Everything you need to know about Swimrun: Distances, gear, racing as a pair

In this discipline, the golden rule is simple: everything you take with you at the start, you carry all the way to the finish on your shoulders or on your feet ☝️. That’s why the gear is a true hybrid suit of armor that you have to learn to master 💪.

The centerpiece is the wetsuit! It has nothing to do with the thick full neoprene wetsuit or the trisuit from triathlon—this one is designed for the needs of the swimrunner 🏊‍♂️. To be able to link swimming and running without discomfort, the suit is cut with flexible neoprene at the hips to let your stride express itself 🦵 and is equipped with a front zip to prevent overheating out of the water 🧥. You’re probably wondering whether you have to swim in shoes in swimrun? The answer is a big YES, because you don’t waste a second taking them off on slippery rocks 👟. To offset the weight of your sneakers, which feel like a ton once they’re waterlogged 🐳, you use a pull buoy attached to your thigh with an elastic, which will keep you from getting too friendly with the seabed 🤓. To slice through the water like a shark 🦈, slip your hands into paddles and turn your arms into real fins 🐠. Ideal for keeping a bit of speed in open water despite the drag you’ll create with all your equipment 😅.

But the most symbolic element is probably the swimrun tether. Because yes, swimrun is above all experienced as a pair 👯‍♀️, a duo bound by an unbreakable physical and mental link. But why tie yourselves together in swimrun? 🤔 Spoiler: it’s not to look good in photos! 🫣 You’ll be able to gain a tactical advantage: the stronger swimmer tows their partner through the waves 🌊, while the better runner helps the other power over the bumps on technical trails 😎. Running as two is also about sharing and helping each other throughout the event 🤗. Choose your partner wisely, because you’re going to have to put up with each other from start to finish 😂. You cheer each other on when one falters, and you laugh when you slip in the mud 🐽. Most races also require you to stay within ten meters of each other or face a penalty 📏. It’s this human dimension that turns a simple competition into a real adventure where ego fades in favor of the team. You don’t say “I finished,” but “we did it” 🤝.

Today, the swimrun calendar offers formats for every appetite 🍽️. You can start with a Sprint format of 10 to 15 km, or take on Marathon formats or Ultra 😱. To choose your challenge well, you need to understand that distances in swimrun are not read at all like those of classic road running ❌. Here, the multiplication of swim / run transitions and temperature variations turn every kilometer into a true endurance test 🌡️. For the most enduring, Long or Ultra formats go beyond 40 km and take you to your limits 😬, like the qualifying races for ÖTILLÖ, the grand mass of Swimrun 🇸🇪. In these XXL formats, the swimrun tether is no longer an option but a lifeline to stay connected to your partner when fatigue sets in after 6 hours of intense effort 😵.

If you’ve already checked all the boxes on the marathon calendar or the trail calendar this season, it’s time to try a new discipline 🤪. In France, there’s no shortage of playgrounds 🤩. You can go challenge the northern currents during a swimrun in Brittany with the Swimrun Dinard Côte d'Émeraude or the one in Pays des Rias, or prefer salty water to the crystal-clear water of mountain lakes like during the Gravity Race in Nantua ⛰️. If you love postcard-perfect scenery, the SwimRunMan Gorges du Verdon will take you under the majestic Galetas bridge in a setting worthy of an adventure movie 🛶. For fans of a Mediterranean vibe 🏖️, the Swimrun Côte d'Azur lets you dive just a stone’s throw from Monégasque shores 🌊.

Leave your bike in the garage, put on your wetsuit and sneakers, and dive into the world of Swimrun! 💦