Poolside chat- continues here 😁

[Glittertwins]

Did I get this done right??

A few swimmers ds knows have done them and loved them.

Mine have done Mel Marshall's and loved them.

Thanks both!

Last question (probably!) does anyone use tart cherry juice and/or beetroot juice for recovery?

Not at all. Not heard of it being suggested by Swim England's nutritionists and we've had a few of those sessions

Never heard of it either and we've also had many SE and AGB nutrition sheets and talks!

Not saying there's nothing in it but we've always been told protein for recovery (so choc milk etc)

Yep same here, protein for recovery. We actually use the protein powder with water as the milk takes a lot longer to digest though. Doesn't stop him wolfing down Mars or Galaxy chocolate milk after morning training though!!

The malteaser and twix ones are a firm favourite treat here 😂

We also have the one you do in water. He has a twix flavoured protein powder too!

His autism does cause sensory issues around foods and textures so we've been through a LOT of trial and even more error!

I recently attended a Swim England coaches webinar for maintaining athlete energy levels & performance throughout longer meets. The elite athletes do use tart cherry and other supplements to aid sleep and recovery during meets, but it was made very clear it is not recommended for younger swimmers and any coach recommending it to that age group is pretty crap at their job. I don't know if it is used during training too as that wasn't discussed and I don't coach at that level.
A large part of the supplements is to maximise rest, as if you reach a final, you are often getting out of the pool fairly late into the evening (and possibly also then having to speak to the press) full of adrenaline. The chances are you will then have a pretty early start the next day too, so really can't afford to wait to naturally 'come down' enough to sleep.
The supplements make a difference in the same way compression suits do: they add a minimal %age edge, which makes bugger all noticeable difference in younger swimmers (other than psychologically in the case of the suits) but at the most elite levels, where margins are much smaller, it is worth it.
The main takeaway was that the biggest influence on success was ensuring your swimmer practices good sleep hygiene and is eating the right foods at the right time.

Mine is still an age group swimmer so not applicable yet (much as they'd like to get to elite, I don't think it will happen!)

My ds takes a bucket load of baclofen.

That probably aids sleep better than any natural substance 👀😂

Ds said he's never noticed had tort cherry recommended. Not that he's elite either 😂

I, not convinced if he ever made elite you'd persuade him to drink it either 😂😂

He use to get melatonin prescribed when he slept about 5 hours a night in 3 shifts.

I think those were the days he's was preparing for his next life as a swimmer 🙄

Beetroot juice is revolting, I'd never get him to drink that either

Can't you cook some cakes using beetroot?

If there was a chocolate muffin which also used beetroot we may be onto a winner ........ 🤔

Yes, he'll eat that no problem. It's the raw juice that has the benefits I think

I eat the crinkle cut pickled beetroot.

I love it. I'm not sure that I could drink that juice though 🤯😂

Nor actual beetroot juice either tbh! I don't like normal beetroot - it tastes like dirt 🫣

Chocolate cake made with beetroot is very nice. I've had one with spinach (amazing colour sponge!) as well. I've seen the photos of a friend drinking the juice...no way am I insisting on him having that, I'd not go anywhere near it either!

It would be a great addition in an 'eat the rainbow' way as it contains lots of good stuff (plus chocolate and beetroot cake is delicious), but I doubt a muffin would contain enough to affect performance and the added fibre may actually hinder. Diet-wise we were advised to keep fruit & veg to a minimum on race days as they take up too much room whilst not being very calorie-dense. They also said to stick to refined carbs, which DD1 was thrilled about when I relayed it to her 😂 We are a brown bread/rice/pasta household usually with the white versions reserved for high days and holidays (and now also swim meets...). The cherry supplements contain over 100 cherries IIRC to put the quantities needed into perspective.

I leave it to them, we're told what food and drink is required for race days. We'll get up earlier to heat up flasks and then food, race bags are done the night before and added to the main bag in the morning once dried out after the previous nights training. Am so looking forward to a bit of a rest!

I leave ds to it too!

He has made an app which relates to the timeline he uses (which came from his club and SE) and so he just types in his race time and it produces all the data for him including last meal - and he knows what to eat and when.

That's a very clever use there!

Wow that's amazing he should definitely look to market that.

I agree!

Yes, that would definitely have a market. With the right expert input it could be easily adapted to other sports too. What a great tool!

Wow that's amazing he should definitely look to market that.

He is designing some apps around swimming including an app for his club.

It's very early stages because it's a long process and he has swimming and a job (software developer!) to prioritise.

However one of the AGB coaches is very into tech too so they have lots of discussions over use of tech for swimming so if he ever manages to get one finished and marketable it would probably be quite profitable!

Mine uses tart cherry (but not very consistently), not as an immediate post-swim recovery. More a drink before bed to aid sleep (she doesn't like it!)

She also takes beetroot shots - the concentrated ones a few times a week. She tolerates this.

But we've always been very much food first approach so making sure meals are balanced, eating enough for fuelling training, getting recovery drink in within 30mins of session ending.

Recovery is usually choc milk with some unflavoured whey protein or a high protein yoghurt-based smoothie (that she makes herself).