Swimrun: Open-Water Swimming Meets Trail Running
Swimrun combines open-water swimming and trail running into a single, continuous race — no transitions, no gear changes. Teams of two carry everything from start to finish, swimming in their shoes and running in their wetsuits. Born in the Stockholm archipelago in 2006, swimrun is now the fastest-growing endurance sport worldwide.
Learn the Sport
What is Swimrun?
The complete guide — rules, distances, team format, and how to get started.
Gear Guide
Wetsuits, trail shoes, hand paddles, pull buoys — what you need and what to skip.
Swimrun for Triathletes
How to convert your 70.3 or Ironman fitness to swimrun.
Swimrun vs Triathlon
Format, gear, training, cost — the key differences explained.
Race Distances
| Category | Total Distance | Sections | Typical Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sprint | 5–10 km | 2–4 swims + 2–4 runs | 45 min – 1.5 h |
| Short | 10–15 km | 4–6 swims + 4–6 runs | 1.5–2.5 h |
| Medium | 15–30 km | 6–12 swims + 6–12 runs | 3–5 h |
| Long | 30–50 km | 12–20 swims + 12–20 runs | 5–8 h |
| Ultra | 50–75+ km | 20+ swims + 20+ runs | 8–12+ h |
Typical race ratio: ~80% running, ~20% swimming. All distances require teams of two in most major series.
Major Race Series
ÖTILLÖ World Swimrun Series
The original and most prestigious swimrun series. Founded 2006 in the Stockholm archipelago. 12 races across Europe and North America in 2026, including the World Championship (September 7).
World Championship · Engadin · Orcas Island · Cannes · Rügen
My Swimrun Championships
Global qualifier series with 14+ events across Europe and the USA in 2026. Qualifier results feed into an annual World Championship.
Mudskipper Swimrun
North America's largest swimrun series with 12+ races across the US and Canada. Accessible distances and price points — a good entry point for the sport.