As the name suggests, swimrun combines swimming and running . The sport was born in Sweden at the beginning of the 2000s and its first official competition was the so-called island to island race - Ö till Ö in September 2006 in Sweden.
What is swimrun?
Swimrun is practiced outdoors and in open water. The goal is to progress mostly as a couple from the start to the finish along a certain route. The pairs are attached to each other with a safety rope, which provides safety, especially on longer sections, and the pairs stay closer to each other, even if there are differences in level between the pairs when running or swimming. In Swimrun, the sports vary so that swimming and running alternate. Often, race routes go through islands and isthmuses, among other things.Equipment
Competitors are allowed to bring aids such as neoprene socks, gloves, floats and running shoes with them in the swimrun. You should think carefully about the equipment, because you have to carry it with your own power during the race.
Racing
Games are organized in Finland several times a year. Race distances vary from short sprint-like races to almost 40-kilometer marathon distances. The sport is a true endurance sport and the fact that you have to run and swim in the same outfit adds to the challenge - often even in challenging conditions. Most swimrun competitions are organized during cooler swimming weather, either in early spring or late summer.
Good accessories for Swimrun are:
- A good swimrun suit, which often differs from a wetsuit in that it may have loose sleeves, additional pockets for accessories and short pants. The knee points have a more flexible fabric that enables running.
- Good neoprene gloves and a cap
- Swimming goggles that are especially suitable for open water
- Many people take a swimming float with them, which provides safety during longer swimming sections
- Pads for swimming sections
- Shoes that can get wet and still allow you to run and swim
- In addition, often the outfits already have cords and ribbons with which you can take the necessary equipment with you
Swimrun enthusiasts in Finland have their own Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SwimrunFinland
Text: swimrun enthusiast Katri Tanni
