Otillo Orcas Island SwimRun

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And now for something (not completely) different…

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Looking to mix things up a bit, I participated in my first SwimRun event at Otillo Orcas Island.  I went for the team option with a training partner and we chose the “World Series” distance (25 segments adding up to ~35k running/5.5k swimming).  There were shorter distances as well.  If you’re thinking about this format, I encourage you to give it a go–super fun and different, but complementary to, triathlon.

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SwimRun is exactly what the name suggests–you alternate between swimming and running on the course.  The runs were mostly on trail with some significant up and down and the swims were primarily across lakes (with one swim in the ocean bay).  
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The vibe was very chill–kind of like triathlon in the early days–but there were some very speedy athletes out there!  A few takeaways from the experience.

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1. Yes, you swim in your shoes…it’s simultaneously ridiculous and not a big deal.  Running in wet shoes is no big deal–the water just squishes out in the first few strides.  Wool (or non-cotton) socks are a must.  The swims go more slowly than your threshold pace in the pool and the shoes definitely slow you down.  Almost all athletes use pull buoys and most use paddles too–this is allowed in SwimRun.  My partner and I are both good swimmers and we couldn’t get our heads around 5,500 meters of pulling.  We went without buoys or paddles (and passed a lot of folks in the water anyhow).  That noted, I think I’ll give it a try with the equipment for the next one.  
2. You’re wet all day.  While our race had some longer segments at points (there were 8k and 10k run segments) we never dried off.  (The race was in the pacific northwest–that’s definitely part of it.)  SwimRun wetsuits are different than triathlon wetsuits.  They generally have short sleeves with separate (optional) arm sleeves or else one-piece long sleeves, with short (jammer) bottoms.  The material is much more flexible than a swimming wetsuit to make running comfortable.  The zipper is in the front–I unzipped it on every run and zipped it up for the swims.  Preparing with the right equipment–socks, shoes, wetsuit, underlayers–and tons of glide/lubricant–is super important!  The long course racing lasts in excess of 6-7 hours for most folks.  I tested everything ahead of time and finished up with zero chafing or blisters.  
3. This sport (like triathlon I guess) brings a heavy dose of type II fun with a touch of type I mixed in.  We all like a little pain and challenge–SwimRun is no different in that sense.  You’re pretty much already trained for the sport–you may just need to add in a few trail runs in preparation.  Traveling with just a wetsuit and running shoes (and no bike!) is super easy, which makes this sport pretty accessible.  

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Looking for a different type of challenge that’s not a complete departure from your triathlon training?  Give SwimRun a go!

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