Jennifer Dutton's Marathon Swim Story

Jennifer Dutton's Marathon Swim Story

Author: Shannon Keegan founder of Intrepid Water August 11, 2020 Duration: 39:59

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Jennifer Dutton started marathon swimming across Candlewood lake in Connecticut as a teenager in the 80's. 10 miles as part of a fundraiser swim - "Everyone did it. It wasn't a big deal. We didn't even train." she says. 

Now a mother to two college aged kids, Jennifer recently brought marathon swimming full circle by completing 27 miles in Lake Cochituate at her parents house. It wasn't the swim she wanted to do this year, but with her parents, who were her first supporters, cheering her on, and her son, who she was pregnant with during one of her many Boston Light swims, kayaking for her, you can hear in her voice how special it was. 

In her own words: Jennifer Dutton (nee Spencer) had a most ordinary high school swim career in Connecticut, then attempted college swimming at Bates College (ME) after a severe brain injury during freshman orientation. That season did not go very well, but she had completed a local 10-mile swim just prior to her injury and she soon found that the open water welcomed her back unconditionally. Since then, she has gone on to complete a wide variety of challenging open water marathon swims, including three firsts in Torch Lake in Michigan, and Keuka Lake and Great Sacandaga Lake in New York.

Jen has been a high school coach in MetroWest (mostly at Wellesley High School) for nearly 20 years, and has completed two, two-year stints as an assistant coach at Wellesley College. She has been a local Masters coach for two decades and is a USMS Certified Level 3 Coach. She has two college-aged kids who swim and play water polo and a husband who is her tireless support crew.


If you'd like to be a guest on Marathon Swim Stories, mailto:shannon@intrepidwater.com

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Music credit:

Epic Inspiration  by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5447-epic-inspiration-
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry.

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There's a particular feeling that comes from standing at the water's edge, toes in the sand or on cool concrete, looking out at the expanse. It’s a moment of choice between the solid ground of what you know and the fluid possibility of what could be. Stories from the Water explores that very transition, hosted by Shannon Keegan, founder of Intrepid Water. This isn't just a podcast about swimming; it's about the profound parallels between moving through water and moving through life. Each conversation flows into the mental and physical resilience required to push past our own shorelines, whether that's tackling a new fitness goal, navigating personal challenges, or simply finding the bravery to begin something unfamiliar. You'll hear from a diverse range of voices-athletes, coaches, everyday enthusiasts, and experts-who share their intimate experiences with water as a teacher. The reflections found here touch on the mechanics of sport, the nuances of health, and the quiet self-improvement that happens when we’re fully immersed in an element that demands our presence. Tune in for a blend of personal narrative and practical insight, all centered on the wisdom that surfaces when we dare to get in over our heads.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 203

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