Marlys Cappaert’s Marathon Swim Story

When I ask my Marathon Swim Story guests for a short bio, sometimes people send me a link to their Long Swims database entry. You won’t find one for today’s guest, but Marlys has an unparalleled drive to find her next big swim, and her rampant swim adventuring is something that I aspire to.

Marlys and I share a passion for inspiring swimmers to do just a little bit more. This is a tried and true marathon swimming technique. Sure, you don’t think you can make it? Just start? Don’t think you can go any further? Just swim to the next feed. I love giving people the gift of surprising themselves, and Marlys is like Santa Claus.

A guide for Swim Trek, you’re sure to want to book a trip after listening to Marlys. But the part of her story that caught my attention is her wish that a swim would never end. “I can’t stop,” she says. Every time I swim, “I’m better.”

I hope you enjoy this episode!

In her own words: Marlys grew up in Michigan with a water-crazed mother who would resort to a bathtub if she couldn’t find a lake. She is forever an adventure swimmer who will attempt to swim across nearly anything. Marlys loves enabling others to swim ‘almost’ as much as she likes swimming herself. After careers in research plant pathology, software development, and middle management, Marlys decided SwimTrek guiding was the best. Her COVID-19 winter project is building a boat.