What Motivates Me to Swim as Much as I Do, Now That is a Good Question!

Melodee Liegl (58, USA, MSF bio here) explains, “I really do not know where I get my drive to swim as much as I do. I have been doing morning swims for so long, it is just a part of my daily life. The water is my happy place.

Though I am not training for anything now, I feel I am ready for any marathon swim that comes my way. All I need to do is taper.

The water has aways been my passion and this started at a young age. I love the way I feel after a swim and why would I not want to start my day feeling great? When people ask how often I swim, my response is, “Almost every day” because life sometimes gets in the way. Days I miss are usually from travel, sick or snow days. Of course there are days I would love to stay in bed, especially on cold and snowy winter days. Some days I am more tired than others, just like anyone else that wakes up at
5:00 am, 7:00 am or 9:00 am. But early on, I found out that I usually regretted that decision to stay home, so now I go regardless.

My goal is usually 10,000 yards a day in the pool. My least favorite part of the day is getting in the water and getting completely wet. I do not dawdle too long because I tell myself I did not get up this early to waste time. It is unusual for me to have a completely bad day of swimming and if that happens, I do get out of the water early. I love to do descending sets because there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and these sets make the time go fast.

I am fortunate to have a reliable place to swim in a pool, The Wisconsin Athletic Club. There are 8 locations in the Milwaukee area, and they are only closed one day of the year (Christmas day). I usually swim at the club from October to May. After that, I swim in the many lakes in my area.

My favorite is lake swimming; I wait a long time in Wisconsin for the lakes to warm up. I feel like the luckiest girl jumping in the lake early in the morning before the sun pops out. Seeing the sunrise is a treat, as well as swimming in the rain. I love to find treasures in the clear lakes and work on my swimming art with my Garmin watch. I have also met many people who live on these lakes and if I know them well enough, I usually leave a note on their pier made out of rocks (a smiley face or a “hi”).

In 2024, I swam at total of 1,802 miles and only missed 19 days of the year. Last year was a little different because I was out of the water for 5 weeks due to foot surgery.

I truly believe the water heals.

I have had three orthopedic surgeries since 2017 (2 complicated hip surgeries and 1 foot surgery). I was able to swim up to the actual surgery day for all the surgeries. I am usually okay the first three weeks after surgery due to immobility, but after that I get a little anxious to get moving and be back in the water. I message the doctor often with pictures of the wound to see if I can get in the water. I heal quicker than most because of swimming. I have no problem using a pull buoy and doing no flip turns for a couple of months post-surgery. As long as I was back in the water, I was smiling. Everyone could see I was happy to be back.

There are two things I use when I swim that make swimming enjoyable: music and Smart Goggles. I listen to all types of music that helps pass the time and lets my mind wander. Smart Goggles take away the work of counting and checking the pace clock for my time. This allows me to have perfect descending sets. Both devices have allowed me to be free in the water.

If something was bothering me before a swim, it was resolved after my swim. I solve many world problems during a swim. For the past 6 years, I have been a tester of electronic swimming products for FINIS and Speedo. I like to push the products to the limit. Then these companies must work hard to fix the problems I help find. I am a
perfect tester because I swim so much and provide valuable data.

I swim for many reasons:

• Mental Well-being: Swimming or any physical activity reduces stress and improves mood through endorphin release. I feel on top of the world after I get out of the water. Sometimes I am humming that song by the Carpenters afterwards, “On Top of the World”.
• Physical Health: I swim to maintain my physical health and increase strength. Swimming helps with my hip dysplasia. I do not think I would be doing as well physically as I am now without swimming.
• Enjoyment: I really do love to swim, otherwise I would not be doing it.
• Social: The Wisconsin Athletic Club is my second family. I use this as a social connection. I am not the only crazy person at the doors at 4:00 in the morning. We keep tabs on each other. I work from home and sometimes this is my only social activity of the day. I know there are many that do not get my crazy addiction to swimming, but I think if more people tried to find their passion, whether it is physical or not, they might agree with me, maybe just a little bit.“

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