Swimrun

Swimrun is a multidisciplinary endurance sport in which you continuously alternate between swimming and running. Unlike a triathlon, you have no cycling section and you switch not once but multiple times between the two disciplines. Because you alternately go into and out of the water, you wear the same clothing and shoes throughout the entire race during a swimrun. That places different demands on your equipment than triathlon or ordinary open water swimming.

The range consists of swimrun suits, pull buoys, swimming goggles, swim caps and hand paddles. The swimrun suit is the heart of your equipment: a special neoprene suit suitable for both swimming and running. The other accessories help you get through the race faster and more comfortably. The most important selection criteria are the water temperature of the course, whether you choose a suit with or without sleeves and which accessories are mandatory or permitted by the organisation of your event.

Which swimrun equipment suits you?

The right choice depends on the race you are doing, the water temperature and your experience with the sport. The following scenarios help you quickly find the right direction.

You are starting with swimrun and want to know what the basic equipment is: A swimrun suit, a pull buoy and swimming goggles are the three essentials. The swimrun suit is specifically developed for alternating swimming and running and is not interchangeable with a triathlon wetsuit. The pull buoy compensates for the weight of your running shoes in the water. Good swimming goggles are indispensable for open water swimming outside the pool.

You swim on courses with cold water or in the early spring or autumn: Choose a swimrun suit with long sleeves. The extra neoprene around your arms gives noticeably more warmth in cold water. Some suits have sleeves that you can cut off when the water gets warmer, which makes the suit more versatile across different conditions.

You want maximum freedom of movement and swim in warm water: Choose a sleeveless swimrun suit. Without sleeves you are freer in the swimming stroke and have less chance of chafing under the armpits. Ideal for races in warmer water or if you are sensitive to restriction in the shoulders.

You want to swim faster and save your legs for the running sections: Add a swimrun pull buoy to your equipment. You attach the pull buoy with an elastic to your upper leg and turn it between your legs as soon as you go into the water. While running you turn it outward again. You lie higher in the water, have less resistance and save your leg muscles for the running sections of the race.

You want to build more stroke power and strength in arms and shoulders: Hand paddles are a popular aid among swimrunners. They increase the effective surface of your hand so that you can push away more water per stroke. Always check whether hand paddles are permitted by the organisation of your event.

What to look for when purchasing?

The swimrun suit

A swimrun suit is not a triathlon wetsuit and also not an ordinary swimming trunk or running suit. The composition of the neoprene is specifically tuned to alternating swimming and running. For example, a swimrun suit has open-cell neoprene between the legs and on the back to prevent chafing while running, whereas smooth-skin neoprene would chafe through in those places with prolonged contact. The zip is at the front instead of the back, so that you can open it while running for better ventilation. The legs are short to prevent constriction in the hollows of the knees while running. And the suit fits slightly less tightly than a triathlon wetsuit so as not to limit freedom of movement on land.

Size and fit of the suit

A swimrun suit must fit closely without limiting freedom of movement. Use the brand's size chart and look specifically at torso and hip circumference. If in doubt between two sizes, the smaller size is the better choice in most cases, as long as you can comfortably breathe and run in it.

Sleeves or sleeveless

Suits with sleeves give more warmth and are the better choice for cold water. Suits without sleeves give more freedom of movement in the stroke. Some suits offer an in-between solution: sleeves that you can cut off yourself to the desired length. That gives flexibility if you want to use the same suit in different water temperatures.

Pull buoy

An ordinary pull buoy from the pool is not suitable for swimrun. A swimrun pull buoy has an elastic with which you attach it to your upper leg. This way you do not have to hold it while running and you turn it quickly and easily into position as soon as you go into the water. Pay attention to the size: a pull buoy that is too large limits your running movement; one that is too small gives too little buoyancy.

Safety equipment

At most swimrun races a number of safety items are mandatory to carry: a waterproof first aid kit, a whistle and a compass are standard. Always check the specific mandatory equipment of the organisation of your event before you start.

Our advice: Wear your swimrun suit at least once during a training before you stand at the start with it. This way you discover any irritation points in time and get used to the feeling of switching between swimming and running in the same suit. A suit that you wear for the first time on race day is a risk, no matter how good the fit looks.

Swimrun suit or triathlon wetsuit?

A swimrun suit and a triathlon wetsuit resemble each other but are developed for fundamentally different situations. At a triathlon you wear the wetsuit only during the swimming section and take it off in the first transition zone. At swimrun you wear the suit the entire race, alternately in the water and on land.

That different situation places different demands on the material. A triathlon wetsuit is optimised for buoyancy and hydrodynamics in the water but is too stiff and too warm to run in for a long time. A swimrun suit uses more flexible neoprene, has a different panel layout and is specifically designed for the movements of running. Using a triathlon wetsuit at a swimrun is therefore strongly discouraged: the suit gives too much heat build-up on the running sections and limits your running movement.

Do you want to participate in a triathlon and are you looking for a wetsuit for the swimming section? Then view our range of triathlon wetsuits.

What is swimrun?

Swimrun is a team sport that you always do with two people. Together you complete a course in which you alternate multiple times between swimming in open water and running on land. The sport originated in 2002 in Sweden, where four friends bet who could get from one island to another the fastest, without boat or vehicle. That bet grew into the ÖTILLÖ, the iconic island-to-island route that has been raced annually ever since.

Unlike a triathlon, there is no cycling section and the disciplines alternate much more often, sometimes dozens of times in one race. You are connected to your partner throughout the entire race via a tether line and may never be more than ten metres apart. That makes swimrun a sport in which cooperation and mutual coordination are just as important as individual fitness.

Who is swimrun suitable for?

• Triathletes and endurance athletes looking for a new challenge outside the familiar race formats.
• Athletes who already have experience with open water swimming and running and want to expand that combination into a race format.
• Athletes looking for a team sport in which cooperation and coordination with a partner play a central role.
• Beginners who want to start with swimrun and are looking for the right basic equipment to complete their first race.

Swimrun is less suitable if you prefer an individual sport or if you have not yet built up a basic fitness for both swimming and running over longer distances. In that case, first start with building up your fitness in the separate disciplines.

Need help with your choice?

Would you like to buy swimrun equipment but are not sure which suit and accessories suit your wishes and needs best? Then we are happy to help. You can reach our swimrun specialists by phone on +31 (0)413-256800, send an email or visit our triathlon store in Volkel, the Netherlands.

Frequently asked questions about swimrun

What is the difference between swimrun and a swim-run?

At a swim-run you switch once from swimming to running. At swimrun you alternate multiple times, sometimes dozens of times over the course. Swimrun is in addition always a team sport that you do with two people, connected via a tether line. A swim-run you do individually.

Can I use a triathlon wetsuit for swimrun?

That is strongly discouraged. A triathlon wetsuit is optimised for swimming and is too stiff and too warm to run in for a long time. At swimrun you wear your suit the entire race, alternately in the water and on land. A swimrun suit has a different panel layout, more flexible neoprene and a front zip so that you can open the suit while running for ventilation.

Why do you use a pull buoy at swimrun?

At swimrun you keep your running shoes on while swimming. Those shoes cause extra weight which makes your legs sink. A pull buoy compensates for that weight by keeping your hips and legs up. You lie higher in the water, have less resistance and save your leg muscles for the running sections. A swimrun pull buoy has an elastic to attach to your upper leg, so that you do not have to hold it while running.

Do I always have to do a swimrun with two people?

Yes, swimrun is always a team sport. You complete the course together and are connected to your partner via a tether line. The rule is that you may never be more than ten metres away from your partner. That makes mutual coordination and cooperation an essential part of the sport.

Which equipment is mandatory at a swimrun race?

The mandatory equipment differs per organisation, but a waterproof first aid kit, a whistle and a compass are standard mandatory at most events. Some organisations supply a GPS device or make it mandatory. Always check the specific rules of your event before you appear at the start.

Can I start with swimrun without experience?

Yes, but a basic fitness in both swimming and running is a requirement. You do not have to be a top athlete to complete your first swimrun, but you must be able to swim comfortably in open water and run over longer distances. Many beginners start with shorter local events before they tackle a longer course. The right equipment, particularly a good swimrun suit and pull buoy, makes a big difference in comfort and performance at your first race.