its on my bucket list
it looks awesome and not too far from Vancouver

maybe next year though

It was visually very amazing. Maybe not for folks from that part of the world, but still hard with 6 to 8.5 hours of racing. You really learn who you are and what your body can do, plus how nice you can play with others when you are pushing yourself.

I raced the Orcas Island SwimRun as well! Probably my favorite event I've ever done.

The venue was amazing and the entire experience from check-in to post race pizza was awesome.

Hopefully I can race it again next year.

Was this your first SwimRun?

It was my first. I'm hoping to do Catalina Island, Casco Bay, and Orcas Island next year.

I tell folks all the time how easy it is to get hooked to this sport when you are willing to step outside the box. All these races next year should be good. I assume you are a West Coast based athlete

Yup! I live in Las Vegas.

I do a lot of triathlons and Spartan Races.

SwimRun removes my least favorite part of tri (cycling), and adds my favorite parts of Spartan Races (Trail Running and Broken Running)

It's the perfect sport for me and more accessible for my friends who don't have bikes.

Do you direct the SwimRun in NC?

I do. Two friends of mine and I run that race as volunteers. We take not a nickel from it, not even gas money despite going many times to the Hanging Rock State Park (about 50 minutes from my house in Winston-Salem.) and all proceeds go to the park and local trail building associations.

In 2017 we bought the park a mobile fire fighting unit, and last year mountain bikes for the rangers.

That is awesome. I'm putting the race on my 2020 wish list. Do you anticipate it to be the same weekend in 2020?

love this

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36 kona qualifiers 2006-'23 - 3 Kona Podiums - 4 OA IM AG wins - 5 IM AG wins - 18 70.3 AG wins
I ka nana no a 'ike -- by observing, one learns | Kulia i ka nu'u -- strive for excellence
Garmin Glycogen Use App | Garmin Fat Use App

Always the last Sunday in October

Hey now Justin - thrilled to hear you had such a memorable experience on Orcas over the weekend. Talk about classic Pacific NorthWest conditions on race day! Hope you'll join us again on Orcas and great to hear you're considering some of the others too!

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Lars Finanger
Odyssey SwimRun