This post originally appeared in the #TeamSelkie blog
I am taking a page out of fellow #TeamSelkie marathon swimmer Stuart Hacker’s playbook, and writing an informative post on a technical component of marathon swimming. Today’s hot topic: nutrition during a swim, commonly referred to as “feeds.” Feeds are are not one size fits all by any means! Some types of feeds will work great for you, but not so great for other swimmers. This is why it is extremely important to try out your feeds well before a swim, and see how they make you feel. That being said, this advice is based on my own experience, and I am not promoting any particular product or feeding plan.
What are some popular feeds for marathon swimmers? Where do I even start?
Every swimmer is different! Some rely solely on liquid feeds, others eat sport gels, and some eat real solid food, like doughnuts and sardines (true story!). A great place for swimmers to start is with sports gels.. I started with these because they taste great and are easily transported by tucking them in the back of your swim cap (see photos below) or in your suit. This easy means of transport makes them great for events when you don’t have a support boat or kayak, but still may need a little boost. From there, the world is (literally) your oyster! Try anything that you can swim while digesting and tastes good.
How should I practice feeding?
Ideally, you should practice feeds in an environment that will closely mimic your swim. You have to be able to eat while treading or laying on your back, what I call otter style. Doing this does take some used to, so try to practice it before your event. If open water is not an option, feeding on the pool deck is fine, just try not to break too many rules. I found that eating a gel in the locker room right before I started my workout, or in the middle of it, worked well.
How often should I feed?
Most swimmers feed every 30 minutes. It really helps break a long swim down into increments. Instead of thinking, “I have hours of swimming ahead of me,” your mindset becomes “Just make it 30 minutes until your next feed.” This is why taste is really important for me. You want to look forward to your feeds! It will really help the mental game. However, this is marathon swimming, and conditions may not always allow a feed, but I do not like to go more than 45 minutes between feeds.
How much should I be consuming per feed?
This is a tough one! Since everybody’s metabolic rate is different, everyone requires a different number of calories. My coach has always told me to feel “topped off,” not hungry, but also not exceedingly full. This is why practicing feeds before a swim is so important. The more practice, you will start to figure out what your body needs. Once you experience a long swim on a nearly empty stomach, you will not make that mistake again.
Laura, what do you eat in the water?
I like my feeds to be easy for my kayaker to handle, but also have some variety. This is a copy of a feed plan from my swims last summer. Color coded!
Feed 1 (0:30)- Carbo Pro/Nuun Tropical
Feed 2 (1:00)- Chia Vitality and Water
Feed 3 (1:30)- Carbo Pro/ Nuun Kona Cola
Feed 4 (2:00)- Applesauce and Water
Feed 5 (2:30)- Carbo Pro/Nuun Tropical
Feed 6 (3:00)- Applesauce and Water
Feed 7 (3:30)- Carbo Pro/ Nuun Kona Cola
Feed 8 (4:00)- Applesauce
Feed 9 (4:30)- Carbo Pro/Nuun Tropical
Feed 10 (5:00)- Peanut Butter M&M’s
Feed 11 (5:30)- Carbo Pro/ Nuun Kona Cola
Feed 12 (6:00)-Carbo Pro/Nuun Tropical
Feed 13 (6:30)-Carbo Pro/ Nuun Kona Cola
Feed 14 (7:00)-Carbo Pro/Nuun Tropical
Feed 15 (7:30)-Carbo Pro/ Nuun Kona Cola
Feed 16 (8:00)-Carbo Pro/Nuun Tropical
Carbo Pro is an amazing carbohydrate drink that mixes with water. It does not have a distinctive flavor, so I like to mix it with Nuun tablets. The tablets provide some vitamins, but most importantly, delicious flavors. The Chia Vitality is for a little bit of protein, and comes in a handy little squeeze packet. My childhood favorite applesauce comes in very handy! I use GoGo Squeeze brand applesauce because they are very easy to eat in the water, and taste great. My favorite feed is peanut butter M&Ms. The amount of joy and excitement that this feed brings after 4 or 5 hours of swimming is almost indescribable. If you find yourself in the States or a duty free shop in an airport, I highly recommend picking them up.
Hold fast,
Laura
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