Marathon Swimming Made Possible: Tips To Tackle The Open Water and Succeed
Marathon swimming is about far more than fitness. It’s about patience, preparation, and a willingness to lean into discomfort. In a recent podcast conversation with Brenton Ford from Effortless Swimming, coach and marathon swimmer Craig Lewin shared his perspective on what it really takes to succeed in the open water.
Here are some of the key insights from this conversation — along with actionable tips for swimmers at every level.
Start Small and Build Consistency
“It starts with short swims in open water, not jumping straight into the big ones. Consistency builds the foundation.”
Tips:
Beginner: Start with shorter swims to get used to sighting and being outside the pool. Practice basic open water skills and swim safety.
Intermediate: Start extending your open water swim session time and/or frequencies. Depending on your goals, you may want to start shifting your focus to finding a rhythm instead of pure speed.
Advanced: Add structured build weeks and long swims, gradually increasing duration. Add in exposure to warmer or colder water depending on the event you are training for.
Train the Mind as Much as the Body
“You’ve got to get comfortable being uncomfortable. The mental side is what carries you through the long hours.”
Tips:
Beginner: Practice mental check-ins during swims and reset your focus when needed. Don’t get frustrated, try to enjoy being in nature!
Intermediate: Use visualization before training sessions — picture yourself swimming through rough water and other obstacles.
Advanced: Incorporate “boredom tolerance” swims with no watch or music, focusing only on breath and stroke working on getting into a flow state.
Recovery Is Part of Training
“Rest is part of the training. If you don’t give yourself recovery, the body and the mind won’t hold up.”
Tips:
Beginner: Add scheduled recovery or rest days to your weekly training.
Intermediate: Add active recovery sessions like yoga or easy swims.
Advanced: Track recovery metrics and adjust accordingly. Listen to your body.
Fueling Can Make or Break Your Swim
“Nutrition is a make-or-break factor. You can be fit enough, but without fuel, you’ll hit the wall.”
Tips:
Beginner: Practice eating small, simple snacks before and after swimming. Observe how you feel when you are fueled up and how different foods make you feel.
Intermediate: Test different types of foods and liquids for calories like carb drinks or electrolytes during longer training swims. Start figuring out your feed plan.
Advanced: Replicate and fine tune your feeding plan in training before your event so it is second nature. Be flexible as well as anything can happen out there.
Prepare for the Unpredictable
“You can’t control the ocean, but you can prepare to handle whatever it gives you.”
Tips:
Beginner: Swim in different conditions (early mornings, overcast days) to reduce surprises. Stay within your limits and always put safety above all else.
Intermediate: Introduce cold or warm water exposure gradually to build resilience. Try to train in the same conditions your event will be in. If English Channel is your goal, then focus on 55-59F water temps and slowly increasing your time. If you are training for a swim in Cancun, Mexico then you will need to find warmer waters to train in.
Advanced: Simulate worst-case scenarios in training — chop, currents, even night swims. Again stay within your limits and follow best practices with regard to safety.
Final Takeaway
“Success is built on repetition, patience, and learning to love the grind.”
Marathon swimming is not about heroics. It’s about preparation, smart progression, and a mindset that embraces challenges. Whether you’re stepping into open water for the first time or preparing for a channel swim, the path forward is built on consistency, a willingness to fail, learn and grow.