Internal Mono(b)log

My favorite time to swim is “1st thing in the morning”. On weekdays this usually equates to 6am, on weekends, 8am. At either time, before I swim, I only eat something light and (hopefully) easily digestible to fuel my 4km swim.

I’ve frequently found that mid-way into my swim, I start getting food “repeats” bordering on slight (sorry) regurgitation. Now, if I were a cow, rechewing my breakfast may be pleasant and completely normal, but, well… I’m not and the digestive upset is annoying.

Typically, in the past, my route has been:

1. wake
2. make a cup of instant coffee or mate tea to drink while walking to the Y
3. eat vitamins (multi, b, c, d, e, zinc, magnesium, 369 omegas, etc)
4. eat Cacao Monkey Ginko Energy bar
5. eat banana
6. walk to Y
7. swim

I’ve tried:

• vitamins after swimming
• replace banana with dates

I’m going to try swapping out the energy bar next as, based on (sorry again) the tastes of the reflux from my last swim, I’m starting to think some of the herbal components in the bar is causing my stomach distress.

But it’s made me wonder:

What do other swimmers eat before they swim that’s light and easily digestible but gives them some energy for their morning workouts?