Marathon Mentors

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(Redirected from Marathon Swimming Mentor)

noun - Marathon Swimming Mentors are experienced open water swimmers or individuals who teach, guide, inspire, coach, assist and mentor aspiring marathon swimmer, either those who challenge themselves to attempt an open water swim at least 10 km in distance for the first time, or successful marathon swimmers who wish to swim for further or more difficult marathon swimming challenges.

Qualifications

The Marathon Swimming Mentors are experienced marathon swimmers or individuals with a wealth of experience in the sport of marathon swimming. They must agree to not offer any paid services to be part of this program, but may receive compensation for their travel expenses in order to support or serve as an escort crew member.

Services

  • Review marathon swimming plans and preparations
  • Help debrief after a marathon swim
  • Answer questions and provide advice
  • Identify an additional mentor who may be local to the swimmer, closer to the swimmer's age and swim speed, more in tune with the swimmer's family situation, mental outlook, or progression in the sport
  • Serve as a Big Brother or Big Sister to build a rapport with.

A Marathon Swimming Mentor is not generally going to offer the following:

  • Provide stroke analysis
  • Prepare workouts
  • Provide nutritional analysis
  • Offer virtual or in-person hypnotherapy
  • Get between a swimmer and their coach, crew, or pilot

Examples of Services

  • If a swimmer starts marathon swimming over the age of 50, they may relate best to a Marathon Swimming Mentor who also started later in life.
  • If a swimmer's stroke technique is so bad that they need work performed by a physio after every workout, a Marathon Swimming Mentor may strongly suggest a one-year pause in the marathon plans while private stroke coaching begins (by a non-Marathon Swimming Mentor).
  • If a swimmer is only training 2 km twice a week in the pool, a Marathon Swimming Mentor may strongly suggest that they postpone an English Channel solo swim set for next year and slowly build to at least 15 km per week.
  • If a swimmer only eats sliced peaches while swimming and run out of energy after 5 hours, a Marathon Swimming Mentor may strongly suggest a swimmer tries carb drinks.
  • If a swimmer is convinced that they will never complete the planned big swim, a Marathon Swimming Mentor may strongly suggest a swimmer try one half as long to achieve success and help their confidence.
  • A Marathon Swimming Mentor is the person to contact after a failure of an attempt at a 6-hour swim in order to discuss, debrief, learn, and then reset for the next swim
  • If a swimmer already has a coach and local marathon mentors who are knowledgeable and they like/trust, repeatedly thank them and do not add any new voices.
  • If a swimmer wants advice on one aspect of a foreign swim, the current mentor can perhaps initiate a conversation with a local.
  • If a swimmer aspires to be an elite professional marathon swimmer and compete in the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim, this is not an appropriate program. In this case, work with your local coach and National Team to access expertise in this aspect of the sport.

The Marathon Swimming Mentor Volunteers

The following individuals have volunteered to act as mentors to aspiring marathon swimmers and perhaps those marathon swimmers who aim to take on longer swims. They will welcome an email asking for mentoring help:

Contact

Submit comments on the mentoring experience and to volunteer as a Marathon Swimming Mentor, contact Ned Denison at ned.denison@corkopenwater.com.

External links

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