hand - I usually eat high fiber cereal and fruit for breakfast, but on the race day, low fiber cereal and maybe a banana for fruit.
Still I'm a bit concerned on how to handle the inevitable.
Do you just drop your drawers and not worry that there are people swimming after you in the race? Ewww! Would I explain to my kayaker what I was doing? Some kind of plastic cleanup bag?
Nothing seems like good solution.
I imagine that in a marathon, it's more likely than not I would need to deal with this.
I assume you are asking about bowel movements and not urination. If so, then my initial reaction is that if you can’t go an hour between BM’s (a fair time for a 2.25 mile swim) then you have more serious issues then how to handle the inevitable.
As for marathon swims, unless you screw up your feedings you should be good for 10-12 hours if you go before the start. And unless you are in a professional marathon race, the swimmers are typically pretty well spread out after a couple of hours. If you do screw up your feedings (such as to many calories and not enough water) then your options are rather limited, you do what you got to do. I would not suggest trying to bag your leavings.
I assume you are asking about bowel movements and not urination. If so, then my initial reaction is that if you can’t go an hour between BM’s (a fair time for a 2.25 mile swim) then you have more serious issues then how to handle the inevitable.
As for marathon swims, unless you screw up your feedings you should be good for 10-12 hours if you go before the start. And unless you are in a professional marathon race, the swimmers are typically pretty well spread out after a couple of hours. If you do screw up your feedings (such as to many calories and not enough water) then your options are rather limited, you do what you got to do. I would not suggest trying to bag your leavings.
