Bob Fernald’s Marathon Swim Story

Today I had the distinct pleasure of hearing Bob Fernald’s marathon swim story. While the late onset swimmer is a theme in marathon swimming, I don’t consider his a typical story. While he dabbled in triathlon, like other runners turned triathlete, he hated the swim.

Ultimately, Bob found comfort and efficiency in the water by way of Pilates. My clients will tell you, I beat the posture in the water through Pilates drum. Core stability and awareness are key. So much of swimming is knowing where you are and what you’re doing in the water. When is the last time you swam aware?

I hope you enjoy Bob’s story!

In his own words:

Bob Fernald is an American open water swimmer who lives in New Hampshire. New Hampshire has just about 20 miles of coastline on the Atlantic ocean. Bob was always fond of the ocean growing up but always had a healthy fear and respect for it as well.

Open water swimming came as a discovery in an “adult on-set”kind of way.  Like a common group of wanna-be athletes, Bob was bullied into triathlons  by “friends.”  Initially hating the swim, and completing, only a handful of short tris, he found open water swimming after several years of absence from the water.

Self coached, he found the elusive efficient body position in the water through his pilates practice.  And so began the journey of his open swimming, and a change in life focus.

After overcoming an injury just before his English Channel crossing, Bob went on to complete the Triple Crown.

His accomplishments led to sharing his knowledge in the form of fundraising swim clinics for the local triathlete and open water swim community.  He has raised thousands of dollars to keep a local pool open, support the local youth and masters swim teams, create awareness for Mental Illness, aid ocean conservation efforts, and the construction of a new aquatic facility.  

Bob is the co-race director for the Nubble Light ocean challenge swim in Maine, and an annual open water swim for the youth in New England.   

The journey is on going.  His mission….to share the joy of open water swimming with the world.  “If I could take what I learned and put it in a bottle, I would give it away.”