It is often said by many that marathon swimming is 80% mental and only 20% physical.

So to address that dichotomy, Jacqueline McClelland announced a new bespoke service from infinity Channel Swimming in Northern Ireland with ‘Talk About It’  with Life Coach and Counsellor Dr Patricia McParland. 

McClelland explains, “We aim to create a new standard within the sport of open water swimming. This bespoke service launches in our 2024 season and offers counselling for marathon and ultra distance swimmers who have booked with infinity Channel Swimming.  Complimentary sessions with Dr Patricia are offered in the months preceding or post swim.

The seed of this development comes from Pádraig Mallon’s own channel swims and watching friends and family after their huge challenging swims.  It also comes from the experiences of channel swimmers who have put their trust in infinity Channel Swimming for their various cross channel and ultra marathon swims over the last 10 years. “

Dr McParland is an independent consultant working in the field of mental health. She has been developing professional counselling and life coaching services for over 20 years. She applies a person-centric ethos to all her work, believing that each person with whom she works has all they need to create and support the life they desire.

Her job is to create the space where you can connect with that inner strength and access your own wisdom. She has been involved with water-based events in a health an safety capacity for many years, is a qualified swim teacher, and has worked with infinity Channel Swimming on channel crossings. This experience means she is in a unique position to offer this type of support for marathon swimmers and their support crew.

Dr McParland explains, “infinity Channel Swimming recognize that there is growing attention being given to the mental health journey associated with long distance swimming and I am fully committed to supporting this in whatever way I can. Having worked with a considerable number of long distance channel swimmers has shown me that there are many challenges in a long distance swim.

There are highs and lows both in training, during the swim itself, and when it is over.

For those of you who take on the challenge, we know there can be a cost to this on many levels and that even after huge success there can be lows in the anti-climax that may follow.

For those of you who, for a range of reasons don’t make it across or perhaps don’t even get the opportunity to make the crossing, the emotional challenges can be even greater.

I offer support or space to explore what’s coming up for you. You can choose to avail the sessions before your crossing, afterwards, or both. Two independent sessions with me are offered as part of your North Channel package and these can be used at any point in the 3 months perio and post swim.

My commitment to you during these sessions is to be fully present with you wherever or however you want to use the session, working from a place of non-judgment, respect, and trust.“.

For more information and additional, read here.

For additional information on this topic from the Daily News of Open Water Swimming, read on:

• Mental Health In Marathon Swimming
• The Morning After A Major Swim: Post-traumatic Swimming Depression

© 2023 Daily News of Open Water Swimming

“to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shoreline“