“I’ve always wanted to do a 10K swim, but…”

“I’m too old to start now.” “I don’t have the time to train for something that big.” “I’m not fast enough to go the distance.” “Maybe next year.”

Sound familiar?

If you’ve ever dreamed of finishing a marathon swim but life, doubt, or the voice in your head keeps stopping you, this episode is for you.

Because what if… ➡️ You didn’t need to train for a full year? ➡️ You could stay injury-free, even with cross-training? ➡️ You actually enjoyed the process and finished strong?

That’s exactly what Becka did. 🔥 In her 50s. 🔥 With just 1.2 miles as her longest swim in July. 🔥 And in only 3 months, she completed a 10K (6.2 miles) in open water. ✅ Finish time: 3:46:55 @ 2:05/100y

3 months before the 10k race, she asked me:

“Is that enough time to train?” I said, "Yes with right strategy. But we need to start training now."

Upon finishing, she said: 💭 “I don’t think I would have felt so good if I hadn’t had a summer of training.”

💭 Shangrila Thank you! I definitely would not have attempted this without your prodding and amazing coaching! Having someone suggest that this may be for you, then encouraging and giving a clear plan to the goal that you thought may be out of reach, is huge asset. Especially for this 54 yro women! Getting me way out of my comfort zone! Also introducing me to a new sport and a great group of people! Coach Jeffrey you both are the bombdiggity!!! Thank you!"

Together with Coach Jeffrey, we built a plan around her life, not the other way around.

She didn’t just finish, she found a whole new level in herself. She even brought her friends along.

But this episode isn’t just about Becka.

This is about what’s still possible for you. 🔥🏊‍♀️

“I can’t translate my swimming training into the race.”

If that hits a little too close to home… keep reading 👇

We’re diving into why this keeps happening and what you can do to fix it, once and for all.

Because for one athlete, Manuel none of this was enough: - Swam 4x a week with a squad in Australia - Hit threshold sets, open water sessions, and long workouts - Received regular swim tips from in-person swim coach - Got video analysis before - Followed a structured plan for years

And yet, his swim still falls apart on race day.

We’re talking 55-minute 70.3 swims, anxious, overwhelmed, and off pace every single time...

... despite riding 21.6 mph on 56 mile bike & 7:37 min/mile on half marathon.

And this wasn’t a beginner.

He’s a multi-time 70.3 World Championship finisher, qualified for Nice, Taupo, and PR’d at Worlds 2025.

But he couldn’t shake the pattern: → “I get anxious and overwhelmed.” → “The swim has never been under 40 minutes.” → “I recover on the bike and run, but always lose ground in the water.”

🎯 If that sounds like you... if you’re training hard but not seeing it show up on race day, this episode is for you.

We're unpacking why this happens… and what to do when “just swim more” stops working.

Or when you feel like you're doing everything yet you still don't see the results of your hard work on race day.

What if you could thrive in open water even when it gets rough?

What if it wasn’t something to avoid, but your greatest teacher? And what if your biggest breakthroughs didn’t happen in your 20s… but in your 50s?

Pamela wasn’t trying to prove anything. She just wanted to see what she was capable of.

At 55, she works full-time and doesn't have access to the ocean. Most days, she trained in a brown lake or a community pool when it was open. There were weeks of nonstop rain and pool closures because of lightning. Days when she’d drive to one pool, find it closed, then drive 45 minutes to another, just to get her swim in.

Days when the heat index hit 100°F and the only open lake felt like a hot tub. And still, she showed up.

Sometimes she was tired or doubting. And at times, she swam even when it was raining.

Pamela just wanted to see how far she could go without hurting herself. To challenge her body and mind, while staying strong, healthy, and injury-free... in her 50s.

🔥 In July alone, she swam 101,500 yards (almost 58 miles), her biggest month ever.

🔥 Then in September, she took on her boldest challenge yet: a 33.3 km (20.7-mile) open-water marathon swim across the Aegean Sea in Greece: four days of changing water conditions, unpredictable winds, and sometimes rough water with relentless waves.

Day 2 nearly broke her. The wind picked up, the waves slammed against her head, and salt burned her eyes. There was no kayaker nearby.

But she reminded herself: “You swam through thunderstorms in Florida. You can do this.”

So she kept going, stroke after stroke. And by the finish, she felt so proud of herself.

Here's day-by-day breakdown (actual distance often more than official due to ocean conditions + GPS drift) ✅ Day 1: 9 km swim ✅ Day 2: 7.5 km swim “a bit rough out there, but I kept swimming!” ✅ Day 3: 10.5 km swim “terrible start, but I worked better with the water today.” ✅ Day 4: 6.3 km swim. DONE!!

"I don’t really feel sore. just like I had a good workout. Most days I felt like I could have kept swimming." - Pamela

Most athletes train to hit the distance. But distance alone doesn’t guarantee a strong finish.

And many worry about not having open water access… Or burn out trying to train for something this big while juggling full-time work and family.

Pamela didn’t. So how did she do it at 55?

With her “I’ll do whatever it takes” mindset, she relied on strategy, the same principles we’ll share in this episode: 1. Train smart even with limited time or access 2. Stay injury-free through body maintenance and proper recovery 3. Build calm under pressure when conditions get rough 4. Adapt training when traveling or working full-time

Pamela proved that your best years don’t have to be behind you. They can be the ones where you finally stop chasing perfection and start mastering consistency.

This isn’t just about Pamela. It's about what’s still possible for you.

Besides, rough water will always be there. But what if your next breakthrough is waiting right where it gets tough?