Coralee Allaert training to swim across Great Lakes for mental health awareness
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Most people wrap up summer with a few lengths of the backyard pool. Coralee Allaert was hoping to cross the Great Lakes. Inclement weather may have cancelled the 22-year-old marathon swimmer’s first-ever attempt at doing so this year, but it hasn’t stopped her ambition. In fact, she’s more determined than ever to conquer this challenge in 2022. For herself and others, to raise awareness for a topic that’s been on everyone’s mind since the pandemic started: youth mental health.
Age: 22
Height: 175 cm
Weight: 150 lbs
Attends: University of Guelph
Goal: Crossing Lake Ontario & Lake Erie
Motivation: Raising Awareness for Youth Mental Health
Greatest Strength: Resiliency
Biggest Challenge: Weather
“Swimspiration”: Swimmers Vicki Keith, Colleen Shields & Loren King
How did you get involved in marathon swimming?
Coralee Allaert: I’m proving to myself that I can do challenging things during challenging times. I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression most of my life. Personally, I was in a dark place in February and I reached out to elite cyclist and mentor, Larry Optis for help. He suggested focusing my negative energy on something positive and mentioned swimming across the Great Lakes to raise awareness for youth mental health, and connected me with Jack.org to make it happen. Together, we’re helping people understand that youth, even athletes, do struggle and we can learn to work through it, or be supportive. Especially now.
What was your swimming experience like before training for the lake crossings?
Allaert: I had a moderate swimming background. I did open water for fun, triathlons, but nothing as competitive as marathon swimming. I had no idea that swimming across Lake Ontario, or any Great Lake, was even possible. I thought it was just for a certain group of people (usually in their 30’s, 40’s or 50’s). I thought you had to be very experienced to even attempt such a thing, until Larry. If it wasn’t for him believing in me and putting this goal in front of me, I’d probably still be in that dark place I was at the beginning of the year.
How has marathon swimming helped you?
Allaert: I’m more positive and grateful for what I have in life, humble with myself and others. I’ve definitely experienced lots of growth and maturity as a swimmer and a person. I’m also more motivated to do things. In (marathon) swimming you go through tons of pain and agony and it makes you realize what you’re capable of. Whether you’re addressing a mental, physical, or emotional state, learning to be able to work through it in the water. For me, it’s a form of free therapy. When I go for a swim, I know that the lake is my sanctuary and my problems will dissolve for the duration that I’m in.
What is your training program like?
Allaert: I train in the water six days per week, about 3-5K each day. On weekends, I do 1-2 long swims about 8-10K and include dry-land training and mental performance. Prioritizing nutrition, rest and sleep is also critical. Swimming long sets in the lake ends around Fall, but during winter months I’ll do cold-water training, going in the lake for 5-10 minutes to move around and acclimatize to the cold temperatures. When you cross Great Lakes there can be water drops so having your body used to the cold water is beneficial.
Do you ever want to throw in the towel?
Allaert: I’m not the type of person to give up easily. Sometimes I’ll hit a mental wall, but it’s learning to fight through the pain. Like when your body just wants to shut down, you can’t take another stroke, but you know you have to. I think, how bad do I want the swim? Instead of going at it physically, I have to go down to my heart. I’m swimming for youth mental health, I can’t give up. I’m swimming for kids and their families. They’re in my head keeping me going forward, stroke by stroke. And I don’t want to let my coach down. I have to dig down deep to remember why I’m doing the swim and the people invested in me. Accomplished swimmers Vicky Keith, Colleen Shields and Lauren King inspire me a lot, really help keep my drive alive. I talk to all of them frequently to help guide me to success with this and having their mentorship is overwhelming. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have these phenomenal athletes in my life, supporting me.
What advice would you give a new athlete getting into marathon swimming?
Allaert: I never thought I’d be an open water marathon swimmer and take it very seriously. If there are athletes questioning joining, you’ll never know unless you try! Give it a shot to see if you can do it!
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