I did a 2 mile ows last year and it was a gateway drug. It was beautiful and I felt so free once I got into a rhythm and realized I wasn't going to drown.
This season, I have the opportunity to do a 10k and maybe even a 10 mile swim. I currently swim 11 miles a week and plan to increase that.
One thing I'm concerned about on a longer swim is feeding. I currently eat low carb (50-60g a day, almost exclusively from fruits and veggies) because I like what it does for my brain, energy levels and waistline. I also like not getting pass-out hungry. I understand that this is heresy in the world of swimming, but I was wondering if there is anyone out there who does marathon swims low carb. What do you eat? Do you eat at all?
I have done several 10Ks on just water or a non-sugary electrolyte drink. No problem for me, but (1) I also ate low-carb while training for them, and did most of my training before breakfast; (2) none of those swims was in water colder than 65F; and (3) I finished all of them in 2:40 or faster. If the water had been colder, or the time in the water longer, I would have considered consuming some calories.
This thread on the Marathon Swimmers Forum has a ton of personal stories on exactly this topic. It's not currently active but you might find it informative anyway.
I have done several 10Ks on just water or a non-sugary electrolyte drink. No problem for me, but (1) I also ate low-carb while training for them, and did most of my training before breakfast; (2) none of those swims was in water colder than 65F; and (3) I finished all of them in 2:40 or faster. If the water had been colder, or the time in the water longer, I would have considered consuming some calories.
This thread on the Marathon Swimmers Forum has a ton of personal stories on exactly this topic. It's not currently active but you might find it informative anyway.
