A great challenge for those new to SwimRun

A brilliant warmup ahead of open water SwimRuns in the UK and abroad

Based at a London lido venue, the iconic Tooting Lido, the UK’s largest swimming pool

Professionally Chip Timed – Immediate print out of splits and online results

Tooting Lido, London SW16 1RU

Competitors will alternate between swimming and running completing a total of 1km in Tooting Bec Lido and 8.8km around Tooting Common.

Swimming in your footwear is recommended but you can remove your shoes and transport them in the swim, this could include using a dry bag or float.

Flotation devices are permitted during the swim, this includes pull buoys and tow floats.

Use of hand paddles and flippers is allowed.

You will enter the water feet first. Diving is not permitted.

You must return to the finish with the equipment that you started with, you cannot leave items around the course.

Mandatory equipment for team and solo competitors; there will be a mandatory equipment check at registration.

1 pair goggles per participant

1 pair trainers per participant

1 swimming cap

Swimming in your trainers can seem like a challenge but it doesn’t take long to get used to it. Shoes that are light weight, buoyant and that drain well are the best for SwimRun. They’ll need to be a good tight fit to stop them coming off when you swim. Wear quick drying synthetic ankle socks to help prevent blisters.

Wetsuits are optional, but recommended if the water is under 15C and you are not acclimatised to cold water. There are now SwimRun specific wetsuits available but if you are new to SwimRun there is no reason why you can’t give it a go in the wetsuit you already own. A regular full swimming wetsuit will certainly do a perfectly good job for you in the swimming stages, it will just take a bit more getting used to when you find yourself out running on dry land. Some people take a pair of scissors to a standard wetsuit cutting just above the knees and the elbows, allowing better freedom of movement when running.

SwimRun rules state that you can use any flotation aids so long as they are no bigger than 100 cm x 60 cm – imagination is your only other limit! Most people just use a pull buoy which you hold between your legs instead of kicking, gives you extra buoyancy and allows you to save your legs during the swims. You’ll appreciate this when it is time to run!

Many people use hand paddles for SwimRun. These add some extra power to your stroke. There are loads of different paddles on the market, but you’ll need some that have straps to hold it on your hand or they can easily come off and be lost in open water. You’ll also need to think about how you are going to carry them on your runs