This is mainly a running blog, and I am a runner. I don't like other sports, running is what I do. But sometimes a fun challenge can appear and I jump on it. That's what happened this weekend.
In the small place where we spend our summers there is a swimrun race every year. I have run parts of the course many, many times and I have seen the race a few years but thinking that it's not for me. The open water swimming puts me off since it's very unpredictable and so dependent on the weather if it's going to be a nice experience or not. I got a reminder of the race last weekend and just felt like it would be fun to try. This is a small, free race, they provide signing on the course and some water half way, but nothing else. This year the entries were limited to 100 people and entries were full in March. But I managed to get a last minute place because people were dropping out and sorted a swimcap and goggles second hand, that was the only mandatory equipment.
It annoyed me that I had thought of bringing my trail shoes here last time I was home, but left them because I didn't feel like it was necessary. But now, when running in wet shoes on slippery stones and cliffs it felt necessary. I ordered a pair online but they didn't get here on time so on Saturday morning before the race I went to the local sports store (thankfully a very big one) and managed to get me a pair of Salomon Supercross that felt like a good choice. To be fair, my other trail shoes are old now, I bought them (also last minute actually) for the Peak District Challenge in 2019. I haven't used them much, they might still have traces of sheep poo on them, but still. đ
On my way back I picked up my bib, then rushed home to change and my sister drove me to the start. It is a point to point race so I didn't want to have the car parked 9 miles from the finish. A short 2 min jog to the start was perfect warm up, and I arrived just 10 minutes before the start. I had my phone in a waterproof case but I didn't really trust it so I left it with my mother, who also came to see us start. Therefor I don't have any pictures from the actual run but I will throw in some old ones so you get an idea of how beautiful but also sometimes challenging it is. This is where I'm taking any buzzer that comes to visit me over here, it's a must see.
It was a very warm day, probably the warmest yet this summer so I was a little bit worried about not carrying water with me. It just felt too challenging to swim with my Salomon vest. I hoped the swimming would help cool me down and then the water station half way would be good. The first run part was long, almost 5,5 km and it was very warm. First it took us along the sea, then on some gravel roads and then a path through the forest. More gravel road, with some locals out in their gardens cheering, and then out on the cliffs. I ran mainly on my own, I could see two ladies ahead of me but they were a bit stronger on the running as long as we were on roads. But once we headed out on the cliffs I caught them up fairly quickly and could tag along. I had to, since I wasn't allowed to swim on my own. And running on these cliffs since childhood is paying off, I can keep a decent pace and find it easy to find my way.
After some up and down on the cliffs we finally saw where the first swim was. Time to get the swim cap on, I had never done that before but it was quite easy. I had been worried about jellyfish before hand, we've had a lot of them this summer. But a few days with warm weather had heated up the sea enough to get them to leave so it was completely jellyfish free. It was a little slippery to get in, lots of rocks that was covered in seaweed but with shoes on I got in safely. And it was so nice, I really needed that cooling off, I had been so warm. This part was a short swim, about 75 meters, and the water wasn't very deep. It was also just crossing a bay so there were no waves. A nice touch was the people in boats that were checking on us.
Getting up was like the way down, rocks covered in seaweed and slippery cliffs when you got up since they got wet from all the people ahead of us but my shoes had a good grip so I felt safe. Again the ladies ran a bit faster than me on the short graveled road but I caught them up on the next cliff section that were just a short bit away.
This section I could almost walk or run in my sleep. I have been here countless of times, and we actually took our wedding photos here. I could have lead us here but I prefered to stay behind, it's still easier to follow than to lead and I wanted to save energy so I could keep up with them on the roads later. This running section was shorter, about a mile, and it was time for the next swim. Another secluded bay, so again no waves or anything. Also a short swim, I think like the first one. This is the bay we were crossing.
On the other side there were an electrical fence, so we had to find a way around to get through safely. Cows and sheep roam these areas so that's why there is fences. No signs of animals today though, happy for that. I only saw and jumped over their poo a few times. This part was also running over cliffs but also some wet and muddy parts that hadn't dried out since the last rain. I still kept up with the ladies, but I started to feel a little tired to took an energy tab that I had in my pack. The ziplock bag had kept it dry so that was good. I think we ran about a mile until we reached the beach where the water station was. As a surprise there were also cinnamon buns, sponsored by the camp site we were at. I kept walking and eating and drinking, I knew there was a longer running section coming and I wanted to get on so I could try to keep up with the ladies. I had them behind me for a short while but let them pass as we got in to a forest part. I know this part well, it was a bit wet but so was I so just ran through the mud. The ladies were pulling ahead but I hoped I would be able to catch them up before the last swim.
As we got out of the forest my parents were standing and cheering us on! I took a quick sip of water and headed on, I couldn't let them get too far ahead. Now it was gravel road for a while and I managed to pass two other ladies that were walking. I knew we had to head through another forest part to get to the last swim and hoped it wouldn't be too technical as I wanted to keep my pace. Here I felt really strong, the energy kicked in at the right time, so I ran pretty fast. I still couldn't see my swimming buddies but once I got out of the woods and down to the water I could see them a bit ahead of me. Now it was a beach part, but with stones (larger than pebbles), so I couldn't really run but I walked it quickly. And again I was catching up, they were walking slower than me. Just as we reached the last swim spot I was at their back again and we went in together. Turned out the other two ladies I had caught didn't swim, they were only running.
This is where we were swimming, from right to left and got up just behind the large boat. This swim was the longest, about 200 meters, but by now my watch didn't automatically changed sports anymore so I don't know for sure. This time it was deep water, but it was a calm day so still no waves and the boats watching us were there as a safety thing. Here it was easy to get in and out, as it was sandy beaches.
Last running section now, about 2 km left to the finish. First a little pebble beach running, then through a soccer field and then over a beach at another camp site. People were looking of course haha. Another sip of water from my support crew here, before we got up on the last cliff/forest section.
I have walked there a few times before but it's a while ago now so I had to rely on the signage. I was unsure on a few occasions but I had a lady behind me who knew the course so she led me right. Then finally we were out on the last gravel road, just half a mile left to the finish. I had nothing left so I just jogged the best I could. The lady behind me passed me with 20 m left to the finish but I didn't care. I had done it, my first ever swimrun! Happy days!
This was so much fun and I would really like to do it again, if it's nice weather next year I'm there for sure! I don't thing I will be a swim runner but these small, no pressure, no competition events is perfect when you just want to have fun. But I will have to find a partner for next year so I don't have to rely on others for the swimming parts.
