The UltraSwimming Podcast

Marathon Swimmers Federation
  • 5.0 (3)
  • SWIMMING
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Conversations, stories, and ideas from the world of solo long distance open water swimming. With Jessica Kieras and Evan Morrison.

Episodes

  1. Episode 6: Leslie Hamilton: Staten Island and Lake Norman

    APR 7

    Episode 6: Leslie Hamilton: Staten Island and Lake Norman

    In 2023, Leslie Hamilton became the first woman to swim around Staten Island, and in 2025 completed an unprecedented crossing of the 26.3 mile length of Lake Norman. She likes to tackle swims that make her feel “a little crazy”, ventures off the beaten path, has nothing to prove and everything to love about this sport. Internally driven by a passionate sense of adventure and insatiably hunger for challenge, we discussed growing up within New York Open Water, how she chooses her swims (spoiler alert, they aren’t on a list), swimming sans-top around Staten Island, and the challenges of swimming long distances in warm water. 00:00 Introducing Leslie Hamilton 02:03 Growing up in NYOW 05:10 Planning the Staten Island Swim 08:16 Media Attention and the New Yorker Article 14:37 Swimming in Potentially Polluted Waters 19:30 What Makes an Adventure in Ultraswimming 22:59 You Can't Repeat the Same Swim Twice 24:52 Envisioning the Lake Norman Swim 26:51 The 24-Hour Swim Goal 29:36 Measuring Routes in the MSF Member Portal 33:44 Building a Supportive Crew 35:41 The Boat Rental Process 37:44 Night Swimming 41:04 Overheating While Swimming 48:59 Knowing When to End a Swim Leslie Hamilton on LongSwims Database https://ultraswimming.org/database/p/leslie-hamilton Music: 'Wanderlust' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au Additional Reading https://www.harpercollins.com/products/endure-alex-hutchinson Additional Listening: The Central Governor Theory on Trail Runner Nation Part 1 https://trailrunnernation.com/2021/10/wrapping-our-brain-around-the-central-governor-theory-part-1/ The Central Governor Theory on Trail Runner Nation Part 2 https://trailrunnernation.com/2021/10/ep-544-wrapping-our-brain-around-the-central-governor-theory-part-2/

    56 min
  2. Episode 5: Swimming the California Channel Islands with Karina Garcia

    MAR 27

    Episode 5: Swimming the California Channel Islands with Karina Garcia

    Episode 5: California Channel Islands with Karina Garcia Most ultraswimmers have heard of swimming from Catalina Island to the mainland, but what about the other seven islands that make up the California Channel Islands? These islands offer startlingly clear water, dramatic rocky cliffs, an iconic arch, and frequent visits from resident dolphins. Routes have been charted across the channel, around the islands, between the islands and more. What is it like to swim here? Find out as Karina Garcia shares her recent course record swim from Santa Rosa to the mainland along with Evan and Jessica’s reflections on their own swims from Anacapa, Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara Islands. If you’re wondering how you might swim any of the California Channel Islands, we discuss how the Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association supports swimmers in safely achieving these goals. Evan and Karina draw on their experiences as former and current SBCSA board members to illustrate how the association helps swimmers organize, execute and celebrate swims involving these beautiful and remote islands. Music: 'Wanderlust' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au **References** - [Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association](https://santabarbarachannelswim.org) - [California Channel Islands solo swim results](https://ultraswimming.org/database/events/california-channel-islands) (LongSwims Database) - [Karina Garcia swim resume](https://ultraswimming.org/database/p/karina-garcia) (LongSwims Database) - [DRIVEN](https://driven.vhx.tv) - documentary film about three Channel Islands marathon swims in 2012

    1h 17m
  3. Episode 4: Training for Ultra Marathon Swims

    JAN 27

    Episode 4: Training for Ultra Marathon Swims

    Episode 4: Training with Charlotte Brynn, Joe Zemaitis & Sidney Russell So what’s the best way to train for an ultraswim? In this episode we welcome [Charlotte Brynn](https://ultraswimming.org/database/p/charlotte-brynn), [Joe Zemaitis](https://ultraswimming.org/database/p/joe-zemaitis) and [Sidney Russell](https://ultraswimming.org/database/p/sidney-russell), renowned ultraswimmers who are also experienced coaches to get their take on the perennial question of how to best prepare yourself for an endurance adventure as dynamic, unpredictable and complex as an ultraswim. Our discussion covers four components of training for ultraswims: * safe and efficient technique * building endurance * acclimatizing * mental fortitude While “everyone is different” (as we have grown increasingly fond of saying), we identify some key pieces of wisdom to share with you as you consider how to design and structure your training and preparation. Music: 'Wanderlust' by [Scott Buckley](https://www.scottbuckley.com.au) \- released under CC-BY 4.0. A few references from the episode: * Charlotte Brynn, [swimwithbrynn.com](https://www.swimwithbrynn.com/) * Sidney Russell, [swimopenwaters.com](http://swimopenwaters.com) * Joe Zemaitis, [Swim Neptune](https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/assn/page/custom-page) * Marathon Swimmers Forum thread, [Training Plans for Marathon Swims 10k and Up](https://ultraswimming.org/forum/discussion/1811/training-plans-for-marathon-swims-10k-and-up) * [Training for a Marathon Swim](https://ultraswimming.org/news/2015/01/training-for-a-marathon-swim) by Evan Morrison * Science of Ultra Podcast Episodes - [Mileage Matters Most](https://www.scienceofultra.com/podcasts/136) - [Training Intensity Distribution](https://www.scienceofultra.com/podcasts/148) * Addie Bracy’s book, [Mental Training for Ultrarunning](https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/mental-training-for-ultrarunning_addie-j-bracy/27038138/#edition=57821861&idiq=45515125)

    1h 20m
  4. Episode 3: Ultraswimming.org and the new MSF Member Portal

    JAN 16

    Episode 3: Ultraswimming.org and the new MSF Member Portal

    In this mini-episode, Jessica and Evan dive into a major new MSF project that’s just been launched: - Our new website, ultraswimming.org which combines resources which were previously under three separate websites (marathonswimmers.org, longswims.com, and track.rs). - Our new Member Portal app, in which MSF members can submit Documented Swims for ratification, set up GPS tracking pages, vote in the MSF Awards, and get online support for any issues or questions they may have. This promises to create a more streamlined experience for MSF members, less manual labor for MSF administrators, and new opportunities for people to get involved in various aspects of the MSF project.

    20 min

  5. 11/07/2025

    Episode 2: Organizing Independent Solo Ultraswims

    Some links to resources that were mentioned during the episode: MSF Documented Swims program (2014 – present), Marathon Swimmers Federation Repeatable Swim Routes, by Evan Morrison MSF documentation of Sarah Thomas’ Lake Champlain swim MSF documentation of Jessica Kieras’ Waldo Lake swim Link to episode on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1clFSao74XyWPBAaiNo7U3?si=6edf9581296a476b Link to episode on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-episode-1-karen-zemlin-lake-superior/id1845817729?i=1000731576760 Link to show on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4wovM2IebJ0mrfXN7vsmrF?si=5c1e3b71f6074ad3 Link to show on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ultraswimming-podcast/id1845817729 Podcast RSS feed: https://news.marathonswimmers.org/feed/mp3/

    1h 32m

  6. 10/13/2025

    Episode 1: Karen Zemlin - Lake Superior

    Recorded September 27, 2025. In this episode we discuss how Karen Zemlin envisioned, planned and completed a new 22.9 km (14.2 mile) route on Lake Superior, from Isle Royale, Michigan to Pigeon Point, Minnesota in 6 hours and 12 minutes on August 13, 2025. We talk about how this route differs from the already established east and west routes and what makes it an excellent addition to the options for ultraswims in the world’s largest lake. Karen shared with us how the unique geography of the lake contributed to an upwelling as she swam toward shore, resulting in a twenty degree temperature drop down to 46°F (8°C). We learned how she coped with the cold and how her crew supported her in completing the swim safely. Some links to resources that were mentioned during the episode: - Official documentation from Karen Zemlin’s Lake Superior swim: https://marathonswimmers.org/swims/2025/zemlin-isle-royale - Karen Zemlin's LongSwims Database profile: https://longswims.com/p/karen-zemlin - Website for the Marathon Swimmers Federation (MSF): https://marathonswimmers.org - Other MSF documented swims: https://marathonswimmers.org/swims/ - Jessica’s post on hypothermic swimmers losing consciousness on marathon swims: https://oregonlakebagging.wordpress.com/2021/01/09/swimming-to-confusion-stories-from-cold-water-swimmers/

    1h 5m

  7. 10/12/2025

    Episode 0: Introductions

    A few links to projects mentioned in the episode: Marathon Swimmers Federation (MSF): marathonswimmers.org Long Swims Database profiles: – Jessica Kieras – Evan Morrison MSF Documented Swims: https://marathonswimmers.org/swims/ MSF News Blog: https://news.marathonswimmers.org/ Link to episode on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-0-introductions/id1845817729?i=1000731656919 Link to episode on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5sl7wwUeExB1wNE7NDm4V5 Link to show on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ultraswimming-podcast/id1845817729 Link to show on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4wovM2IebJ0mrfXN7vsmrF Podcast RSS feed: https://news.marathonswimmers.org/feed/mp3/

    6 min
  • 7 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Conversations, stories, and ideas from the world of solo long distance open water swimming. With Jessica Kieras and Evan Morrison.

Information

  • Creator
    Marathon Swimmers Federation
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Marathon Swimmers Federation
  • Show Website
    The UltraSwimming Podcast

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