Countdown to ÖTILLÖ: 0 Months Out

Welcome to episode 139 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!

This is the final installment of our “Countdown to ÖTILLÖ” show where we discuss our journey to the start line of the 2022 ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship. Well, the race is finally here. When this show is released we will already be in Sweden drinking Fika and finding slippery rocks to run on before heading to Djurönäset for the pre-race briefing. We have a lot of people to thank that helped us get to this point and we want to share some of the amazing pro-tips that we have received in the course of these Countdown episodes and over the years.

But first…

We want to give one final giant thank you to our supporters Ödyssey Swimrun, Frank Paddle, and Precision Fuel and Hydration for helping make this show possible. Make sure to use the code “LOWTIDE22” to save 15% off of your first order from Precision Fuel and Hydration. Use the code “LOWTIDEBOYZ” that is good for 15% off of your registration for any and all of Odyssey Swimrun’s 2022 events. Finally, Frank Paddle’s new paddles are out now! Definitely check those out if you’re interested in the latest evolution in carbon fiber swim paddle technology.

How’s the Body? How’s the Mind?

Safe to say that we both feel ready physically and mentally for the race. We are looking forward to sharing the adventure on the Archipelago and it is wild that the race is here after so many months!

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PRO-TIPS

We are blessed to have been able to have so many great guests on the show to share with us their insight about the World Championship and we wanted to summarize some of the best tips that we got for everyone racing…or considering trying to quality. We’ve added hyperlinks to the shows mentioned in case anyone wants to listen to the complete interviews. Let’s get to it!

Oscar Olsson: Episode 85

• On the longer runs, you know you’re getting to a swim leg when the gravel road ends. (Good time to start cabbing up)
• Take a gel before starting the pig swim
• Strobe lights at the first swim and the pig swim
• Also, “take a fucking gel!”
• Get moving after the pig swim to warm up and shake off the hard swim
• Tether on the long runs
• Definitely cab down for the ORNÖ run
• The last swim before UTÖ can be tricky, spend an extra five seconds to get a sense of the current before going in

Marika Wagner: Episode 105

• Enjoy the sunrise on the first swim

Diane Sadik: Episode 112

• Eat every 30 minutes
• Switch up leading swims early on to stay warm

The Swimrun Monks: Episode 122

• Eat a lot.

Jenny Ramstedt: Episode 112

• If you have a chance, running the island of ORNÖ outside of race is a good idea to get a sense of what the terrain will be like (knowledge is power pro tip)

Anna Lundberg: Episode 118

• Namdö cutoff is the one to pay attention to
• Get your suit on and organized before going to the breakfast on race morning

Bill Lankford: Episode 109

• Bring a bag/luggage with wheels for your stuff because carrying a bag the day after the race will be tough

Jonas and Lars Ekman: Episode 116

• Visualize minimizing your transitions to save time on race day
• Do the race before you think you’re ready for it
• Pace your swims in the first third of the race and try to find feet to draft off of

Ville Engberg: Episode 119

• Watch out for the swim after the pig swim because that one is usually cold
• Try to find a good pack to swim with early on
• Don’t worry about not running on the first few islands

Nicolas Remires: Episode 126

• Don’t try to memorize every leg. Instead think about the race in terms of five sections and learn the features of each section from aid-station/cut-off.

Andy Blow: Episode 118

• Don’t go to the breakfast on race morning. It’s a mess. Instead bring whatever food you will eat with you so you don’t have to deal with that.

Jonas Colting: Episode 131

• Don’t worry about doing a warm-up run before the race. Relax on the ferry and avoid the anxious energy: Use the first run as the warmup.
• Do work and get through the swims

Susie Moonan: Episode 122

• Take a moment to look at your partner and be present during the race
• When you feel low, Remember why you are doing the race and focus on the belief that you can do this!

See you out there!

That’s it for this week’s show. If you are enjoying the Löw Tide Böyz, be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player and leave us a five-star review. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, and on YouTube. You can also follow our meme page on Instagram. Email us at lowtideboyz@gmail.com with any feedback and/or suggestions. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.

Thanks for listening and see you out there!

- Chip and Chris