I’m Catherine Breed, a marathon open water swimmer from Mill Valley, California. I’ve been in the water since I was four, and the ocean has always felt like home – a place where I feel free, strong, and deeply connected to something greater than myself. It’s where I go to challenge my limits, clear my mind, and remember what truly matters.

People often ask why I’m attempting to swim the entire California coast – over 900 miles from Oregon to Mexico. Honestly, I ask myself that too.

Have you ever felt so deeply pulled to do something that not doing it would feel like a regret you’d carry forever? That’s what this swim is for me. It’s been on my mind for years, and I just can’t imagine not trying. It’s not about proving anything to anyone. This swim is about expressing my love – to the ocean, the place I love most in the world.

I want to tell a story of the California coastline, this is a lesson plan on the people, places, and problems in our own backyard. I want to show people that we’re capable of doing hard things, of pushing beyond what we think is possible. And I want to create a long lasting impact. I hope this journey inspires others to spend more time in the ocean, to care for it, and to protect the wild places that make us feel alive.

Swimming has given me so much – a full ride to UC Berkeley, two gold medals at the Pan-American Games, and world records across Lake Tahoe, Monterey Bay, and beyond – but this project is different.

This swim is my love letter to the coast I grew up exploring. It’s a chance to share its beauty, its people, and its marine life, and to protect it for future generations. I want to show what’s possible when you dream big and remind people that human potential isn’t limited.

Some days during this swim will be brutally hard, but through it all, I hope to inspire you to chase your own big goals, whatever they are.

In 2026, I will swim the full length of California’s coast over 3-4 months, and it will take a village – boats, captains, kayakers, crew, housing and food for the team, and transportation and safety support – which is why I’m raising $500,000 to make it possible.

If my story resonates with you, I hope you’ll follow along and donate financially to this cause. I’ll share real insights from my training – mindset, recovery, grit, and the raw moments behind an attempt like this.

This isn’t just my swim; it’s a journey for all of us who love the ocean, crave adventure, and believe in trying something even when it feels impossible. Thank you for being here.

Donations are currently being accepted through my 501-c3 non-profit, Sea Dreamers.

Upcoming Swims 🏊‍♀️ 

Follow along as I become the first person to consecutively swim over 100km of the Lake Tahoe Water Trail.

I will share updates with WOWSA and on my Instagram @Catherine.Breed

This training swim will start on 7/16 and conclude on 7/21.

TLDR: ~60 miles counterclockwise, starting each day around 6am and swimming 9-13miles per day. I will have varying support from a boat to a prone paddle.

Products I’ll be using during the Tahoe swim: