Run, Swim, Repeat: SwimRun Racing Debuts in the U.S.

If you want to shake up your racing and fitness game, check out the latest trend to hit the U.S.—SwimRun racing. Started in Sweden in 2002 allegedly as a drunken bet to see who could run and swim across 20 islands the fastest, the sport combines multiple segments of cross-country running and open-water swimming. The first official race was held in Sweden in 2006 (ÖTILLÖ, now the World Championship event with Pippa Middleton having finished the 47-mile course in 2015). Now 10 years later, there are about 100 races in Europe, and it’s jumped the pond to the U.S., with races in Maine, North Carolina and California.

The concept includes teams of two (for safety and camaraderie) racing together and carrying all the gear they need for the duration of the event. Course segments and distances are determined by natural features, with some courses, like the 12K sprint California SwimRun this past Saturday in San Diego, being relatively flat and straightforward. Others have more technical elements, like SwimRun NC, held on Sunday in Hanging Rock, N.C., which included about 2 miles of swimming mixed in with 14 miles of trail running that also included 2,300 feet of elevation gain and some waterfall scrambling to up the challenge. Scroll through the gallery below to see images from the inaugural SwimRun NC event.

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A field of 52 two-person teams gathered for the pre-race meeting on Sunday morning. SwimRun NC included 14 miles of running and 3K of swimming broken up into 11 runs and 9 swims. Teams could be male, female or mixed. Photo: Brian Fancher Photography/SwimRun NC

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The race is billed as being for “very experienced and fit endurance athletes.” To ensure entrants were prepared, potential participants had to submit a “resume of athletic highlights” from the last two years. According to Herbert Krabel, one of the event organizers, competitors consisted of a mix of triathletes, ultrarunners, swimmers, water polo players and ski mountaineers. Most either had trail running experience or had completed a 70.3 triathlon. Photo: Brian Fancher Photography/SwimRun NC

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Mandatory equipment for every athlete included wetsuits, a waterproof map holder, a first aid kit and a whistle. As optional equipment, teams could also use swim paddles and pull buoys, but they had to be carried for the duration of the race. Photo: Brian Fancher Photography/SwimRun NC

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Even when racers weren’t swimming, they were getting wet with multiple waterfall crossings as well as some waterfall scrambling. Trail shoes are the most popular footwear choice. Photo: Brian Fancher Photography/SwimRun NC

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As an additional safety precaution, competitors had to wear race-provided swim caps for each swim section. To save time, racers generally wore their shoes for the swim segments. Photo: Brian Fancher Photography/SwimRun NC

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Teammates could be no further than 10 meters apart (or about 30-35 feet) at any point during the race, including during the swim. Photo: Brian Fancher Photography/SwimRun NC

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Tethers, no greater than 12-feet in length, were allowed as optional equipment. Photo: Brian Fancher Photography/SwimRun NC

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Rocks, roots, warm temperatures and thick underbrush added to the challenges of the course. An impressive 50 teams finished, with total times ranging from 3:15:23 to 5:58:25. The overall winners were The overall winners were Daniel Kaspberg and Daniel Lloyd, of Team Danwich from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Photo: Brian Fancher Photography/SwimRun NC

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