Low Tide Boyz, a Swimrun Podcast9 Jan 2020

Swimrun 101

Swimrun 101

We got some great feedback from listeners that they wanted a primer on Swimrun. So this week we’ve released a special episode to cover all the basics about Swimrun.

What is Swimrun?

A Swimrun is a multiple-stage competition which involves participants running and swimming over a race course or loop-course that involves at least two transitions between the swim and run stages of the race. All equipment used by participants has to be carried all the way to the finish line. (Thanks Wikipedia!)

When was it invented?

The sport was invented in 2002 in Sweden when 4 friends made a bet at a bar about who could get from the Island of Utö to the Island of Sandhamn (more that 75 kilometers away across 26 islands) using just their “4 limbs.” It took them more than 24 hours to complete the distance and the rest is history!

Who is it for?

This sport is really for everyone. Having an endurance background is very helpful but not required. Swim experience is definitely required and comfort in open water is a must. In general though endurance swimmers, trail runners, etc. are well suited for these type of adventures. Similar to how Spartan races or other OCR events are great ways for Crossfitters to use their fitness in different ways, Swimrun offers endurance athletes a way for them to use their training in more of an adventure setting.

The sport is very welcoming and chill while still creating challenging experiences for participants. We definitely encourage folks to find their local races and support the race directors that are trying to grow the sport in the US. You can see a list of events on our website.

How does it work?

The whole point of the sport is to get from A to B as quickly as possible. The sport allows for things like hand paddles, pull buoys and fins to be used on the swim to help get this accomplished. We will discuss equipment for swimrun later in the show notes.

The sport is mostly team based and there are four categories at most events.

Solo: Kind of the anti-team category. More events are offering this option to help grow the sport and encourage participation from people who may not have access to a partner or couldn’t get one in time for an event. (We don’t recommend this, we think that one of the things that makes this sport special is the team aspect of it.)

Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Teams: These are all self-explanatory.

These categories compete on a course that’s either short, long or very long. The courses are either a loop course or point-to-point with alternating legs of running and swimming. Each race will have its unique challenges, whether elevation on the run, “swim-heavy” or “run-heavy” courses, participants can essentially select what suits their strengths or try something outside of their comfort zone.

Race strategy for each event will be different and teams need to make sure that they have planned for such things as pacing, nutrition and water currents. The longer the course, the more race strategy will play a role in having a successful event.

Partner selection is also important. You want to make sure that you and your partner are pretty compatible pace-wise. Since the sport requires that teams be tethered together on the swim, a gross mismatch of swim ability might be problematic.

What equipment is required?

There is definitely gear that is required for the sport. Whatever you bring to a race must be carried at all times by the teams. We will outline the key gear below:

Wetsuit: There are Swimrun specific wetsuits that are designed for running and swimming. There are a bunch of companies in the space that are making these types of wetsuits, and similar to triathlon or open water swimming wetsuits, each brand will have its own take on sizing, cut and neoprene thickness.

Pull Buoy: Our favorite swimrun accessory! Most are DIY’d to make sure that you can carry it while running with most efficiency. You can now buy pull buoys that are already set up for swimrun but we recommend that new athletes to the sport make their own. We see this as a rite of passage in the sport.

Tether: Yes, a tether. As mentioned above, during the swim legs of an event partners are expected to be connected via a 3ish meter tether so that they remain in contact. This takes some getting used to so we recommend practicing in open water with your partner. More on this later. The tether is made of paracord and also be easily DIY’d.

Shoes: Yes, you swim with shoes on. They make swimrun specific shoes but in general you want shoes that have good drainage and some decent tread on the soles since most of the run courses will be on trails.

Paddles: The last piece of a swimrunner’s arsenal in the water are hand paddles. Paddles in conjunction with a pull buoy are the most helpful things to get through the swim legs of an event quickly.

Multisport Watch: This isn’t mandatory but it’s helpful to know distances and the like. We like watches like the Garmin Fenix 5 that have a multi-sport setting specific for swimrun.

Personal Flotation Device: Athletes competing in solo categories are required to use one of these during the swim legs of a race for safety.

Some optional equipment for race include collapsible cups, shin guards, shin flotation sleeves and fins.

There are also some mandatory items that most races require teams to carry throughout a race. These include a tether, compass, whistle, course maps and a first aid compression bandage. Make sure to check your events race rules to make sure that you meet their requirements.

How do you train for it?

Basic endurance training is obviously required but we recommend race-specific training. Swimrun bricks in open water and covering terrain similar to the race course is helpful to being ready for the adventure on race day. For example, if a course is “swim-heavy” then some longer steady state swim sets to match the course.

We also recommend testing out and practicing with your gear to make sure that you can race well with whatever gear you will end up racing with. Swimming with a tether early and often can’t be overstated!

If you are enjoying the Low Tide Boyz, please be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast player. We are on Apple Podcast, Spotify and Google Podcast. You can also follow along on Instagram and Twitter. If you want to drop us a line, email us at lowtideboyz@gmail.com.

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3rd Generation Carbon Paddles with Mr. Frank Paddle, Fredrik Bengtsson

Welcome to episode 264 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!We’ve got a great episode this week for all you gear heads out there! Joining us to talk about the 3rd generation of carbon fiber swim paddles is Mr. Frank Paddle himself, Fredik Bengtsson. In this conversation we chart the history of carbon fiber paddles to the present day and announce the launch of the new Frank Paddle x LTBz Signature model. (You can call them the Super Pros, The Stoke Masters, or just the LTBz’z.) This new paddle has all the latest tech and we’re so stoked for it to be released into the Swimrun world!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

23 Jan 43min

The Ultimate Guide for Planning the Ultimate Swimrun Season

Welcome to episode 263 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!Want to go ballistic this year with Swimrun?Want to start stacking points for a potential World Championship bid?Want to race an epic “destination” Swimrun?Want to use your fitness to try something new (and Awesome?)Then this is the show for you! One of the best things about Swimrun is all the variety of experiences that are out there to be had. Given that no two races are exactly the same, planning out your season (and your training) is a puzzle that Swimrunners need to solve to accomplish their goals. In this episode we will take a deep dive into a few different strategies to solve the puzzle while making sure you have an awesome time out there.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

16 Jan 25min

Into The Deep End with...Deep End Fitness

Welcome to episode 262 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!We’ve got a fun show for everyone this week! Given that it’s the off-season and good time to recharge the batteries, try new things, and get ready for “THE YEAR OF SWIMRUN” we thought it would be cool to invite Austin-locals and Swimrunners James English and Braden Bell to the show to talk about the relatively new training program called Deep End Fitness. Don’t know what we’re talking about but looking for a new training modality to try out? Well you’re about to get your mind blown!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

9 Jan 57min

An Audience with The Queen of Swimrun, Desirée Andersson

Welcome to episode 261 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!Welcome to year 5 of the show! To kick things off for what we are already calling “THE YEAR OF SWIMRUN” we are joined by the queen of the sport herself, the incomparable Desirée Andersson. In this conversation we chatted about her 2024 season, how her training has evolved over the years, and what the future holds. She’s literally the best and we can’t think of a better way to kick off the year than having been bestowed the honor of an audience with The Queen.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

2 Jan 47min

Fireside Chat 2024

Welcome to episode 260 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!We’ve got another great episode for everyone this week. We reflect on the 2024 season, discussing major races we participated in, training challenges, highlights from our podcast episodes, and future plans for the 2025 swimrun season. We also extend gratitude to our supporters, families, and partners, sharing anecdotes about our experiences and teasing upcoming content and projects. 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

26 Dec 202440min

One Water Race 2024 Race Recap w/Thomas Ogander

Welcome to episode 259 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!We’ve got another great episode for everyone this week. Joining us to discuss the 2024 edition of the epic One Water Race is founder and race director Thomas Ogander, a.k.a. The Swimrun OG! We covered a lot of ground (no pun intended) in this conversation and we guarantee that you will be heading to YouTube to find out for yourself why this race is in fact “the ultimate proof of human capacity.”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

19 Dec 202454min

2024 Holiday Gift Guide for the Special Swimrunner in Your Life

Welcome to episode 258 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!Happy Holidays everyone! In this episode we share our suggestions for holiday gifts for that special Swimrunner in your life. (It’s ok if YOU are that special Swimrunner in your life.) We cover everything from stocking stuffers to extremely grand gestures. Make sure to check out our updated Swimrun Gear Guide in case you need any other gift ideas.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

12 Dec 202421min

Introducing ÖTILLÖ Åland w/Staffan Björklund

Welcome to episode 257 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!We’ve got an exclusive for everyone this week. In what is likely our finest piece of “journalism” to date, we’re joined by ÖTILLÖ Race Director Staffan Björklund to announce a new ÖTILLÖ World Series event. Mark your calendars for August 9 and 10 for the brand new ÖTILLÖ Åland Swimrun taking place in Finland in the Åland Archipelago, A.K.A., Swimrun heaven. We get into all the details for this brand new event, including course design, course overviews for the World Series, Sprint, Experience, and new Kidz distance options, how to travel there for just $6 (from Stockholm), and so much more.Huge thank you to ÖTILLÖ for letting us be the first to cover this new event. 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

6 Dec 202452min

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