Marathon swimmers come from all walks of life. Some start as tots, others find their passion midlife. Whether you’re a seasoned marathon swimmer, aspiring, or just intrigued, something can be learned from the stories of these remarkable endurance athletes.
When I moved to the idyllic hamlet of Talent, Oregon about 8 years ago, I was quickly adopted by my new swim family and have been lovingly supported and encouraged as I pursue marathon swims… but no one wants to swim as far as I do. That changed about a year ago when I was excitedly greeted at swim practice, […]
I met Bill Shipp on a boat in the middle of a lake somewhere north of the Canadian border. I can still remember the sun trying to warm us despite the brisk fall morning air and the surprising calm on the water. The pontoon boat was nearly swamped, as we were way over capacity, full of cold and tired swimmers […]
Today’s guest is a fellow coach who I found out shares my birthday. I loved hearing Craig Lewin’s Marathon Swim Story. Now a triple crown finisher, Craig was one of the first Americans to travel to England earlier this year despite the pandemic and the 14 day quarantine period in order to successfully swim across the English Channel. As Craig […]
In this exemplary episode of Marathon Swim Stories I chatted with Lyn Goldsmith – at 50 she decided to start kayaking. She loved supporting marathon swimmers as the trekked around Manhattan. While a lifelong water lover, she never considered swimming herself until a transformative experience swimming in a lake in Maine in her 60’s. She tells us about her journey […]
Bridget Simpson thought the ocean was for playing in and didn’t get into open water swimming until later in life, as a mom. She set her sights on a charity swim across the width of Lake Champlain, strategically increasing her distance from 2, 4, and then completed the 8 mile Shore to Shore Lake Champlain swim. She quickly realized that […]
Today’s guest is an Olympic Trials qualifier and Pan American gold medalist. Catherine Breed has always loved the water. She wasn’t sure what to do after her college career swimming ended, but fortuitously, a friend introduced her to the Dolphin club, based at San Francisco’s Aquatic Park. At her first open water swimming event hosted by the Dolphin Club event […]
I first met Sylvia Lacock in 2019 at the marina in Camp Richardson about an hour before I set off for my swim across the length of lake Tahoe. At the time I was impressed by her knowledge of the lake, thoroughness in covering safety, and professionalism as a pilot. Later I came to find out that Sylvia had a […]
In today’s episode I spoke with Anthony McCarley. Two months before his 50th birthday, Anthony decided to fulfill his boyhood dream of swimming the English Channel. It took another 4 years, before his dream would come true. He’s gone on to pioneer marathon swim routes, both in maturity and in new locations. Anthony insists that the only reason he continues […]
In this episode I spoke with Qing Li who started her story off by reminding us that not taking a risk is a risk in itself. Wise beyond her years, Qing’s investment in self discovery after a successful, but extremely stressful English Channel swim, is sure to pay dividends in whatever she pursues next in swimming and in life. Qing […]
Jennifer Dutton started marathon swimming across Candlewood lake in Connecticut as a teenager in the 80’s. 10 miles as part of a fundraiser swim – “Everyone did it. It wasn’t a big deal. We didn’t even train.” she says. Now a mother to two college aged kids, Jennifer recently brought marathon swimming full circle by completing 27 miles in Lake […]