Open Water Swimming: A Complete Guide for Distance Swimmers and Triathletes

Author Penny Lee Dean, a swimming legend and world record holder in 13 events, shares her unique knowledge of racing and solo swims in Open Water Swimming. From techniques for swimming in a crowd to navigating a straight line, Dean provides invaluable advice to long-distance swimmers, marathon swimmers, triathletes, and their coaches.

Whether you're a beginning open water swimmer, an accomplished swimmer about to brave the English Channel (which Dean did in world-record time) or a coach for aspiring distance swimmers or triathletes, Open Water Swimming provides the conditioning plans, event profiles, and mental training techniques you need to succeed.

Open Water Swimming also features:

- 13 stretches for increased flexibility and smooth stroke technique,
- 16 practice drills for improved form, and
- 43 different workouts for greater endurance.

You'll find profiles of champion open water swimmers and triathletes such as Lynne Cox, Alison Streeter, John York, Captain Matthew Webb, Chad Hundeby, Florence Chadwick, Pete Huisvelds, Shelley Taylor Smith, Paula Newby-Fraser, Karen Smyers, Mike Pigg, and many others.

Open Water Swimming also provides contact information for national and international triathlon and swimming organizations as well as race information for 10 open water marathon swims and 11 international triathlon events.

A world-record holder in 13 events, Dr. Penny Lee Dean is truly a swimming legend. She has been open water swimming competitively for 30 years, has coached swimming for 22 years, and served 10 years as U.S. National Coach for Open Water Swimming.

Inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1996, Dean's list of achievements ranks with the world's best. In 1993, she was named Distinguished Coach by the College Swimming Coaches Association.

In 1978, Dean set the world record for crossing the English Channel, perhaps the sport's most famous event. Her record time of 7 hours, 40 minutes held up for 17 years. Even when her record was broken it was a testament to Dean, as the new record was set by a swimmer she had trained. Dean's time still stands as the fastest by a woman.

In addition, Dean's world-record mark for crossing the Catalina Channel-22 minutes faster than the fastest male swimmer on record-still stands after more than 20 years.

Dean, who holds a doctorate in education, is the women's swimming and water polo coach at the Pomona Pitzer Colleges in California. She has coached swimming at Pomona Pitzer for the past 19 years.