Air travel and feeds

dpm50

Hello again, swimmers!

I have what's probably a silly question--please bear with me--I still see myself as a marathon swimming newbie.

My recent marathon swims have been close enough to home to get there by car (sometimes bus or Amtrak), but I'm flying to the Kingdom 10k. The advice I'm reading about feeds plus my experience ends up involving a lot of bottles and liquids--and now I'm wondering how this will square with the security procedures at airports. Gels shouldn't be a problem, as they're pretty compact and can go into my backpack easily enough. A 10k is likely short enough so it's not going to require tons of feeds (I'm in awe of folks who travel long distances to swim 20 miles or more). But how do you keep things compact enough to stay within airline weight limits and avoid suspicion by TSA?

I'm thinking powder mixes, but that said, what are some of your favorites? In close-to-home swims, my usual choice is periodic gulps of Gatorade, alternating with Trader Joe protein shakes (in plastic bottles, so maybe less practical for flying), alternating with water/gel. These have kept me going for up to 11 miles--I still have much to learn, of course. The Nuun tablets have been okay too, so might be able to substitute for Gatorade, and then it's a small container of tablets I can mix w water once I get to the hotel.

Grateful for any insights! Thanks!

Jacque

I've spent countless nights pondering that question before my first long swims that needed air travel. Long story short: The necessity to restrict weight and pass security as well as unknown crew that had to familiarize quickly with my feeding lead to a much simpler feeding regimen and a lot less stuff I carry with me now compared to the beginning. A couple of points:

• I only travel with powder (maltodextrin, my (german) brand I tested intensively, no compromises there, the stuff is so different over all the brands and countries) in an unopened, still originally sealed bag (1-2 kg). This will get mixed in 1.5l-bottles with pure water (which you will be able to buy at location) the night before the big swim (usually need 4-6 of those, double strength when later mixed with hot water). I usually add a few drops of a highly concentrated flavor liquid from a very small bottle I bring with me.
• So far, every boat that piloted me hat the opportunity to provide hot water (speak with pilot beforehand) or local swimming friends could provide thermos with hot water to carry on the boat. All the crew needs to do is mix my feeding mix from on bottle 1:1 with hot water in my feeding bottles.
• I bring 2-3 feeding bottles (brand: Nalgene) and a rope to attach and swing from the boat to me.
• Electrolytes: I use very small bags (1-portion size) that can be mixed with pure water (in one of my other feeding bottles).
• Gels: I still bring some in case of emergency, but haven't use them in years; I do well better (and quicker) with a pure liquid feeding.
• Everything else one might need can be bought locally (fruit, chocolate...). Protein doesn't work for me, but there are powder options if needed. Pretty simple now, well tested and worked for years.
  Good luck & all the best.

PS: And yes, I HAVE been asked to step out of the line and get tested for drugs and explosives at the airport - but that happens basically every time and so has probably nothing to do with my swimming. Just in case, I carry all necessary papers regarding the swim (including pilots and organizations contacts) with me at the flight, though.

abbygirlrose

I recommend whatever powder you travel with to have it sealed at least on the way there and make sure you keep original packaging when not sealed. I have also been bomb tested.

dpm50

Thanks for this! Good info here!

dpm50

One question.... @Jacque .... you mention maltodextrin..... what kind do you use? (Maybe will look into it if available in the US.)

While I'm hoping my gray hair will make me less suspicious to the authorities I don't want to take chances. (I suppose I could bring along the cane I used when I broke a bone in my foot so as to really make them think I'm just a harmless old lady.... BUT when they see my 11 ton multicolorTyr backpack, the cane might not be too convincing.)

Jacque

@dpm50 : I use maltodextrin from a German store, own brand. It's pure, nothing else added, dextrose equivalent of 12 (see other articles on this page about that) with 380 cal per 100g, tastes just slightly sweet. I find it much easier agreeable with me than other stuff. (https://www.freynutrition.de/malto-95-1000-g-zip-beutel.html - don't know if they ship to US).

dpm50

@Jacque said:
@dpm50 : I use maltodextrin from a German store, own brand. It's pure, nothing else added, dextrose equivalent of 12 (see other articles on this page about that) with 380 cal per 100g, tastes just slightly sweet. I find it much easier agreeable with me than other stuff. (https://www.freynutrition.de/malto-95-1000-g-zip-beutel.html - don't know if they ship to US).

Thank you! I'll have a look. I'll need something I can get fairly quickly to accustom myself.

abbygirlrose

@dpm50 I like carbopro

Sara_Wolf

The one time that I've had to fly w/ my fuel, I took the recommended action that @MoCo gave:
1. Factory sealed container (mine was in bags of Infinit fuel)
2. Packed in carry on (so it arrives with you!)
3. Proactively remove it during the TSA scan, so that they can easily see it and swab it.

On the way back, once the bag was opened, I put it in a gallon zip-lock bag to contain any spills, and otherwise followed the same procedure.

Once, I was asked what it was.... I explained it as "sorta like gatorade powder, but better", because "fuel for my swim" wasn't something that I had enough time to explain.

Zero problems.

kejoyce

I buy CapboPro in the big 3lb tubs, so I've always had to transfer some to a plastic bag to fly. I label it "CarboPro (race nutrition carb powder)" and print out a small version of the label to keep with it. I bring it in my carry-on, and as others have said, I take it out so they specifically see it, and I have had to have it swabbed before.

I have also saved space in swim-travel packing by using microfiber towels that fold up really small. I like the RainLeaf brand, the XXL ones are huge (40"x72") but condense well. Finally, I found some silicone water bottles that roll up, so they don't take up space either! The ones I use are available on amazon if you search 'baiji water bottle'. In addition to packing well, I really like being able to squeeze the bottle when it's feed time... double benefit

swimmer25k

I used to drink Gatorade Fierce Melon and Fierce Berry. I took it all with me in an Igloo cooler as checked baggage.

There was no guarantee that I’d find it in England, so I didn’t leave it to chance.

Openh2o

On airplane i drink only water and Jack! Sometimes Coke!
Feel strong and powarful!)
When swim only water and Coke! 1h after maraton always one cold beer!
This is best for me!

dpm50

@Openh2o said:
On airplane i drink only water and Jack! Sometimes Coke!
Feel strong and powarful!)
When swim only water and Coke! 1h after maraton always one cold beer!
This is best for me!

I always like a cold beer! After my 2016 8 mile swim, my coach asked me as I came out of the water, "what do you most need now." Without hesitation, I said "beer." Within minutes, he had a beer opened and ready.

wendyv34

As others have mentioned, it's a good idea to carry your food and supplements in the original packaging, if you can. I recently discovered Carbo Rocket Half Evil and it's sold in single serving packets. In the past, I've packed a 2# bag of Carbopro in my suitcase and mixed it with lemon/lime Gatorade, which can be found virtually anywhere. Little items like Nuun tubes, Clif Shot/Blox, bars, swim caps, etc. can be stored inside your empty water bottles to save space. I think we ended up taking 7 or 8 bottles to SCAR (including for my kayaker), so it saved a significant amount of space.

abbygirlrose

I just successfully took a whole package of carbo pro to and from ND. They tested it both times but gave me no trouble

Openh2o

Good luck Abby)
Come to Europe!
Have great ow swims!

j9swim

Would like feedback from those of you who have done 9+ hour marathon swims.
When you use gels for like 1/2 of your fuel do you use all caffeinated ones or a mix of caffeinated and un- caffeinated?
Also any issue with travel with lots of gels in carryon bags….is it considered liquid or is this best checked and powders carried on? Thanks Y’all!

swimmer25k

@j9swim said:
Would like feedback from those of you who have done 9+ hour marathon swims.
When you use gels for like 1/2 of your fuel do you use all caffeinated ones or a mix of caffeinated and un- caffeinated?
Also any issue with travel with lots of gels in carryon bags….is it considered liquid or is this best checked and powders carried on? Thanks Y’all!

I didn’t take gels until the very end of a swim and only if I was crashing. I’d get a nice jolt of energy, but I would eventually crash worse than the previous one.

I avoided the caffeinated gels in warmer swims because I felt like they’d dehydrate me. As always; train with them first.

I brought my stuff along in checked baggage and never had issues. I traveled with an igloo cooler with all that stuff inside. Straps from Home Depot kept everything inside.

kejoyce

@j9swim said:
Would like feedback from those of you who have done 9+ hour marathon swims.
When you use gels for like 1/2 of your fuel do you use all caffeinated ones or a mix of caffeinated and un- caffeinated?
Also any issue with travel with lots of gels in carryon bags….is it considered liquid or is this best checked and powders carried on? Thanks Y’all!

I take a gel hourly during my swims. I do use a flavor that has caffeine (vanilla bean gu), but it's only 20mg/gel so even after 10h that's a total caffeine content of a Starbucks.

When I've traveled with them, I have put them in my check luggage (and take my powder carry-on). However they do technically pass the criteria for carry-on, since gels under 3.4oz are allowed and must gels are <1.5oz. If you're traveling without check luggage, maybe bring them with you and have a backup plan of where to buy some when you're at your destination, in case they do get confiscated (which I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be).

dpm50

Thanks, all! No prob w security (I guess I looked fairly harmless... little did they know lol).

Swim was slow but happy! Lake Memphremagog was practically pondlike! I had just gotten over a cold (not covid, got PCR test to be sure), so took it easier than I might have, felt good most of the way.

I put some Hammer Heed in Ziplocks, stuck them into bottles (Thanks for the suggestion about collapsible bottles, @kejoyce. Bought some and they're very handy!). Since I won a bottle of HEED at a race, I decided to go w that, NUUN tabs, a protein mix fr Trader Joe's, and, of course, H2O. (Of course I tested this stuff in my long swims, didn't wait until race day.... learned a few things fr my running days.)

The HEED wiped out the foot cramps I'm prone to, so it's become my go-to. I won't order it at a bar instead of Guiness, but it tastes tolerable and I didn't puke it.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

This marathon swimming thing is becoming addictive.

dpm50

Lots of props to Phil White--Kingdom Weekend was terrific! Fun, well-organized, great intro to Northern Vermont and the swimming scene. And I actually signed up for the winter games--all short distances, but different kind of challenge! 🐧🐧🐧

JSwim

For other Keto leaning swimmers, I flew with a tub of Exogenous Ketone Salts. Fortunately I had it in my carry on, because it got swabbed on both flights. Being sealed didn’t matter. Though on the way back when it had been opened they dumped some out to test as well as swabbing the outside. The pouches of other white powders (essential amino acids and slow starch) were ignored.