Looking for a Long Distance OW Coach

You should get in touch with Marcia Cleveland and read her book http://www.doversolo.com/ Just finished it....good read!

I wish you lived by me, we'd be training partners. Let's stay in touch for support and motivation. you can never have too much.

for the EC in 2011, you should start trying to book a pilot right now! i would also recommend spending some time in dover. many swimmers show up on weekends to swim and train under the supervision of freda streeter and company. also, if you have the chance to crew for a swim, you can witness first hand the pilot and observers during a crossing.... very useful and impressive. i am going to be in dover this summer for three weeks. PM me if you would like to join. my catalina date is july 20.... i don't know if i will have much time to train in california pre-swim. I thought this might be a bit late (but not too late) to commit 2011. I better make a decision quickly. Your recommendation to spend some time in Dover is a good one that I hadn't thought of it before. I'll PM you. While it would be helpful to get time in the water in CA, I don't think it is essential. The water across to Catalina is relatively warm except where there is some upwelling. Water comming up to the surface is much colder than surface water in So. Cal.

You should get in touch with Marcia Cleveland and read her book http://www.doversolo.com/ Great advice. I found it at Amazon but I think a local bookstore has it and was going to pick up a copy today. I hadn't thought to contact the author. I'll read the book over the next couple of days. I could't imagine speaking to her before I read her book twice. :-)

I train in Salem, but you have 2 EC swimmers in the beaverton area. Also another that did Catalina last Sept. I have a relay doing EC on the first tide in July this year & have a slot for a solo in 2011. If you haven''t done much ocean/cold swimming, you may want to think 2012. The slots for 2011 are filling. Mine has been scheduled for quite awhile. We do train together occasionally. Last year we started in Hagg Lake in April. Short swims at first due to the cold water, but in May when the water temps got closer to 60, the swims got longer. Also Nehalem Bay is a good place for training in the summer. I did/ do get workouts from Coach Nate that posted as an online coach for 2009 (Long distance with the least resistence). Thanks. Based on local advice as well, the Barracudas looks like a good place to start. I swam in the 80's and know a few people there. I also listened to Michele speak at the OW clinic before the Hagg lake swim (I never told anyone, even my wife why I really went to hear her). Talk about warm water. When I swam the 4K I had to ditch the cap and stop to let water into my wetsuit to cool off (yes I wore a wetsuit like nearly everyone else for the speed) . PS if you lose one of your relay swimmers I'd be honored to be considered for the slot. I can produce a history of competitions.

Some of the most experienced and knowledgeable coaches in the global open water swimming community are listed under COACHING SERVICES in the www.worldopenwater.com website. Because any marathon swim can encounter unexpected conditions, situations and circumstances, it is highly recommended that an experienced coach is consulted with.

Some of the most experienced and knowledgeable coaches in the global open water swimming community are listed under COACHING SERVICES in the www.worldopenwater.com website. Because any marathon swim can encounter unexpected conditions, situations and circumstances, it is highly recommended that an experienced coach is consulted with. Thanks. I see Rick Graves is listed and lives here in Portland. Do you have contact info for him. I have begun to connect with local folks and will probably be able to get it from them, but I thought I'd check with you first.

Rick Graves is an OUTSTANDING coach who truly understands the open water and is quite motivational. He was on the 2003 World Swimming Championships open water coaching staff and can be contacted via gravesrick@yahoo.com.

Rick Graves is an OUTSTANDING coach who truly understands the open water and is quite motivational. He was on the 2003 World Swimming Championships open water coaching staff and can be contacted via gravesrick@yahoo.com. Thanks Steven. I just emailed him.