Daily Inspiration: Meet Carly Miller

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carly Miller.

Hi Carly, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 2005, I lost my mom to ovarian cancer after a very long battle. It destroyed me and I went into a deep depression for many years. In 2015, I quit all my psych meds cold turkey and began swimming again, for the first time in about 15 years. Around this time, I tested positive for the BRCA2 gene and began the journey of prophylactically removing my breasts and reproductive organs. When I completed these medical procedures and began swimming again, I felt like I was being pulled to the open water. In September 2016, I began my ocean swimming journey and by August 2020, I had completed the California Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, which includes solo swims of the Santa Barbara Channel (Anacapa to Oxnard, 12.5 mi), the Catalina Channel (21 miles) and the length of Lake Tahoe (21 miles) and transitioned into a new career as a swim coach. Currently, I run my own coaching business, Stotan Swimming, I’m the Head Coach of LAPS Masters Swim Team and an Assistant Coach of the men’s and women’s swim program at Chapman University in Orange, CA. Now my focus is on coaching all ages and abilities of swimmers and encouraging up and coming athletes to consider the sports of open water and marathon swimming. And I hope to inspire people through my own story of overcoming hardship.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Ongoing issues with my mental and physical health were always present and I had to dig deep and overcome those obstacles in order to move forward. I feel like I have come back from the deepest, darkest depths of mental illness to now have a successful and emotionally fulfilling personal life and coaching career. And it is those things I have been through myself that now allow me to connect with athletes on a deeper, emotional level.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a swim coach and instructor. I specialize in teaching both kids and adults how to swim, and I also specialize in helping able swimmers get comfortable in the open water. I think that I am known for my compassion and empathy and my ability to help transform anyone into a capable and confident open water swimmer.

I am most proud of helping 2 teams of 6 college swimmers complete a relay across the Catalina Channel.

My own swim that I am most proud of is probably the 27-mile crossing of Santa Monica Bay, from Point Dume in Malibu to Rocky Point in Palos Verdes.

Here is a link to some of the other swims I’ve completed:
https://longswims.com/p/carly-miller

How do you think about happiness?
Swimming makes me happy because the water is where I feel most at home. Coaching other athletes to their goals makes me happy because it creates lasting fulfillment. Spending time with people I love, like my husband and friends. And of course, music and dancing because it’s not much fun to not have any fun.

Pricing:

• $85 for 30 min
• $110 for 45 min
• $140 for 1 hour

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carlyswims.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlymillerswims/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cfmiller8
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carly-miller-04530232b/
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user7305001

Image Credits
Ken Pagliaro
Jim Grande