Low Tide Boyz, a Swimrun Podcast

Welcome to episode 188 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!We have another edition of Gear Talk with Annie and Brooke of the Swimrun Labs this week. In this episode we (finally) discuss the Ark Sports VIGG and the brand new VIGG AIR Swimrun wetsuits. It was surprising to all of us that we haven’t given this suit proper review treatment but it was likely because Chris, in particular, has been singing its praises since 2018 and would mention the suit whenever it seemed like a natural place to bring up how awesome he thought it was. Does the rest of the gang agree? In short, yes!!!! It was unanimous that we all thought the VIGG suit was an amazing piece of kit and 5 pull buoys were given by everyone.We’d like to give Ark Sports a huge thank you for sending us their new VIGG AIR suits to test and review.Enjoy!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

10 Aug 202356min

Welcome to episode 187 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!This week Chris is interviewing Chipper for his double Swimrun solo day at the 2023 Folsom Swimrun put on by TBF Racing. Chipper had himself a day and won both the short course (3.5 miles starting at 8am) and the long course (8.5 miles starting at 9pm). We get into all the details of the weekend and break down his race day nutrition, pacing, and thought process. Oh…Chipper also set a new course record for the short course!Enjoy!~~~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 rating and review since that’s the best way for people to discover the show and the sport of Swimrun. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, and on YouTube. Check out our website for Swimrun resources including gear guides, tips, how-to videos and so much more. Also make sure to check out our meme page @thelowtideboyz on Instagram. If you have any suggestions for the show or questions for us, send us a dm or an email at lowtideboyz@gmail.com. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.Thanks for listening and see you out there!-  Chip and Chris

3 Aug 202339min

Welcome to episode 186 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!This week we are sharing the final installment in our three part series providing a detailed overview of the ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship course. Sept. 4th is fast approaching and we are officially super stoked for the big day! In this episode we cover the final third-ish of the legendary course from the start of the run on the island of Ornö through to the finish line on the island of Utö.Joining us for this discussion is the Godfather himself, Andy Hewitt. Few people have done more to spread the gospel of Swimrun in the United States than Andy and he also just so happens to be racing ÖTILLÖ for the ninth year in a row this year. He’s a wealth of knowledge on all things Swimrun, his pronunciation of Swedish names is way, way better than ours, and we are lucky to call him a friend.Enjoy!~~~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 rating and review since that’s the best way for people to discover the show and the sport of Swimrun. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, and on YouTube. Check out our website for Swimrun resources including gear guides, tips, how-to videos and so much more. Also make sure to check out our meme page @thelowtideboyz on Instagram. If you have any suggestions for the show or questions for us, send us a dm or an email at lowtideboyz@gmail.com. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.Thanks for listening and see you out there!-  Chip and Chris

27 Jul 202351min

Welcome to episode 185 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!We’re back with part two of our three part series providing a detailed course overview of ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship. The big day is less than two months away and if you’re like us, one way to keep the nerves at bay is to get as prepared as possible for the adventure that awaits in Sandhamn on Sept. 4th. In this episode we cover the middle third-ish of the legendary course from the start of the run on the island of Nämdö through until making landfall on the island of Ornö.Joining us for this discussion is the one and only Jenny Ramstedt. Not only is she one of the best Swimrunners in the world, she is also one of the best humans and we are stoked to have her on the show to get her take on the course that she knows like the back of her hand.Enjoy!~~~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 rating and review since that’s the best way for people to discover the show and the sport of Swimrun. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, and on YouTube. Check out our website for Swimrun resources including gear guides, tips, how-to videos and so much more. Also make sure to check out our meme page @thelowtideboyz on Instagram. If you have any suggestions for the show or questions for us, send us a dm or an email at lowtideboyz@gmail.com. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.Thanks for listening and see you out there!-  Chip and Chris

20 Jul 202340min

Welcome to episode 184 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!Ödyssey Swimrun Casco Bay took place over the weekend and we were there for all the highs...and lows...and highs of our favorite race on the U.S. Swimrun calendar. In this race report we will share all the details for what was supposed to have been our 4th running of the Casco Bay Long Course and report on everything that happened. Safe to say that the race did not go as planned and while there were a lot of mixed emotions, in the end it was an event that showcased the beauty and grace of the Swimrun community more than the beauty of the race course…which was hard to see anyway through all the fog. Enjoy!~~~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 rating and review since that’s the best way for people to discover the show and the sport of Swimrun. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, and on YouTube. Check out our website for Swimrun resources including gear guides, tips, how-to videos and so much more. Also make sure to check out our meme page @thelowtideboyz on Instagram. If you have any suggestions for the show or questions for us, send us a dm or an email at lowtideboyz@gmail.com. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.Thanks for listening and see you out there!-  Chip and Chris

13 Jul 20231h 7min

Welcome to episode 183 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!Welcome to the latest addition to our ad hoc Swimrun 101 series. This edition is all about Swimrun travel. We joke that one of the best things about Swimrun is that you don’t have to travel with a bike and while that is indeed a lovely feature of the sport, getting you and your gear to your Swimrun destination is its own unique puzzle and something that we get asked a lot of questions about. So in this episode we break down everything you need to know to get your race in style.1. Enjoy the fact that you can travel lite but don’t travel too liteSwimruns can take place in really random locations and you might not have access to local sources for gear or fueling so make sure that you’ve planned ahead and brought at least the bare minimum of what you will be using on race day.2. Create a checklist Pretty self explanatory but trust us on this!3. Should you bring more than one wetsuit (if you have more than one)?Yes. Weather conditions and water temps are fluid (see what we did there?) and having options is a good thing. At the very least, bring your arm sleeves just in case.4. Have a plan for traveling with your hydration and fuelingWe touched on this at the start of the show but it bears repeating that you should think about how you plan on transporting all the gels, bars, etc. that you plan on eating during your race.5. What to do with your pull buoy?Book it its own seat obviously! Seriously though…use the mount paracord to either attach it to the outside of your travel bag or if you have enough room, pack it like you would your most prized possession.Secret bonus tip: Bring a smaller bag that you can use for your morning clothes and change of attire post-race. We always bring a full change of clothes, a beanie, dry socks and shoes, and a dry bag for post-race. Speaking from experience, it’s not fun to have to sit in your wet kit on a 40 minute ferry ride back from a race.6. Traveling back home with a bunch of wet gear If you’re not vacationing after your race and plan on traveling back home the day of or the day after your event, you’re going to have to deal with wet gear. We bring a drybag to put all of our wet gear for the fight(s) back home. Just remember to take everything out when you get home and clean, dry and store accordingly.We hope that you find this info helpful as you travel to your Swimrun adventures.Enjoy!~~~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 rating and review since that’s the best way for people to discover the show and the sport of Swimrun. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, and on YouTube. Check out our website for Swimrun resources including gear guides, tips, how-to videos and so much more. Also make sure to check out our meme page @thelowtideboyz on Instagram. If you have any suggestions for the show or questions for us, send us a dm or an email at lowtideboyz@gmail.com. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.Thanks for listening and see you out there!-  Chip and Chris

6 Jul 202314min

Welcome to episode 182 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!We’ve got a great show this week that showcases one of the things that we like to see most, namely, new Swimrun races!! Joining us in Studio G to discuss the revival of Breca Swimrun is none other than Swimrun Evangelist and new Race Director Jon Littlewood. We are stoked to share this exclusive conversation about Breca Swimrun 2.0 and the new Breca Urban X series.But first…Training UpdateÖdyssey Swimrun Casco Bay is almost here and we’ve reached the “hay is in the barn” stage of training and we are super stoked for our first event of the year! ShoutoutThis past weekend Chris was in SoCal on vacation and met up with Team Cali-Coed and some Tower 26 folks for a Swimrun in Marina del Rey. Thank you to Liza, Mike, Chris and the rest of the crew for the hospitality and once again confirming that the greatest thing about Swimrun is the community! Feats of EnduranceThis week’s winner is Emily Zelik. She crushed a 2 hour pool swim (starting in the afternoon!) as she prepares for ÖTILLÖ in September. Emily will be racing with friend of the pod, Philip Saenkov.Make sure to sign up for our LTBz Strava Club and join Swimrunners from around the world as they train for stuff.Wisdom Nugget of the WeekThe greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another. –William JamesShow BusinessWe have a bunch of Ödyssey Swimrun Casco Bay activities coming up: Patreon Brunch on Saturday, July 8th at 10:00am; then a shakeout Swimrun with Envol Swimrun at noon at East End Beach; and Finally, on July 9th, we will still be hosting our Third Annual Post-Race Party at 6pm at Brickyard Hollow located at 9 Commercial Street close to the ferry terminal.By the way, if you’re racing Casco Bay in a few weeks make sure to check out our bonus course preview episode that is out now so you can be as prepared as possible for the adventure! Jon Littlewood, Breca Swimrun 2.0It was fun to have Jon back on the show. To say that he’s super stoked on Swimrun would be an understatement. Few people are working as hard to spread the good word about Swimrun to the masses and in this conversation we chatted about his latest venture: resurrecting Breca Swimrun and creating the new Breca Urban X series. This episode is overflowing with good Swimrun vibes. Enjoy!~~~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 rating and review since that’s the best way for people to discover the show and the sport of Swimrun. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and on YouTube. Check out our website for Swimrun resources including gear guides, tips, how-to videos and so much more. Also make sure to check out our meme page @thelowtideboyz on Instagram. If you have any suggestions for the show or questions for us, send us a dm or an email at lowtideboyz@gmail.com. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.Thanks for listening and see you out there!-  Chip and Chris

29 Jun 202350min

Welcome to this bonus episode of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!Ödyssey Swimrun Casco Bay is coming up in a few weeks and we wanted to share a bonus episode with all the latest information about the 2023 edition. As some of you may know, the Casco Bay courses typically change every year or so. This year’s Long and Short Courses will be the same as 2022. As such, we will be re-sharing our conversation with–frequent guest of the show–John Stevens to walk us through the courses. So if you heard last year’s addendum bonus episode, all the course preview information will be the same.If this is your first time racing Casco Bay we recommend that you check out our Course Preview episode for all the details about Portland Maine and the mechanics of the race. You can also check out our 2021 Race Report and/or our 2022 Race Report to get some more intel about the race.2023 MeetupsWe are hosting a Patreon brunch and plan to meeting at 10am near the ferry terminal. Envol Coaching will be in town and will be hosting a shakeout/clinic at noon on Saturday, July 8th. The shakeout will still be at East End Beach so mark your calendars for that. Finally, on July 9th, we will still be hosting our Third Annual Post-Race Party at 6pm at Brickyard Hollow located at 9 Commercial Street close to the ferry terminal.2023 Short CourseIf you’re racing the short course this year, check out our Couch to Casco episode (with John Stevens) from 2022 where we discuss everything you need to know about short course with some training and gear tips thrown in.2023 Long Course Leg-by-Leg BreakdownThe Long course clocks in at 23-ish miles total with 18 miles of running and about 5 miles of swimming over 13 run sections and 12 swim sections.We asked John Stevens to give us a leg-by-leg breakdown of the course and he did not disappoint. Our chat with John had a lot of great insight from the guy that designed the course to help everyone be as prepared as possible for the race. We recommend listening to his breakdown with the race map and the leg-by-leg breakdown from the show notes handy so you can orient yourself with the course while listening.(2023 North to South Route)Run 1: Chebeague Island (1 mile)Swim 1: Chebeague (460 yds)Run 2: Chebeague Island (3 miles)Swim 2: Chebeague to Little Chebeague (685 yds)Run 3: Little Chebeague (.5 miles)Swim 3: Little Chebeague to Long Island (685 yds)Run 4: Long Island (1.65 miles)Swim 4: Long Island (930 yds)Run 5: Long Island Sandbar (81 feet)Swim 5: Long Island to Vaill Island (380 yds)Run 6: Vaill Island (.55 miles)Swim 6: Vaill to Long Island (530 yds)Run 7: Long Island (1 mile)Swim 7: Long to Cow Island (1375 yds) * Longest swim of the dayRun 8: Cow Island (.6 miles)Swim 8: Cow to Great Diamond (300 yds)Run 9: Great Diamond Island (1.65 miles)Swim 9: Great Diamond to Peaks Island (775 yds)Run 10: Peaks Island (3.1 miles) * Longest run of the daySwim 10: Peaks to Cushing (975 yds)Run 11: Cushing Island (3 miles)Swim 11: Cushing to House (800 yds)Run 12: House Island (.75 miles)Swim 12: House to Peaks (725 yds)Run 13: Peaks Island finish (350 feet)SummaryWe can’t wait to head back to Portland Maine and race our favorite event in the U.S. Swimrun circuit. Hope to see you there.That’s it for this bonus episode. 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

22 Jun 202322min