13 KM. 5 Hours. Two Countries.
What does it really take to swim for five hours straight?
For Global Triathlon Network’s Heather Fell, the answer meant taking on one of her biggest swimming challenges yet: 13 kilometres across Lake Geneva (Lac Léman), swimming from France to Switzerland.
A five-hour open-water swim is about much more than endurance. It’s about finding the right pace, choosing the right kit, fuelling for the distance, staying mentally focused, and knowing when to adapt as conditions change.
What makes a swim a marathon?
In swimming, the word marathon means something a little different than it does in running.
In competitive open-water swimming, 10 kilometres is the official marathon swimming distance. The event has been part of the Olympic programme since Beijing 2008, with the world’s best open-water swimmers racing over 10 km.
And unlike a 10 km race in a controlled competition environment, Heather’s challenge meant spending around five hours in open water, crossing an international border and navigating the changing conditions of a huge alpine lake.
The challenge: 13 km across Lake Geneva
Starting in France and finishing in Switzerland, Heather’s route across Lake Geneva would take her roughly 13 kilometres.
For a challenge like this, pacing becomes everything. Start too fast, and the distance can catch up with you. Go too slowly, and you risk leaving too much in the tank.
That’s where having real-time data can make a difference.
With our goggles, Heather could see key metrics while she swam, helping her stay focused on her effort and maintain her pace, removing any guesswork.
The goal: stay in control, one stroke at a time.
Finding your FORM
For Heather, the challenge was also an opportunity to reflect on her relationship with swimming.
From her experiences as an elite athlete to the way she approaches the sport today, swimming has evolved throughout her life. But the feeling of moving through open water and the challenge of seeing what you’re capable of remains.
From pacing and performance data to preparation and mindset, FORM is designed to help swimmers stay connected to their performance while they’re in the water.
Not after the swim. During it!
