Melissa Kegler’s Marathon Swim Story
Hello Marathon Swim Story listeners! In today’s episode I talk with Ice Mermaid, Melissa Kegler.
After an unremarkable English Channel success, Melissa took stock of her Triple Crown and wondered what she really wanted from her swimming. This has led to a newfound appreciation for the pristine waters of the Pacific Northwest the mountains, the old growth forests, and the animals that live there. While Melissa doesn’t feel the need to swim further, she has discovered various applications of her swimming skills, including hike in swimming and ice swimming.
We talk about how unique our marathon swim stories are – there really isn’t one type of swimmer that takes on marathon swims. Her realization early how important it is to have a coach. And how continually pushing to swim further isn’t for everyone.
I hope you enjoy Melissa’s story!
Be sure to check out the Cascade PBS special Ice Mermaid: Cold Resolve, which brings us along on Melissa’s inspiring journey to become the first American to complete a sanctioned 2.5 km ice swim without a wetsuit: Ice Mermaid: Cold Resolve – Episodes | KCTS 9
In her own words:
I love the feeling of the water, how it awakens you, and how it makes everyone and everything around you come alive. I love the silence of the water, the meaningful play it provides, the therapeutic quality, the inspiration, knowledge, learning, spiritual connection to nature, and community. I have learned and been given so much joy through the relationship I’ve built with the water, that the story behind the relationship is something worth sharing.
How did I start swimming? Originally from Michigan, I grew up on the Great Lakes! From our local community lake at Valhalla Park to my favorite beach along the shores of Lake Michigan, the water has always felt like home. I didn’t know when I was growing up that swimming, especially open water swimming, would be one of the greatest gifts I would receive. Open water swimming transcends oceans and borders, connecting people through experience and story. In high school, I just wanted to survive the 500 free!
It wasn’t until after moving out of state that I “discovered” open water swimming and subsequently marathon, ultramarathon, and ice swimming. I took quite a bit of time off of pool swimming, came back to it, dabbled in 1 and 2 mile events where a community pool instructor randomly asked one day, “When are you going to swim the English Channel?” That one question planted the seed that grew just like Jack and the Beanstalk, that transported me to a sport that would change my life. I don’t know at that time I ever really even knew what the English Channel even was, but naivety and wonder opened the door that lead me to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, the first Amy Hiland Double in the beautiful waters of the Pacific Northwest, and the first 2.2K+ ice swim in the U.S. I’ve been able to use my experience to help coach and mentor others who are going into triathlon, wanting to accomplish their first mile, 10K, or channel crossing. Giving back is just as rewarding as getting in.
Executing the swim is only a small part of what I love about the sport. What I love most is the relationships that have formed as a result of swimming. Whether it is my relationship with the water, relationship with my friends and swim community, the plants in forest that hold snow that melt and feed the alpine lakes, or the seals, sea lions, and other aquatic animals below the ocean surface, the enrichment and growth through continual improvement is why I swim.
Accomplishments are great, but retelling the story, describing what you saw, what the water felt like, what you thought of to get you through, that is what gets me and what lives on from one swim generation to the next. I love a big swim, but the 10 minutes I get to swim with a seal, those are the moments I’ll relish for a lifetime.
