Explore every episode of the podcast Stories from the Water
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berhard Hengl's Swim Story | 15 Nov 2025 | 00:41:17 | |
Feeling inspired? Sign Up for a Free Goal Setting Guide Want to watch? Episodes now available on YouTube! Join me for your best year yet at The Water's Edge.
In 2025, he became the first Austrian to swim the full length of Lake Constance – 65 km in just under 26 hours. With his message “High Performance starts with Resilience,” he now inspires people and organizations to transform resilience into true high performance. https://www.nfkinder.at/unterstuetzen/alpine7/?cfd=94lok#cff
Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. You don’t need a big goal to reach out — just curiosity. If you’re wondering about Swimbound, email me at shannon@intrepidwater.com. | |||
| Deep Dive: Mighty Memphre Recap | 01 Nov 2025 | 00:42:28 | |
Feeling inspired? Sign Up for a Free Goal Setting Guide Want to watch? Episodes now available on YouTube! Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. You don’t need a big goal to reach out — just curiosity. If you’re wondering about Swimbound, email me at shannon@intrepidwater.com. | |||
| Introducing The Clever Dick's Podcast | 15 Jun 2025 | 00:54:10 | |
Feeling inspired? Sign Up for a Free Goal Setting Guide Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. You don’t need a big goal to reach out — just curiosity. If you’re wondering about Swimbound, email me at shannon@intrepidwater.com. | |||
| Deep Dive: Jia's Journey to 20 Bridges, Part 1 | 25 Mar 2021 | 00:58:09 | |
To read more about Jia and our other guests, visit http://marathonswimstories.com/ Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Stephen Rouch's Marathon Swim Story | 20 Mar 2021 | 00:55:54 | |
To read more about Stephen and our other guests, visit http://marathonswimstories.com/ Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Deep Dive: Jaimie Monahan's first Signature Solo with LGSA in 2015 | 18 Mar 2021 | 01:02:46 | |
To read more about Jaimie and our other guests, visit http://marathonswimstories.com/ Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Pat Gallant-Charette's Marathon Swim Story | 13 Mar 2021 | 00:54:08 | |
To read more about Pat and our other guests, visit http://marathonswimstories.com/ Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Jef Mallet's Marathon Swim Story | 11 Mar 2021 | 00:59:51 | |
To read more about Jef and our other guests, visit http://marathonswimstories.com/ Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Marty McMahon's Marathon Swim Story | 06 Mar 2021 | 00:53:10 | |
To read more about Marty and our other guests, visit http://marathonswimstories.com/ Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Andrew Chin's Marathon Swim Story | 04 Mar 2021 | 01:10:34 | |
To read more about Andrew and our other guests, visit http://marathonswimstories.com/ Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Elaine Howley's Marathon Swim Directing Story | 27 Feb 2021 | 00:50:27 | |
To read more about Elaine and our other guests, visit http://marathonswimstories.com/ Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Deep Dive: The Power of the Pod | 25 Feb 2021 | 01:02:20 | |
To read more about our guests, visit http://marathonswimstories.com/ Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Liz Rosen's Marathon Swim Story | 20 Feb 2021 | 00:51:03 | |
To read more about Liz and our other guests, visit http://marathonswimstories.com/ Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Claudia Hanson's Swim Story | 02 Jun 2025 | 00:40:23 | |
Feeling inspired? Sign Up for a Free Goal Setting Guide Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. You don’t need a big goal to reach out — just curiosity. If you’re wondering about Swimbound, email me at shannon@intrepidwater.com. | |||
| Deep Dive: Janine Serell's Journey to Tahoe, Part 1 | 18 Feb 2021 | 00:49:57 | |
To read more about Janine and our other guests, visit the brand new http://marathonswimstories.com/ Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Steven Munatones's Marathon Swim Story | 13 Feb 2021 | 00:54:46 | |
To read more about Steven and our other guests, visit the brand new http://marathonswimstories.com/ Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Dina Levačić's Marathon Swim Story | 11 Feb 2021 | 00:48:37 | |
To read more about Dina and our other guests, visit the brand new http://marathonswimstories.com/ Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Kim Rutherford's Marathon Swim Story | 07 Feb 2021 | 00:55:40 | |
To read more about Kim and our other guests, visit the brand new http://marathonswimstories.com/ Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| James Pittar's Marathon Swim Story | 04 Feb 2021 | 01:17:24 | |
Questions, comments, feedback, or if you'd like to be a guest on Marathon Swim Stories, email me! mailto:shannon@intrepidwater.com Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Madhu Nagaraja's Marathon Swim Story | 29 Jan 2021 | 00:54:37 | |
Questions, comments, feedback, or if you'd like to be a guest on Marathon Swim Stories, email me! mailto:shannon@intrepidwater.com Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Deep Dive: Stephen Rouch's Lake Mempremagog Double | 26 Jan 2021 | 01:26:02 | |
Enjoy the first in a series of deep dive editions of Marathon Swim Stories with Stephen Rouch and the team that supported him for his 50 mile double crossing of Lake Memphremagog: Christopher Graefe, Jamie Ann Rennick, Mary Stella, Jimmy Wu, and Stephen Rouche Sr. Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Gary Golden's Marathon Swim Kayaking Story | 22 Jan 2021 | 00:56:00 | |
In his own words: Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Neil Agius' Marathon Swim Story | 20 Jan 2021 | 00:41:07 | |
Neil Agius, 32, has been swimming competitively for the past 22 years. He took it so seriously that he found himself representing Malta on the Olympic team in Athens 2004. Neil currently holds the record for the Malta-Gozo-Malta swim. That’s only the official record, recorded. His humble persona has kept him out of the spotlight for other potential records. His career started from the age of 3, when he fell in a pool, nearly drowned and was sent off to swimming lessons the following day. Neil went on to co-found Swimming Workshop over ten years ago – a swimming school that teaches both children and adults, whatever abilities, to swim and regularly coaches athletes to compete internationally. The Sicily – Malta 100 Km swim has been the peak of his personal swimming ambition for the past 6 years, and he’s thrilled to see it become a reality. This has out him in the top 6 longest swims of all time in his category. Neil has also founded Wave of Change which has enhanced this ambition not only to reach new goals but to help the environment we all live and swim in today. Doing so by raising awareness on the damage being done by plastics and micro-plastics. Neil has also inspired the Maltese people to make changes in their life, not only towards the environment but also towards themselves and people around them. Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Ned Denison's Marathon Swim Story | 12 Jan 2021 | 00:54:26 | |
After my interview today with the esteemed, Ned Denison, I realized that I forgot to ask a few questions. One of my favorites, who's inspired Ned. He sent me a list almost as long as his swimming resume. And why does he keep going? Ned's a goal setter. "It gets me out of bed in the morning, and I sleep better," he says. And it seems that if you run out of known goals, you make up your own! Be sure to look up 'Marathon Centurian', or Extraordinary Marathon Century Club, whose ranks Ned aspires. When you have a 4 page swim resume like Ned, it's hard to know where to start, so we started like we do with every guest on marathon swim stories, at the beginning. And had time for a couple stories. I can't wait to have Ned back to dig into his many contributions to the sport.
Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com
Music credit: Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Deep Dive: Coaching Swimmers for their first Marathon with Melissa Donaldson | 16 May 2025 | 00:46:00 | |
Feeling inspired? Sign Up for a Free Goal Setting Guide Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. You don’t need a big goal to reach out — just curiosity. If you’re wondering about Swimbound, email me at shannon@intrepidwater.com. | |||
| Phil White's Marathon Swim Organizing Story | 11 Jan 2021 | 00:57:57 | |
Have you heard of Kingdom Swim? Imagine a blissful summer day in late July in the far reaches of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. The weekend kicks off with a swimmer and pet parade and a pasta feed. There's a 1 mile swim. When you're ready you can go a little further out into the lake for a 3 miles swim, or check off your first marathon with a 6 mile swim! Jump up to 10 miles of open lake. Or bust the border to get 25 km under your belt. This is what Phil calls the ladder, it's where my marathon swim journey started… Culminating with a search for a lake monster, as a swimmer scouting the length of the Lake Memphremagog for Memphre. Or perhaps the culmination is swimming across and back? There has been a few doubles! In out interview today, my former neighbor on Sunset Acres, Phil White, tells how he got started by trying to save the local pool and in the process fell in love with open water swimmers. Education: 1966: HS, Phillips Academy Andover; 1974 BS Columbia University; 1978: JD Georgetown University Law Center. In my younger days, I worked as a carpenter, a carriage driver in Central Park, a casino cashier in Athens, Greece, and as a Research Assistant at Columbia Geology Dept, UVM, Georgetown, and the Federal Judicial Center. In the 1980s I served as Orleans County State’s Attorney, and was a trial attorney for over three decades after that. I was married for 19 years and raised two kids. I was a youth soccer coach for many years. I am a dedicated downhill skier, runner/jogger, boater, and water rat. During the 1980s I was an avid windsurfer. I’ve loved hiking and camping and playing softball and soccer. During the past 40 years, I’ve boated on Lake Memphremagog in all conditions, fair weather and foul, day and night, drunk and sober. I started The Games in 2007 to help raise money for our local recreation center and pool that was in extreme financial distress. When the center closed in 2013, I started a small business, Kingdom Games, to organize, host and promote outdoor running, biking, swimming and ice skating events. We are based on Neuman’s Own, with any net profits dedicated to local charitable events. Over the last decade, open water swimming in the Northeast Kingdom has blossomed. Here’s the chronology: 2009 Kingdom Swim 2010 Willoughby Swim 2011 In Search of Memphre 2012 Caspian Swim 2013 NEK Swim Week 2014 The Great Skate 2015 US Winter Swimming Championship 2016 Memphremagog Winter Swim Festival 2020 Saturday Clubhous Swim Series In 2021 we will be hosting 25 days of open water swimming: Kingdom Swim (1), NEK Swim Week (8), In Search of Memphre (7), and the Saturday Clubhous Swim Series (9)
Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com
Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Suzanne Heim-Bowen's Marathon Swim Story | 10 Jan 2021 | 01:02:46 | |
Today's guest has been marathon swimming for the last 4 decades! I was fortunate to run into Suzanne Heim during one of my online events. Can you believe that she jumped on What is marathon swimming q&a call - just to connect? It was fun to collaborate and point aspiring marathon swimmers in the right direction. As you can imagine, she has more than a few stories to tell, this is just an overview! In her own words: As a youngster I swam summer league and competed in AAU competitions. At 14, I quit swimming to play boys water polo and run cross country. I helped start the Women’s Swim Team at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in California. Fearful of the ocean due to a near drowning accident at age 5, I never stepped foot in the ocean until I was 18 years old. Many swimmers spend their youth focusing on pool swims and later turn to open water swims. For me, it was the opposite. At 19, I joined the San Francisco Dolphin Swimming and Boating Club and completed solo marathon swims as well as racing 25k open water swims as part of the USA National Team. For the next 15 years many of the solo marathon swims were first person swims in San Francisco Bay and several set open water speed records. I then returned to USMS Pool swimming with the focus on pool racing setting World Records. One of the highlights of my pool swim career, since I still had college eligibility left, was being recruited by the Diablo Valley Community College coach as a distance swimmer at age 50! This was a lot of fun and resulted in a documentary titled, '50 Year Old Freshman'. I returned to marathon solo swimming in 2014 swimming around Manhattan Island—something I had always wanted to do. I was hooked and became inspired by my South End Rowing and Dolphin Club buddies who were training for incredible marathon swims--Michele Squyer, Cathy Harrington, Raine Pierce, just to name a few. Seeing them spend time in the water kept me motivated and in 2019 I completed a Round Trip Angel Island and Catalina swim and in 2020 the Length of Lake Tahoe. However, swimming is not my number one passion! It is education of individuals with special needs. Throughout my youth I volunteered in high school to support my peers with special needs, was an assistant in a special education class and an educational therapist while working on my first Master’s degree. I received my teaching credentials and taught for 7 years before a year on scholarship at the University of Auckland . I returned from New Zealand and enrolled in another Master’s program and became a school psychologist/licensed educational psychologist for students with special needs, specifically: medically fragile, severe behavior disorder, intellectually delayed, autistic. Most recently I was working with youth who were incarcerated: significant mental health needs and post traumatic stress and trauma issues. Thankfully, no matter what was happening in my life, the water was always there to provide peace and whatever happened during the day I could turn off the ‘noise’ and focus on swimming and then return to my work with renewed energy. I continue to be dedicated to supporting youth with special needs even though ‘retired'. I participate on the Juvenile Justice Commission and am an Educational Surrogate/Advocate for youth. My two passions share a symbiotic relationship helping me to be successful in both areas. If you'd like to be a guest on Marathon Swim Stories, email me! mailto:shannon@intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Stuart Hacker's Marathon Swim Story | 08 Jan 2021 | 00:42:23 | |
Have you heard of the Swim Cube? Located a few hours outside of London in Brixworth County Park, Swim Cube opened for swim coaching and analysis in 2018. Like myself, Head Coach Stuart Hacker advocates for taking the first step to improving your stroke by seeing yourself swim. It's easy to envision yourself swimming perfectly, but to actually make change, you need to connect the dots between what you think you're doing and what you're actually doing. Even if there's not an Endless Pool near you, you can still get feedback on your stroke by taking footage of yourself swimming and sending it to me: shannon@intrepidwater.com But did you know that Stuart is also a marathon swimmer? After a couple of experiences crossing the Sea of Galilee, he competed the English Channel in 2018. He tells us all about it in this episode.
Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com
Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Welcome to Season 2! | 08 Jan 2021 | 00:08:59 | |
Find out what to look forward to in Season 2 and vote Marathon Swim Stories for World of Open Water Swimming Offering of the Year! Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Cheryl Coletti-Lawson's Marathon Swim Story | 23 Dec 2020 | 00:43:31 | |
It's hard to believe that it was just three years ago, at 50, that a friend convinced Cheryl to try a sprint triathlon. Having not swam since high school and with her wetsuit on backwards, she tackled the 300m in the water. And while the running particularly, and cycling, didn't stick, she keeps tackling one challenge after another in the water. It gave me goosebumps when Cheryl described the newly discovered sense of confidence she developed after completing her swim across the width of Lake Tahoe last year. She's ready to see how far she can swim. And there's no stopping her. My teenage years and young adulthood was fraught with great challenges and adversity. I struggled, albeit successfully, as a high functioning alcoholic never giving thought to sport. In 2017, someone suggested I participate in a sprint triathlon. I didn’t enjoy the bike, I hated the run, and the 300 yard open water swim scared me to death. Right before the swim, my friend commented that I had my wetsuit on backwards! Something sparked inside me that day and I fell in love with open water swimming. I met my current swim coach, Bob Fernald, that summer at an open water swim event. The following year in 2018, I swam a 10K at the Kingdom Games and 10K in Barbados. I was part of a relay team at IMMT that August. Towing the start line with 2500 other participants in a mass start was not for me! I completed the 2 1/2 mile swim and swore to myself never again. My interest in open water swimming turned to solo marathon swimming. Since then, in 2019, I completed the 12 mile length of Lake Tahoe and I swam the 10k Around the Sound in Bermuda. In 2020, with all events cancelled due to COVID, my awesome crew and I pivoted to local swims. I completed the first documented 12.28 mile double crossing of Newfound Lake of the first documented 16 mile double crossing of Lake Sunapee, both here in New Hampshire. In marathon swimming, I find peace, serenity, and the calm within the storm. I don’t race against anyone, I don’t swim to beat another person‘s distance or time. I swim in complete gratitude for the confidence I have developed in myself through my marathon swimming accomplishments. We all fight our own demons. Swimming helps me quell the noise of negativity and empowers a positive mindset. I am grateful for the amazing people I have met and the friendships that have evolved in the open water swim community. I swim in gratitude of my sobriety for without it, I would never have set foot in the water. I have an amazing husband who supports me in all things swimming. I have a superb crew who, without them, my marathon swimming would never be possible. I swim alone but it takes a team to help me succeed. Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Kelley Prebil's Marathon Swim Story | 18 Dec 2020 | 01:00:18 | |
Welcome to Marathon Swim Stories! I'm Shannon Keegan, swim coach at Intrepid Water.com. Are you ready to swim more efficently? Send me footage of you swimming and I'll analyze it for free! shannon@intrepidwater.com After several months of being bed ridden and in a wheelchair, Kelley doesn't take her ability to physically move for granted! Naturally, she returned to her chlorine-y roots for rehabilitation, but it wasn't until a her first glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge from the water that she said goodbye to the black line! In her own words: Kelley Prebil was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. One day she suddenly experienced severe hip pain and lost her ability to lift her right leg from previously undiagnosed dysplasia. She started marathon swimming after having two pelvic reconstructive surgeries to save both of her hip joints. Several months of being bedridden and in a wheelchair made her never want to take her ability to physically move for granted ever again. She believes that anyone can be a marathon swimmer as long as they have the desire to join this wonderful unique community of challenging oneself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Preferring to be outdoors, she also spends a lot of her leisure time road cycling, mountain biking, caving, cross-country & alpine skiing, backpacking, hiking, and trail running. She can usually be found swimming in the waters of San Francisco Bay, Lake Tahoe, Monterey Bay, or Laguna Beach or on her bike climbing a lot of Bay Area hills. That is, of course, when she's not working at her childhood dream employer of the California Academy of Sciences as a Senior Database Administrator. You can find out more information about her from her website http://www.pearlsgirl.com or her blog at https://kelleyprebil.wordpress.com/ Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Why Marathon Swim Stories? | 16 Dec 2020 | 00:05:21 | |
I've been intending to do this recording since I started Marathon Swim Stories back in April! And here it is, just a few weeks before the new year... I'm about to wrap up Season 1 after nearly 70 stories of marathon swimmers around the globe! Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com
Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Alyssa Langlais' Marathon Swim Story | 15 Dec 2020 | 00:43:35 | |
I'm so excited for you to meet my guest today! I met Alyssa a couple years ago when I sent out a survey searching for swimmers who wanted to push distance in the water, but needed some support and guidance. She jumped at the opportunity to partake in my Quickstart for Marathon Swimming program with a handful of aspirants. It was so fun to hear Alyssa talk about how the course prepared her for marathon swims and how she wants to keep building distance. We talk about so many important topics in this interview: Accepting fear, finding courage, and the need to uncover a comfortable place for your mind to go when you are anything but comfortable during a marathon swim. Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com
Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Amy Gubser's Marathon Swim Story | 08 Dec 2020 | 00:46:29 | |
If you've been listening to Marathon Swim Stories for awhile, you’re familiar with my frequent refrain, "I love that". At times, I wish I had a more interesting response, but it's true! I just love it - all of it! Like my guest today, Amy Gubser, I'm in love with open water and marathon swimming. And I love every marathon swim story. It's the one hour a week that I drop everything and just listen. I'm smitten and I'm recruiting! Trying to cast my net far and wide. If you know someone who's marathon swimming intrigued, send them my way shannon@intrepidwater.com. I want everyone to learn to swim efficiently, experience self discovery, and uncover deep seated determination. I want everyone to effuse joy like Amy. I hope you enjoy this episode! Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com
Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Sue Phillips' Marathon Swim Story | 01 Dec 2020 | 00:48:07 | |
My guest today is fellow Oregonian Sue Phillips. While Sue assured me that her story was not that interesting, she kept coming up with stories… I fondly remember playing leap frog with her in Lake Massawippi last year, but that was just the beginning… she's lost her kayaker around Lido Key, ridden the waves in the Chesapeake, and swam the width in Tahoe during a pandemic. Everyone has a story. I hope you enjoy Sue's!
Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| The Story of the Mayan Channel Swim | 01 May 2025 | 00:27:33 | |
Feeling inspired? Sign Up for a Free Goal Setting Guide Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. You don’t need a big goal to reach out — just curiosity. If you’re wondering about Swimbound, email me at shannon@intrepidwater.com. | |||
| Lori King's Marathon Swim Story | 25 Nov 2020 | 00:47:22 | |
Today I spoke with the first woman to swim around the island of Bermuda, Lori King. Upon rediscovering her love of swimming later is life, Lori tried to politely decline an invitation to swim in the open water, strongly preferring the pool. Needless to say, she eventually found her rhythm and got over her fears. There's quite a bit of mom chat in this episode. About how hard it can be, but also how having kids mentally trains you to get through the tough parts of marathon swimming. Once you get to the start line, all you have to do is swim. I hope you enjoy this episode. In her own words: Lori King grew up in Norristown Pennsylvania and started swimming competitively by age 5. In college, she swam Division I for La Salle University. After college, she temporarily fell away from swimming, moved to New York City, married and had two children. She began a career as a research analyst for the Visiting Nurse Service Research Center, which eventually led her to earn a Masters of Public Health, from Columbia University (2010). As her career progressed, she felt something was missing in her life and returned to swimming in 2004. In 2006, she was introduced to open water swimming and her lifelong passion evolved. In 2010, she competed in her 1st open water event, followed rapidly, by 6 and 12-mile open water swims, in Bermuda and Key West, respectively. While trying to juggle family life and swimming, she has since competed in numerous open water marathon events, such as the Catalina channel swim, the Manhattan Island swim, the 120-mile 8 Bridges Hudson River Staged Swim, Capri-Napoli, Ibiza Marathon swim, & Kalamata Greece swim to name a few. On June 15-16, 2016, Lori became the first woman (second person) to successful swim the 36.5 miles around the island of Bermuda in just over 21 hours. In December of 2016 Lori was awarded the Global Marathon Swimmer Yudovin Award for most adventurous swim by the Marathon Swimmers Federation for her Bermuda swim. Lori has used her swimming to speak to swim teams and organizations aimed at empowering girls and was featured on “heroes on our Island” television news segment. Settled in Long Island, New York, family comes first for Lori but with their support she is able to live her dreams and reach her goals one swim at a time. Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Sally Minty-Gravett's Marathon Swim Story | 24 Nov 2020 | 00:45:07 | |
My guest today started her competitive swimming career in 1967, and it continues to this day. In 2016, on the 41st anniversary of her first English Channel crossing, she completed an English Channel 2 way. Sal Minty-Gravett's Swimming CV is 5 pages long. We barely scratched the surface today, but be sure to stick around to the end for the eventful bits of a few of her swims! Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Stories from the Water Trailer | 21 Nov 2020 | 00:03:44 | |
Where land meets water, an invitation lingers—not just between elements, but between versions of ourselves. In this trailer episode, we hear from three swimmers who’ve accepted that invitation: Sylvia Lacock, Naji Ali, and Jessi Harewicz. Each enters the water not just to swim, but to ask: Who am I when I let go of the shore? Stories from the Water is a series about transformation, told through the rhythms of stroke and breath. These are stories of resilience, risk, and the quiet revelations that surface when we cross into the unknown. | |||
| Robin Rose's Marathon Swim Story | 17 Nov 2020 | 00:51:08 | |
In today's episode I spoke with Triple Crown and California Triple Crown swimmer Robin Rose. A mom of three, Robin reminds us how we don't know what we're capable of until we get out there and do it. Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Diane McManus' Marathon Swim Story | 10 Nov 2020 | 00:49:14 | |
In this episode I spoke with Diane McManus just before her 70th birthday. While she conquered her fears of deep water and learned to swim as a child, she didn't spend much time in the pool until a running injury forced her to take a break from land sports in her 50's. Then, out of curiosity, she signed up for her first open water mile. Then pushed from 1 to 3… to 5 to 8 miles, eventually pushing to double digits! Diane tells us about the wild woman inside that just wants to see what she can do. Nurture your wild side with this episode of Marathon Swim Stories. Enjoy! In her own words: I learned to swim as a child. Because we vacationed on Fire Island every year, my parents made sure we knew how to swim—it was vital to be able to swim, since we spent so much time near/on water—and since most of my swim lessons were in a bay, when I first did an open water mile, I didn’t have the adjustment that many people do who are used to pools. However, I didn’t swim for teams, not as a kid, not in high school, not in college. I swam for fun and exercise, just swimming laps. Then when I got into running, I swam even less and only when rehabbing from running injuries. During one injury, missing the camaraderie of races, I signed up for a mile open water swim. It made my pool swims more interesting, as I needed to progress from a half-mile with frequent breaststroke breaks to a full mile all freestyle. But I finally was able to do that, went to the swim, made rookie mistakes, but overall loved it. However, soon after that, I was able to run again, so swimming returned to the back burner. A few years later, still more runner than swimmer, I saw a sign in my Y announcing that the kids’ coach was forming a masters swim team. The coach wanted people to participate in an ocean mile. “No way,” I thought. I’d learned to be comfortable in a bay, but had some scary experiences ocean swimming—nope, not doing that! But the coach was persuasive, his enthusiasm infectious—and so I finally agreed to swim. While terrified as I made my way to the first buoy, I settled down once I got past the breakers, and began to enjoy the experience. That year, I heard about a five-mile swim from Fire Island to Long Island, the Maggie Fischer Memorial Great South Bay Swim. No way! Too far! A mile seemed fine. Then two years later, I swam it, surprising myself with a time of 3:25—but I was so seasick I thought that would be it for longer swims. Yet I was swimming more, incorporating swims into competitive events—splash and dash races, then New York’s Stars and Stripes Aquathlon. Although my first masters’ coach had by that time left coaching to get his degree in physical therapy, I was swimming with a succession of masters’ teams, until I hooked up with John’s group. And in 2014, he trained me for the Great South Bay Swim. After a series of “you’re kidding, right?” workouts, I took 40 minutes off my time. I’ve been training with John ever since that year, joining most of his events, and graduating to 8 miles, then 11. Who knows what’s next! Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Cliff Golding's Marathon Swim Story | 03 Nov 2020 | 00:54:25 | |
It's "the loneliest place in extreme sport, " says Cliff Golding, that moment when you're standing on the beach with your arm up waiting for the klaxon to go off. You're full of nerves and Everything you've done up to that point as led to that moment." It took 6 of these lonely moments on the beach before Cliff put his demons to bed and finally completed his swim across the English Channel, demonstrating his competence to his naysayers who had told him that he was clearly a runner, not a swimmer. 28 years of marathon swimming later, I'm thrilled to hear that Cliff is committing to improving his technique! Of course this is from a coach who emphasizes proper technique and emotional preparedness over just about anything else. His is a story of dogged persistence with many gems along the way. Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Katie Blair's Marathon Swim Story | 28 Oct 2020 | 00:41:38 | |
In this episode I talk to Katie Blair shortly after returning home to Indiana from her 29 hour and 10 minutes in the St Lucia channel, swimming from St Lucia, to Martinique, and back… almost! Her longest stint in the water, she faced jellyfish stings and salt tongue, and initially felt okay with her accomplishment, but two weeks later, she's wondering if should could have made it. Adventure addict and author of Lessons from the Water, Katie says the book was a pandemic project and only after the press run is she realizing how much she's put herself out there. I felt a little like a kid in a candy store talking to the great Katie Blair whom I first heard of from a Phil White email… the woman who planned to swim across Lake Memphremagog and run back to Newport. THIS was a person I wanted to meet! And today I did.
Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Tracy Knight's Marathon Swim Story | 27 Oct 2020 | 00:51:52 | |
A fellow marathon swimming mom, Tracy Knight discovered that there might be something to this distance stuff shortly before having kids. Her clue was that she completed more distance in an hour than fellow swimmers who would smoke her in practice! Thank you US Masters ePostals! After completing her first 5K she didn’t hesitate to make the jump to the 17K Portland Bridge swim… and thus a marathon swimmer was born. We talk about whether uniformity of scenery should be a new metric of marathon swims, being, perhaps, a reluctant marathon swimmer, and going swimming to avoid the incessant "mom… where are my socks!". In her own words: I did age group swim team 8-12; swam on a very low-key Division III college team and started masters swimming at 26. About 15 years ago, after reading “Swimming to Antarctica,” I realized I was a distance swimmer. As life intervened, it wasn’t until 2016 that I swam Big Shoulders 5k. I was hooked! In 2017, I did the Great Chesapeake Bay (4.4 miles), the Portland Bridge Swim (17k) and Swim the Suck. I’ve been looking for new open water challenges ever since. Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com
Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5447-epic-inspiration- Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Marlys Cappaert's Marathon Swim Story | 20 Oct 2020 | 00:43:32 | |
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. 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. Questions, comments, feedback, or if you'd like to be a guest on Marathon Swim Stories, email me! mailto:shannon@intrepidwater.com Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com
Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| John Kenny's Marathon Swim Story | 13 Oct 2020 | 00:52:53 | |
John Kenny says, "I started doing all of this stuff when I was a kid". Rather than getting over fears of open water and finding out that he can swim further, I love how he describes his parents having to get over the fact that he was going to swim no matter what. During his college days and beyond, John found his niche in the sport of open water swimming. Aside from working for 10 years on the Atlantic City Beach Patrol, making numerous rescues, and winning numerous lifeguard races, he also had amazing success at the National and International levels. John was a 5-time US National champion in distances ranging from 10K up to 25K. He was a 7-time National team member and has competed at a wide variety of races including Nationals, Olympic trials, Pan Ams, Pan Pacs, World Cups, and World Championships. He has been competing at local open water races since 1990, attended his first Open Water Nationals in 1997, and most recently represented the USA in the 25K at World Championships in 2008. There were many swimmers out there with more raw speed in the pool, but very few could match his experience, endurance, tactics, and innate sense of finding the fastest, most efficient way to finish an open water race. From short races to marathons, flat lake swims to rough ocean or turbulent river swims, John Kenny is the most experienced open water swimmer in the United States, if not the world. Other coaches in the triathlon realm claiming to be “open water experts” do not come close. Beginning in 2005, John began to race professionally as a triathlete. Although it took him a while to develop his cycling skills, he has recently begun to experience more success in multisport. Aside from winning many swim primes at major races such as 70.3 races and Lifetime Fitness races, John is almost always the first out of the water, even at the highest level of the sport. Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com
Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Lorelei Schmidt's Swim Story | 15 Apr 2025 | 01:07:51 | |
Feeling inspired? Sign Up for a Free Goal Setting Guide Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. You don’t need a big goal to reach out — just curiosity. If you’re wondering about Swimbound, email me at shannon@intrepidwater.com. | |||
| Sarah Eismann's Marathon Swim Story | 06 Oct 2020 | 00:51:55 | |
When I moved to the idyllic hamlet of Talent 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, "good morning Shannon! Hey, have you met Sarah? She's a marathon swimmer too!" Our schedules hardly jive, but we've connected here and there since then. It's wonderful to share the local water with a fellow limit pusher. I started doing triathlons in 2014…but I was deathly afraid of open water. My first open water (ocean) swim EVER was one month before my first triathlon. I almost fainted my heart was pounding so hard in my chest. Then I finished my first tri and was totally addicted to endurance sports. That’s when I “discovered” long distance open water swimming. And my life changed forever. Every big life lesson that I have learned in the last three years came from hours in the water, being tossed in huge swells, following my escort boat, finding swim community, fighting pain and panic, losing myself in the dark, or just listening to my breathing. In 2017 the Viking Width of Lake Tahoe was my first ever marathon swim, and less than a year later (on my 40th birthday) I became the second woman to circumnavigate Bermuda. I’m still utterly petrified of open water where I can’t see the bottom, but I’ll take that win. I swim because it gives me a sense of well being and a feeling accomplishment. I am completely enamored of all the sensations of being in the water, floating, feeling weightless, the feel of the water on my skin, feeling completely ensconced, the silence under the water, the noise of it rushing past my ears, the movement of gliding through perfectly still water, the power of each stroke, the blue of sky as seen from under the water, the world that exists in clear oceans, the rhythm of the waves, the undulation of swells, the perfectness of it all. I also swim to take myself out of all that and out of my comfort zone and to push myself beyond my limits both physically and mentally. The water can be a cruel mistress. She can toss you, fight you, throw you, make you cry, make you scream…and she is always right. She is always the most powerful. To learn how to be taken on that ride, to be respectful of everything she can do, to understand you are nothing, have no power, are less significant than a single drop in that vast body of water, and come out the other side humbled, safe, and more wise than when you started…that’s the goal. If you can do that, the rest of life is a piece of pie. Life on land holds no fear, no limits, no obstacles that can’t be overcome. Just be patient with the current. Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Bill Shipp's Marathon Swim Story | 29 Sep 2020 | 00:40:46 | |
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 that was nearly swamped, as we were way over capacity. Full of cold and tired swimmers and kayakers who had been brutally beaten by the wind and waves all night long. None of us were making it to the north tip of Lake Memphremagog this day (though many would go back to complete it!). Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||
| Craig Lewin's Marathon Swim Story | 22 Sep 2020 | 00:46:18 | |
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 attests, it's valuable to have a coach keep you accountable as you pursue your swimming goals. In his own words: Craig Lewin is a USA Swimming Coach, ASCA Level 2 Coach and a US Masters Swimming Level 1 & 2 coach with over 10 years of swim coaching experience. He is a graduate of Boston College with degrees in Economics and Sociology, a graduate of Salem State College with a BS in Sport Movement Science and a graduate of Northeastern University with an MS in Clinical Exercise Physiology. Craig swam collegiately for the Division 1 Men's Swimming & Diving team at Boston College. He recently completed his Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming in July of this year with his English Channel Swim. Craig has done several marathon swims, including the Boston Light Swim, Swim Across the Sound 25km and the 25km swim at the USA Swimming Open Water National Championships in 2005 & 2006. He was a support swimmer for two separate English Channel swim attempts and recently completed his own solo swim across the English Channel in 2020. Along with marathon swimming, Craig has competed in triathlon at a high level and qualified for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in 2008. Stay in touch by joining our email list at http://intrepidwater.com
Music credit: Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. | |||