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August 12, 2024 • 1hr 58min
#824 - Ross Edgley - 317 Miles: Breaking The Longest Non-Stop Swim Record
Modern Wisdom
In this episode of Modern Wisdom, host Chris Williamson interviews Ross Edgley, an extreme endurance athlete and author. Ross recently broke the world record for the longest non-stop river swim, covering 510 km in about 60 hours in the Yukon River. The conversation explores Ross's physical and mental preparation for extreme endurance events, his experiences during the swim, and his philosophy on resilience and human potential.
#824 - Ross Edgley - 317 Miles: Breaking The Longest Non-Stop Swim Record
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Key Takeaways
- Ross Edgley recently completed the world's longest non-stop river swim, covering 510 km over about 60 hours in the Yukon River
- Preparation for extreme endurance events involves building a robust body through strength training, not just improving swimming technique
- Mental resilience is crucial - Ross focuses solely on the process rather than the outcome during swims
- Ross consumed 40,000 calories in 24 hours as part of training to mimic a tiger shark's eating habits
- Extreme endurance athletes often perform better in their 30s-40s due to accumulated experience with suffering
- Ross's positive attitude and gratitude, even in extreme conditions, was inspired by his late father's resilience
- Different athletes require different approaches - there's no one-size-fits-all method for peak performance
- Ross views resilience as "suffering, strategically managed" rather than just gritting your teeth
- Hallucinations and perceptual distortions are common during multi-day endurance events
- Ross is motivated by the struggle itself, likening his long swims to the myth of Sisyphus
Introduction
In this episode of Modern Wisdom, host Chris Williamson interviews Ross Edgley, an extreme endurance athlete and author. Ross recently broke the world record for the longest non-stop river swim, covering 510 km in about 60 hours in the Yukon River. The conversation explores Ross's physical and mental preparation for extreme endurance events, his experiences during the swim, and his philosophy on resilience and human potential.
Topics Discussed
The Yukon River Swim (2:01)
Ross describes his recent world record-breaking swim in the Yukon River:
- Swam 510 km over about 60 hours total expedition time
- Non-stop swim - no sleeping, no touching land, no one can touch you
- Classified as an "assisted swim" due to river currents
- Required constant navigation to avoid hazards like whitewater rapids and log jams
Ross explains: "It's almost like interval sprinting for 510 km because you're the boat, so you've got to essentially have enough power to steer your navigate around things."
Preparation and Training (8:14)
Ross discusses how he prepares for extreme endurance events:
- Building a robust body through strength training rather than just improving swimming technique
- Training the digestive system to handle large amounts of calories and nutrients
- Worked with nutritionist James Morton to push carbohydrate intake to 120 grams per hour
- Used medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) on top of carbs for additional energy
Ross emphasizes: "Preparation for this was not necessarily building a faster body, it was building a more robust body, because speed wasn't going to be what determined success or not."
Equipment and Challenges (13:12)
Ross describes some of the equipment challenges he faced:
- Specially designed wetsuit with a "b**t flap" for bathroom needs
- Issues with the flap not working properly, leading to uncomfortable situations
- Compression and chafing from long-term wetsuit use
The Swim Experience (15:25)
Ross recounts his experience during the 60-hour swim:
- Constant weaving to find the path of least resistance in the river
- Encountering rapids after 24 hours of swimming
- Wildlife encounters including eagles, bears, and moose
- Bleeding from rocks and chafing, attracting more wildlife attention
Ross shares: "It was an interesting swimming pool, basically, to say the least. Yeah, it got a bit weird."
Mental Strategies (24:46)
Ross explains his mental approach during long endurance events:
- Focusing solely on the process rather than the outcome
- Observing negative thoughts without reacting to them
- Avoiding spikes in cortisol by not fighting against negative thoughts
- Using a mindful resilience approach rather than an aggressive "punch it in the face" mentality
Ross describes his technique: "Your job is just to observe it, not necessarily to react to it. It's very hard to do, especially when sleep deprived. But that's been one of the biggest things."
Sleep Deprivation and Hallucinations (26:04)
Ross discusses the effects of prolonged sleep deprivation during swims:
- Perceptual distortions and hallucinations starting around 24 hours
- Becoming comfortable with hallucinations from past experiences
- Examples include seeing dogs swimming alongside him and mistaking trees for a cruise ship
Ross shares an anecdote: "I remember thinking, that's so weird. Like, why is there a cruise ship like the Titanic? I was like, why is there a cruise ship on Loch Ness?"
Nutrition During the Swim (31:32)
Ross describes his nutrition strategy during the swim:
- Eating every 15-20 minutes at times
- Consuming very hot porridge oats to combat hypothermia
- Using gels and electrolyte drinks
- Supplementing with caffeine and Alpha GPC for mental clarity
Ross explains the challenge: "I was so low down on that pyramid. In that moment. You could have offered me a brand new car, a million pounds. I'd want the sun to come up over that mountain. That is all I wanted."
The Tiger Shark Challenge (1:15:14)
Ross recounts his experience trying to match a tiger shark's eating capacity:
- Depleted himself through 24 hours of non-stop exercise and dehydration
- Consumed 40,000 calories in 24 hours
- Ate a wide variety of foods including pizza, burgers, fish and chips, cinnamon loaves, and custard
- Still fell short of a tiger shark's capacity to consume 20,000 calories in a single bite
Ross reflects: "It just shows how crazy malleable the human body is."
Resilience and Mental Toughness (1:33:38)
Ross shares his insights on resilience and mental toughness:
- Ultra-endurance athletes often peak in their 30s-40s due to accumulated experience
- Sometimes knowing too much about physiology can be detrimental
- Naivety can be an advantage for young athletes in extreme challenges
- Focusing on the process rather than constantly asking "how much further?"
Ross emphasizes: "By just solely focusing on the process, the outcome becomes inevitable."
Influence of Ross's Father (1:00:11)
Ross shares how his late father's resilience and positive attitude influenced him:
- His father continued coaching tennis even after being diagnosed with terminal cancer
- Maintained a positive and grateful attitude throughout his illness
- Inspired Ross to always say "thank you" even in extreme conditions
Ross reflects: "My dad taught me how to live, but he also taught me how to die."
Future Plans (1:56:20)
Ross discusses his plans for future challenges:
- Potential follow-up to the "Shark vs Ross Edgley" series
- Interest in more lake and ocean swims
- Motivated by the struggle itself, likening his pursuits to the myth of Sisyphus
Ross explains his motivation: "The struggle alone is enough to fill a man's heart. And I love that. That really stuck with me."
Conclusion
Ross Edgley's extraordinary feats of endurance showcase the incredible potential of the human body and mind. His approach to extreme challenges emphasizes thorough preparation, mental resilience, and a positive attitude even in the face of immense suffering. Ross's experiences offer valuable insights into pushing human limits, the nature of resilience, and finding purpose in the struggle itself. His stories of hallucinations, wildlife encounters, and consuming massive amounts of food highlight the surreal nature of ultra-endurance events. Ultimately, Ross's philosophy of viewing resilience as "suffering, strategically managed" and finding joy in the process rather than just the outcome provides an inspiring perspective on tackling life's challenges.