Stephen Corcoran
From Marine to Mountain and Ocean Athlete
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“Stephen Corcoran, a former United States Marine Officer who, after 28 years of dedicated service, transitioned into a life of adventure and athleticism. Driven by a lifelong passion for exploration and a desire to push his limits, he embraced the disciplines of Ocean and Mountain Athletics.”
Background
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The significant achievement of my life was to have served as a United States Marine Officer for 28 years. From 1985 until 2013, I dedicated my life to the expeditionary lifestyle of the Corps having served/traveled in/to over 60 countries. During my career I spent a great deal of time at sea as part of forward based expeditionary forces as well as virtually every contingency and conflict during that time period. I was fortunate to have also been highly trained in mountaineering, small boat operations, parachuting and other specialized military skills. I was able to gain a great deal of competency on the water and in the mountains.
I was also fortunate to have been “in the right place at the right time” and able to pursue civilian expeditions on four continents which included mountaineering expeditions, long distance cycling and sea kayak expeditions.
How and why did you first get started in becoming an Ocean Athlete & Mountain Athlete?
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When I retired in 2013, I committed myself to continuing my education, training and skill progression as it related to ocean and mountain athletics in the civilian community. I simply wanted to continue and invest in the experiences that meant so much to me the previous 28 years. I was excited to explore different ways of doing things and I searched for a methodology to organize my pursuits for both training purposes and skill progression.
At this point It would be helpful to explain what I consider each one to be and its significance.
Ocean Athletics: Competency in, under and on the water in human propelled events to include open water swimming, surf ski, prone paddle boarding and free diving.
Mountain Athletics: Competency in the mountains with different forms of mobility and climbing methods to include mountain biking, trail running, climbing and skiing.
I sought out opportunities to learn from different instructors with different experiences and purposes for being on the water and in the mountains. I attended the National Outdoor Leadership School and became qualified to lead Alaskan mountaineering expeditions, I qualified as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR), a search and rescue technician and qualified as a British Canoe Union Level 3 Sea Kayaker.
I quickly realized that my passion lay in multimode/multi-skill events that are over long distances.
As an example of an Ocean Athletic event…….I recently circled Key West Florida a total of 12.5 miles by swimming (2 miles) Surf Ski (8.5 miles) and prone paddle board.
As an example of a Mountain Athletic event……. I recently finished the Jackson Hole Picnic. A total of 48 miles of mountain biking, 2 miles of kayaking, 1.4 miles of swimming, 20 miles of trekking with a 7 k climb of the Grand Teton in the middle.
Which athletic disciplines do you most enjoy and why? What is it about those particular sports or activities that you find most appealing or rewarding?
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That is like asking me what child I like best. I love Ocean Athletics because I can train every day because I live in the perfect place. I can train in the water and on the water almost every day.
I love mountain athletics because I love and will always love being in the mountains, and I find the challenge of having to figure out training at sea level and in a sub- tropical environment to go into altitude and arctic conditions to be very rewarding.
At the end of the day…… I was amphibious as a Marine and I have found a way to continue to do the same.
Of the athletic pursuits you engage in, which one would you consider the most challenging, and what aspects of that discipline make it so demanding?
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It depends on the day and the event. Depending on sea state, weather, tides, tidal currents, bottom topography, beach topography….. the combinations of those factors can create an exceptional challenge at times.
In regards to the mountains…….altitude, weather, route, snow/ice conditions can create an extreme event that becomes a challenge.
What aspects of your various athletic endeavours do you find the most enjoyable or rewarding?
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The common theme for both areas I focus on is the ability to meet the environment that day…. whatever it is serving up and applying my knowledge and skills to accomplish the goal.
In your experience, what personal benefits or insights have you gained from being an athlete?
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I have always defined myself as an athlete because it brings discipline and rigor to what I do. There is difference between experiencing something because you like to do it and placing yourself on a journey of mastery.
Could you share the most memorable or impactful experience you've had as an athlete?
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Good lord…….there is not enough paper for this question!!! I will answer with a non- answer. It is the experience where it requires my best decision making and the upper level of my skills.
Of the challenges you've faced as an athlete, which one would you consider the most formidable, and why?
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I have been at this for over 40 years and I relish all the challenges that come my way. However, I would say that the most challenging/physically tasking situations that I have faced involved when someone adjacent to me or in my vicinity required assistance or rescue. Usually it required an instant reorientation to the situation and a major expenditure of energy and skill to successfully rectify the situation.
What are your primary goals or aspirations as an athlete?
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I’m 60 years old. I am very excited in what lies ahead. Can I continue to progress in my skills? What do I need to modify in my training and execution of the events I love? What new places can I go to and learn new skills in new settings and conditions?
The principle goal is progress.
What advice would you offer to someone who is considering getting involved in more athletic sports or activities?
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1. Commit to it.
2. Embody a professional spirit………by doing that you force rigor and transparency in your process.
3. Its about the long game………you can train for anything and obtain any skill you want if you have the discipline.
4. Its not about your top level performance…….its about steadily raising the floor of you least performance.
5. Its about committing to learning, experimenting and evaluating each experience for its takeaways and leave behinds.
Looking ahead, what are your primary goals or ambitions for the future in terms of your athletic pursuits?
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For the remainder of the year I am focused on developing the skills to circle keys and islands by swimming, surf ski and prone paddle board. I am entering a phase where I am extending the distances and working the logistics for multi day/multi week events.
I am investigating circling the Greek Island of Crete for 25 or 26.
Additionally, I will be conducting a coast to coast traverse of Iceland (300 miles) by mountain bike, river paddling and running in August.
The above is interspersed with monthly competitions for open water swims, surf ski races, mountain bike races and trail runs.