Swim run-anyone done one?
Discussion
I’m looking for a bit of advice on swimruns, if anyone has done one beforehand?
I’m considering signing up for one at around a half marathon distance as something a bit different this summer. I’m a pretty competent runner (1:21 half marathon in the past and able to do 12 miles + every Sunday) and a reasonable pool swimmer (can knock off 3km sessions pretty easily once I’m fit in the pool) but less experienced with open water swimming.
They look fun and a bit different, but there’s two things on my mind
A) How is it running in a wetsuit!
B) How much training would you need with paddles. My local pool doesn’t allow them in public sessions which might be frustrating.
Any other hints/tips or thoughts would be good to know too!
I’m considering signing up for one at around a half marathon distance as something a bit different this summer. I’m a pretty competent runner (1:21 half marathon in the past and able to do 12 miles + every Sunday) and a reasonable pool swimmer (can knock off 3km sessions pretty easily once I’m fit in the pool) but less experienced with open water swimming.
They look fun and a bit different, but there’s two things on my mind
A) How is it running in a wetsuit!
B) How much training would you need with paddles. My local pool doesn’t allow them in public sessions which might be frustrating.
Any other hints/tips or thoughts would be good to know too!
I have done a number of triathlons rather than just swim-run races. However, just to set your mind at rest - you do not run in a wetsuit!
Put a tri suit or similar under your wetsuit, then strip off the wetsuit as soon as you are out of the water and run in the tri suit
It is well worth getting some open water practice as it is different- things like sighting, swimming in a straight line (none of those nice lines on the bottom of the pool when you are in the lake!) and swimming in a wetsuit is different but in a good way. I find swimming in a pool very tedious but enjoy open water
Anyway, you will enjoy it!
Put a tri suit or similar under your wetsuit, then strip off the wetsuit as soon as you are out of the water and run in the tri suit
It is well worth getting some open water practice as it is different- things like sighting, swimming in a straight line (none of those nice lines on the bottom of the pool when you are in the lake!) and swimming in a wetsuit is different but in a good way. I find swimming in a pool very tedious but enjoy open water
Anyway, you will enjoy it!
TNJ said:
I have done a number of triathlons rather than just swim-run races. However, just to set your mind at rest - you do not run in a wetsuit!
Put a tri suit or similar under your wetsuit, then strip off the wetsuit as soon as you are out of the water and run in the tri suit
It is well worth getting some open water practice as it is different- things like sighting, swimming in a straight line (none of those nice lines on the bottom of the pool when you are in the lake!) and swimming in a wetsuit is different but in a good way. I find swimming in a pool very tedious but enjoy open water
Anyway, you will enjoy it!
If I understand the kind of event the OP is talking about they are a it different to just a Tri with the cycle missed out. The event alternates swimming and running repeatedly, kind of like island hopping. I think you either just wear a trisuit for the whole event.Put a tri suit or similar under your wetsuit, then strip off the wetsuit as soon as you are out of the water and run in the tri suit
It is well worth getting some open water practice as it is different- things like sighting, swimming in a straight line (none of those nice lines on the bottom of the pool when you are in the lake!) and swimming in a wetsuit is different but in a good way. I find swimming in a pool very tedious but enjoy open water
Anyway, you will enjoy it!
Sarkmeister said:
If I understand the kind of event the OP is talking about they are a it different to just a Tri with the cycle missed out. The event alternates swimming and running repeatedly, kind of like island hopping. I think you either just wear a trisuit for the whole event.
Yes-I’m also thinking of aquathlons (swim then run) but a swimrun is in and out of the water. For example the middle distance great north swimrun is approximately an 800m swim, 6km run, 300m swim, 10km run, 400m swim, 2km run, 400m swim, 3km run and 200m swim to finish.
They’re not that common at the moment, but look fun!
WaferThinHam said:
See also Otillo if you fancy a big trip.
Was going to suggest just this - http://otilloswimrun.com - always fancied their Scillies race, but prefer having the bike in the middle!What did you mean about "how much training with paddles", by the way? Do you mean paddles as in the things on your hands for completing a pull set? If so, you can incorporate as much or as little into your swim training as you like. Personally I like them (wouldn't exactly call myself a swimmer though, so take this with as big a pinch of salt as you want) - they're good for developing muscular endurance and helping you get a better feel for the "catch", but they're certainly not essential.
You can also get paddles (like the Finis Freestyle) which are more technique oriented or try drills with closed fists or holding tennis balls - they're also very good at developing feel for the water (I hate those drills though!!).
dangerousB said:
Was going to suggest just this - http://otilloswimrun.com - always fancied their Scillies race, but prefer having the bike in the middle!
What did you mean about "how much training with paddles", by the way? Do you mean paddles as in the things on your hands for completing a pull set? If so, you can incorporate as much or as little into your swim training as you like. Personally I like them (wouldn't exactly call myself a swimmer though, so take this with as big a pinch of salt as you want) - they're good for developing muscular endurance and helping you get a better feel for the "catch", but they're certainly not essential.
You can also get paddles (like the Finis Freestyle) which are more technique oriented or try drills with closed fists or holding tennis balls - they're also very good at developing feel for the water (I hate those drills though!!).
The otillo events look a bit of a trek for me for a first event-but they do look good!What did you mean about "how much training with paddles", by the way? Do you mean paddles as in the things on your hands for completing a pull set? If so, you can incorporate as much or as little into your swim training as you like. Personally I like them (wouldn't exactly call myself a swimmer though, so take this with as big a pinch of salt as you want) - they're good for developing muscular endurance and helping you get a better feel for the "catch", but they're certainly not essential.
You can also get paddles (like the Finis Freestyle) which are more technique oriented or try drills with closed fists or holding tennis balls - they're also very good at developing feel for the water (I hate those drills though!!).
Re the paddles point-you can wear them in swimrun competitions (it seems you can set yourself up however you want as long as you can carry it, paddles fins, floats to a maximum size etc). I think not having them would be a disadvantage, but I’d potentially need to train with them to build up the power required to pull them for a long swim.
cookie118 said:
Re the paddles point-you can wear them in swimrun competitions (it seems you can set yourself up however you want as long as you can carry it, paddles fins, floats to a maximum size etc). I think not having them would be a disadvantage, but I’d potentially need to train with them to build up the power required to pull them for a long swim.
Blimey, I never knew that! You'd definitely have to train to use them and make sure you've got good technique - high elbows and "catching" with your palms help transfer load on to the larger muscles of the chest/upper back rather than stressing your shoulders.Obviously once you've perfected that, the rest of your stroke has gone to s
t - but hey, that's swimming for land lubbers like me!!Is there anywhere nearby that you can practise in open water and do some distance/time trials with/without them on?
I did one at Tooting lido last year and loved it so much that I am doing a real long one (Marathon+) in Sweden in August.
Also remember that most swim runs are not individual events, you usually need a partner around the same standard.
The only rules really are that you must finish with all the equipment you started with, this means paddles, flippers (nobody uses flippers fyi) are all allowed, you just need to work out how to carry them on the run if you want to do it. Pull buoy is a must because shoes weigh your legs down, we drilled holes and tied bungee around and through the buoy so that it doesn’t move from our legs when running and all we do is move it to the other side of our legs for the swim. Good shoes that drain water are a good idea, Inov8 X-tallons seem to be very popular.
I cut the legs and arms to the elbow off on my old wetsuit and running in it is was fine, if it gets to hot I just unzip down to my waist.
I’m by no means an expert but i have a load of friends from my club who are and have given me loads of advice so please feel free to ask.
Also remember that most swim runs are not individual events, you usually need a partner around the same standard.
The only rules really are that you must finish with all the equipment you started with, this means paddles, flippers (nobody uses flippers fyi) are all allowed, you just need to work out how to carry them on the run if you want to do it. Pull buoy is a must because shoes weigh your legs down, we drilled holes and tied bungee around and through the buoy so that it doesn’t move from our legs when running and all we do is move it to the other side of our legs for the swim. Good shoes that drain water are a good idea, Inov8 X-tallons seem to be very popular.
I cut the legs and arms to the elbow off on my old wetsuit and running in it is was fine, if it gets to hot I just unzip down to my waist.
I’m by no means an expert but i have a load of friends from my club who are and have given me loads of advice so please feel free to ask.
Edited by sammyboy on Tuesday 6th March 13:37
Edited by sammyboy on Tuesday 6th March 13:39
Edited by sammyboy on Tuesday 6th March 13:40
sammyboy said:
I did one at Tooting lido last year and loved it so much that I am doing a real long one (Marathon+) in Sweden in August.
Also remember that most swim runs are not individual events, you usually need a partner around the same standard.
The only rules really are that you must finish with all the equipment you started with, this means paddles, flippers (nobody uses flippers fyi) are all allowed, you just need to work out how to carry them on the run if you want to do it. Pull buoy is a must because shoes weigh your legs down, we drilled holes and tied bungee around and through the buoy so that it doesn’t move from our legs when running and all we do is move it to the other side of our legs for the swim. Good shoes that drain water are a good idea, Inov8 X-tallons seem to be very popular.
I cut the legs and arms to the elbow off on my old wetsuit and running in it is was fine, if it gets to hot I just unzip down to my waist.
I’m by no means an expert but i have a load of friends from my club who are and have given me loads of advice so please feel free to ask.
Thanks for the advice. How long was the one at Totting lido? I've pretty much decided not to go for one this year-I'm going to work on my open water swimming a bit more this year with a 5km event. Next year if all goes well with the longer open water swim I'll look at swimruns. I realised that with a suit etc (not prepared to chop up my only one yet! I'd be looking at a £200+ investment for a single event, and I wasn't condfident in my open water swimming ability at all!Also remember that most swim runs are not individual events, you usually need a partner around the same standard.
The only rules really are that you must finish with all the equipment you started with, this means paddles, flippers (nobody uses flippers fyi) are all allowed, you just need to work out how to carry them on the run if you want to do it. Pull buoy is a must because shoes weigh your legs down, we drilled holes and tied bungee around and through the buoy so that it doesn’t move from our legs when running and all we do is move it to the other side of our legs for the swim. Good shoes that drain water are a good idea, Inov8 X-tallons seem to be very popular.
I cut the legs and arms to the elbow off on my old wetsuit and running in it is was fine, if it gets to hot I just unzip down to my waist.
I’m by no means an expert but i have a load of friends from my club who are and have given me loads of advice so please feel free to ask.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 6th March 13:37
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 6th March 13:39
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 6th March 13:40
From memory the tooting one was around these distances...
380m swim
3.8km run
190m swim
3.5km run
380m swim
2km run
190m swim
1.2km run
If you are in London or nearby I think they are planning another one around may time. It's not a big event as its more of an introduction to the sport so a lot of the people racing aren't in cut up wetsuits etc. Also tooting allows you to wear shoes in their pool so it's a great place to train.
380m swim
3.8km run
190m swim
3.5km run
380m swim
2km run
190m swim
1.2km run
If you are in London or nearby I think they are planning another one around may time. It's not a big event as its more of an introduction to the sport so a lot of the people racing aren't in cut up wetsuits etc. Also tooting allows you to wear shoes in their pool so it's a great place to train.
June not May and apparently my run distance might be slightly off from what we did.
https://www.slsc.org.uk/swim-run/
https://www.slsc.org.uk/swim-run/
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