The Effortless Swimming Podcast · Brenton Ford

#393 : Navigating the Challenges of Marathon Swimming with Craig Lewin

·54 min·3 clips

Craig Lewin says marathon-swim training is mostly about handling boredom, irritability, hunger, and persistence.

Boredom is the first problem Craig names. He treats it as part of the training load, not a side issue. A long swim asks for more than fitness. It asks for patience when the body gets irritable and the mind starts bargaining. Craig says the work can feel like hunger, fatigue, and annoyance arriving all at once. That is where perseverance matters. He and Brenton talk about the English Channel and other marathon swims as tests of preparation over time. The discussion keeps coming back to cold water because acclimation happens in the water itself. Craig says the best way to adapt is to train in conditions as close to the target swim as possible. Education is part of that preparation too. Swimmers need to know the warning signs of hypothermia before they trust effort alone. He points to the claw in the hands as one common sign. Shivering in the water is another warning that should not be ignored. Mental incoherence means it is time to get out immediately. Craig also describes how he and his athletes build cold tolerance by swimming down the season as temperatures drop. In those conditions, neoprene can be useful if it helps them stay in the water longer. Once the water warms, they strip the gear away and keep moving toward the target demands. The episode keeps coming back to the same practical idea: learn the conditions, respect the signs, and build the experience that makes long swims possible.

As heard by us

Cold-water racing depends on acclimation, discipline, and a sharp read on warning signs.

Craig Lewin comes across as a coach and triple crown marathon swimmer who treats marathon swimming less like a heroic sprint and more like a long test of boredom tolerance, grit, and staying useful when the body wants to quit.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

For when you want a colder, slower, more honest view of marathon swimming.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The Effortless Swimming Podcast