how I train to swim longer distance

[@ChristinaProticMotivation]

Nice video!😊👍🏻

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

Thanks! 😊 Glad you enjoyed it!

[@julzgulz1992]

Hi from the US, Pacific Northwest! Because of you I have found my happy place in the Puget Sound. I had no idea one could swim in the cold water. I’ve been dipping in nearly every day, just working on acclimatizing. One day I hope to swim any distance. I show my husband your videos so he will stop thinking I am going to get instant hypothermia. 😂 Love your gentle teaching and good humor. Thank you for inspiring me!

[@juliedrakeArtist]

Wow, that's absolutely fantastic Julz. Go girl!

[@marycharlebois6627]

Hi Julz, I’m from the PNW (🇨🇦), up north… and I certainly know what you are getting at when you mention that others think you will develop instant hypothermia. My partner is really supportive and he knows that I take all the necessary safety precautions. That said, it is alarming how some people fear for my safety and question my passion for wild swimming. But those of us who dip and swim in the lakes, rivers, and oceans… we just “get it”, don’t we? I know the Puget Sound… it must be lovely to swim there. Have a good one 🌎💦Ⓜ️ary🏊‍♀️

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

Hi Julz great to hear from you, and I see that Mary has said hi too! It's lovely to read that you've been enjoying the videos and i really like knowing where in the world people are swimming. Welcome to my channel! 🏊😃

[@marycharlebois6627]

Thanks for all the excellent tips and suggestions in this video Rachel. I always appreciate your knowledge, positivity, and inspiration. I have set a goal to swim across my fave lake (and back) on Aug 31 (my birthday… turning 58). I’ve invited friends to join in… those who wish to paddle or sail can be my safety flotilla. Then we’ll have a picnic brunch afterwards at the lake… so I have lots of cooking, swimming, and organizing to do. I have no idea of the actual distance this lake swim is, but I have been swimming everyday for an hour and I feel pretty confident that I can accomplish this goal. It’s pretty remote where I live (and swim), there is no cell service and no other folks to wild swim with, so safety can be quite a challenge. My biggest safety concern is leg or foot cramps, but I started taking supplemental Magnesium back in June and I have not had any problems since then (pretty sure the warm water temperatures are also helping.). I’ve had a lot of orthopaedic surgeries on my left shoulder, knee and foot… I swim crooked, always pulling to the left, so sighting is something I need to work on. I, too, find swimming to be meditative and relaxing… not sure if I will ever work up to 10km, but I am super enthused to follow along on your journey while at the same time learning from you and celebrating your successes. Thanks for sharing these great tips…. I look forward to more awesome videos. Love Tuesdays… 🌎💦Ⓜ️ary🏊‍♀️

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

Hey Mary, if you're really interested to know the distance across you lake, I think you can measure 'as the crow flies' on Google maps. You'll be able to check it out. Wha a way to celebrate your birthday. How many friends have you got joining you? I hope to see a picture of this at some point! The distance of a challenge is not important, working towards it and achieving it or knowing how to improve for a more successful attempt another time is what is interesting and motivating. Your swim looks to be about a week before my river swim. 🏊😃

[@marycharlebois6627]

@@EverydayAthleteRach If your swim is Sept 7… that’s the first day of school for me. Year number 35 of teaching, and the 53rd consecutive year of “back to school” for me (I’ve been in school pretty much my whole life, on one side of the desk or the other.). I think when I leave the teaching profession I just might go for a lovely wild swim on the first day of school. I am really looking forward to hearing and seeing all the deets of your long distance 10K swim. My swim is much shorter, and I think there will be about 14 people in my safety flotilla... fun!! I’m looking forward to it, and also to the plant-based picnic which will be back here at my house following the swim adventure. I will check out Google maps and try to measure the distance, good idea!! 🌎💦Ⓜ️ary

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

@@marycharlebois6627 wow! Thank you for your service to education! There’s also a measuring tool on webapp.navionics.com if you can identify your location on it - really for navigating at sea…

[@swiminthesea6391]

Hi Rachel, it's good to know, I'm not the only one taking a relaxed attitude to training. Like you I find swimming more than twice a week makes great difference to swimming fitness and general progress. Also training as much as possible in open water under any weather conditions (provided it is safe of course) is a very good preparation because it makes it much easier to cope with the conditions on the day of the event. Pool swimming can be helpful for drills and working on stroke improvement, but you need to get a feeling for the distance in large body of water and get used to the idea of swimming for a long time without ever touching a wall in open water. Motivating yourself to keep swimming by breaking up the long distance into several shorter ones is really helpful. The longest distance I've done in a an event was a 6k river swim with the current. I just trained like I usually do swimming something between 2 and 3k several times a week than trusted the current to help me through it. It worked really well. After the first twenty or so metres I got severe attack of belated stage fever so I just turned on my back and did double arm strokes with abreast stroke kick, telling myself I was only there to bathe and enjoy myself. After a few minutes I relaxed turned on my stomach and started to swim front crawl all the way through. I might attempt to swim 10 k in my river this summer but first I'll go the baltic sea on holiday next week and I hope I'll be able to do some long swims there.

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

I do enjoy a longer swim with the current, it makes me feel like I'm flying. Enjoy the Baltic and get your longest swim in before the water starts cooling down! Have fun 🏊😃

[@patriciapowers3751]

Another great video as always. I always look forward to Tuesdays 🏊🏻‍♀️🌊😄

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

Yay! Thank you! Hope the weather is being kind and the sea's not too hot for your swimming Pat 🏊😃

[@tomscott1435]

Yes! Thank you Rachel. Great video!

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

You're so welcome! 🏊😃

[@lotetann3225]

great video! thank you for this great insights! I am hoping to swim a 10 k this year as well and your words sparked motivation and optimism to achieve this goal!:)

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

You can do it, but try to enjoy the training journey, so your success isn't hinged upon the one event day. You will achieve so much along the way, Good luck!

[@Andre.R]

Another informative video Rachel, excellent 😎

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

Thank you! 😀 Glad you enjoyed it.

[@taf3339]

You're the best Rachel, this came just at the right time! Thanks as always for this great content!

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

Hi T AF, so pleased you found the video helpful. Good luck with your own swimmy challenges 🏊😃

[@Emma-nc6yk]

Hi Rachel, great video as ever. Just wondering what you do for feeding during your solo long duration swims? Thinking of strapping a drink bottle to outside of tow float but keen to know other ideas Thanks

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

Hi Emma, you might foind this video helpful: feeding on a long open water swim kzbin.info/www/bejne/p57UdKWojcuKjKc

[@InspectAzmi]

Great sharing. Rachel go rache!

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

Thank you! Will do! 🏊😃

[@begun65vdal5]

Thanks for your video, and your Popy showed up at the end👍 ...I am recently extending my swimming to last 1hr here in the Baltic (not so salty😊).

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

Great work managing an hour in the Baltic! Yes, Cookie was with me for the filming of this one and snuck in towards the end - good spot!

[@sproutgrrl9017]

I've been so inspired by your videos and your amazing positive attitude! Thank you for so much wonderful info and guidance. I am only just beginning my journey into open water swimming and swimming in cooler water temperatures coming in Southern California. Checking out all your links and am thrilled to find Total Immersion swimming mentioned. 🏊❤️ I'm going to take that as a sign. 😆

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

Well how lovely to hear from you, thanks for commenting. I'm pleased to hear you enjoy the content. Good luck with the winter dipping, remember to shorten up the time in the water with the dropping temperatures. 🏊😃

[@icandoit95]

Hi Rachel I started watching your videos last year when some friends and I decided to leave our wetsuits at home. I haven't worn mine all year :) Although summer is upon us, I still swim regularly and have taken on more distance than I ever have. This video was very helpful and I hope to make it through my first 3k swim this weekend in English Bay here on the West Coast of BC (Canada) :). Thanks so much. I hope to be able to visit one day !

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

How did the 3K swim go Claire? I hope you had fun 🏊😃

[@icandoit95]

@@EverydayAthleteRach So kind of you to take the time to ask :) It was great. I did well and it was fun (once I was in the water and swimming!)

[@swimmergirlkathysimmons3956]

Hi Rachel, very informative so thank you. 10k is too far for me but I'll use the information you've given to try and increase from a mile swimming to 2 miles. I'll be taking on Swim Serpentine in September (just a mile though) but might try 2 miles next year. :)

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

Hey Kathy, that sounds like a great challenge. I've been to the Serpentine once, but just for a short swim, the surroundings are beautiful. Good luck with the mile and I'm sure you'll do the 2 miles next time. Enjoy! 🏊😃

[@ladyjrider666]

Really useful video. Thank you :)

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

Glad it helped.

[@vanessalake4468]

Good information thankyou.

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@sarahenticott8969]

Thanks for sharing!! 10 km sounds like a long way. Could you do a video on nutrition and recovery as swim distances / effort increase? Thanks.

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

Hi Sera I did make this video a while ago, but I will make one on nutrition at some point, thanks for the prompt 🏊😃 feeding on a long open water swim kzbin.info/www/bejne/p57UdKWojcuKjKc

[@LuciaPamela100]

This is why I’ve wanted to swap the pool for outdoor swimming. I trained and completed the Bantham Swoosh the last time the event actually ran. I’ve been struggling to find like minded people to swim with and consequently, as I’ve mixed feelings about swimming completely alone, it hasn’t happened for me. I have to say, the online groups I’ve been following, haven’t really helped as they are more about dips/leisurely swims and have tended to put me off with scaremongering about swimming alone. As you can tell I’m in need of a boost/kick up the bum. 😂

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

Hi Jay Jay, I think there are plenty of people lurking in those groups who would be up for stretching their distance a little. Just has to be a non-challenging and 'anyone's welcome to join me kind of post. Certainly I have found a swim buddy in my local group who's up for longer adventures. That said, most of my training swims are done alone using a tow float, swimming somewhere familiar in good weather and using the RYA Safetrx tracking app with a friend monitoring it as my emergency contact. I always swim parallel to the shore and into the current first before returning with the current to my get in spot. Good luk 🏊😃

[@LuciaPamela100]

@Everyday Athlete Rach Thanks Rachel. 😊 Your videos are always a great help for boosting my motivation and knowing where to go for advice.

[@RPA1999]

Hi Rach, I remember you posted a product that you use on your camera lens for the gopro to repel water. I can't remember which it was and which video you posted it on. It's called hydro....? Can you remind me please and can you use it on your Goggles to repel water?

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

It was a treated lens cover for the GoPro. However, this stuff is great for goggles: seaandstream.co.uk/products/reef-safe-mask-defog?_pos=1&_psq=defog&_ss=e&_v=1.0

[@RPA1999]

@@EverydayAthleteRach Thank you so much. I'll order one tonight! Continue the great work you do, I love your channel!

[@carlesgranadosserra3101]

I swim middle distances: 5K-6K at the moment. Maybe I'll do 10K next year. No hurry about that yet. I train long distances basically swimming in the sea. For me it's important swimming them with a swimming fella. Not only for the safety but to me motivated and push up to not quit if I get bored or tired. Time runs better is you are not alone. As you say, for me it's also very important swimming with a good technique because minimize the effort so you can swim faster and get less tired. So sometimes even I do not swim a long distance if I've been focused swimming well, it's a useful swim. Sometimes I push myself to swim in bad conditions a long distances, not only as a physical tough training but specially as mentally one. For example, sometimes I swim the way back against de current, to suffer the desperate feeling of swim so slow when u are at the end of a training o race. I've suffered this in some races and you must have a strong mentality to not quit and keep on swimming. So suffering that sometimes is something I think it helps. I try ti do some swimming pool sessions doing some series, but I must confess I don't like them much more. Series I know helps you. But as I've said I do them less that I shall do... Keep doing yours greats vids. I like them. Thanks

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

Thanks for commenting Carles. I do some of my longer swims in less than great conditions, but it is a balance for me knowing that the event I'm swimming is in a river environment so the waves won't be that large. It is important to know how to cope when getting wavelets slapping you in the face though. I found that mixing pool with outdoor training is my best combination. In the pool I can conccentrate on technique and in the sea I can bring it all together with the reality of poor visibility, weather and current. I do most of my training swims alone, so I always swim against the current first unless I mess up (only once or twice) as the scare is worse than the benefit it as brought. The events I take part in are for fun and the only person I'm competing against is me. Also being river and tidal, no year is ever the same, so I can't really compare back year on year, it's just how I feel when I get out and how quickly I recover! 🏊😃

[@carlesgranadosserra3101]

@@EverydayAthleteRach I agree with you. Here in Catalonia we don't have many lakes or rivers good to swim, so most the swimming events are in the sea. Well, it's a pleasure exchange knowledge with you.

[@LexxEllison]

Thank you for your guidance as always. On a recent mid distance swim I suffered cramp in both legs, luckily managing to stretch near the river bank . Which leads me on to ask,do you have any nutritional tips before a swim and what to do if things go wrong? Thank you

[@EverydayAthleteRach]

I might put together a what to do to self-resuce video. As for nutrition, I did a video about feeding on a long open water swim which you may find helpful 🏊😃 kzbin.info/www/bejne/p57UdKWojcuKjKc