bump for the daytime crowd

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https://lshtm.academia.edu/MikeCallaghan

http://howtobeswiss.blogspot.ch/

Most of the equipment can be modified from both swimming and running.

Trail shoes with great traction (for rock scrambles) and holes for water drainage.
A pull buoy that can stay attached while running.
Paddles for swimming
A wetsuit that you can run in that preferably unzips in the front to get it down off your shoulders while running.

I modified an older wetsuit for my events. It has a front and rear zipper as well as pockets for a map and compass. Pretty easy to do actually.

https://forum.slowtwitch.com/...F_P6713408/#p6713408

I started last year myself, and got virtually everything from Jona's Coltings site. HE was a top triathlon pro(world champion LD) and was really one of the very first pros to do the swim run thing over a decade ago. He built a line of stuff particular to swim running, and it has been refined many times over. I went with his short leg, long sleeve wetsuit( probably go with no arms next time if water temp allows that), shin floats/guards, and his pink paddles(medium). For shoes I went with Nike sock racers from the 80's, would not do that again, as the super buoy from Sweden floats normal racing flats just fine.

I was worried about leg drag with shoes, but it really was not a thing with the wetsuit and huge buoy. I will go with some type of minimal trail shoe next time, I think HOKA has a really good one that I saw a lot of fast folks using. You need the whistle and collapsable cup, also from Jonas, and a mini first aid kit. If you are partnering like most(I go solo) then you get the stretch cord to tether yourself to your partner.

It was super fun and I learned a lot from just that one race(Catalina) and cannot wait to do another one. Looks like unless you go around the world, Catalina is going to happen again in November, so that is my long term goal right now. Brutal course with cold water, all on trails, my wet dream course...

yeah, if this race goes off at all (?) i'd be racing solo. it would also be right in my backyard (at least, where i live in summer) - stunning scenery and great location for a swimrun.

i've seen some good looking shoe options from vivobarefoot, and would possibly be interested. i'd want a closer look at the running surfaces, since in that area there can be a lot of bigger, chunkier gravel and that would really suck in barefoot shoes. but i could be convinced on a pair of minimalist flats.

i have a strong stroke and lots of open water experience (lifesaving, surfing, etc). but i have god-awful buoyancy, so a wetsuit is a must for me. ditto pull buoys - or - maybe shin floats. i'd worry a bit about calf cramping if i were using the pull buoys - thoughts? at least shin floats would allow for a bit of kick.

and then the only pair of hand paddles i have are massive TYR catalysts from the old days. i'd need something waaay smaller, i guess.

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____________________________________
https://lshtm.academia.edu/MikeCallaghan

http://howtobeswiss.blogspot.ch/

Mike, run in the shoes that you know and like. Most shoes drain well.

As for socks I recommend 3/4 length or longer wool socks, they dry fast.

An old cut down wetsuit will do until you realize you want to do more.

Lots of information in the FB Group The SwimRun Experience including various ways to attach a buoy.

https://www.facebook.com/...TheSwimRunExperience

Plus you can PM me your number and I can chat with you on the phone

Check classifieds. Selling a new Colting men's small swim/run wetsuit. Didn't fit me.

Hey iron_mike!

Stoked to hear you are going to be doing a swimrun! I have no doubt you will be hooked right away.

As for the gear the most specific thing is a swimrun specific wetsuit, but you can totally get started with a pair of scissors and an old tri wetsuit. These wetsuits are much more run forward and have vastly superior run mobility when compared to a tri wetsuit. I'm one of the hosts of the Low Tide Boyz which is a swimrun podcast and we have produced this swimrun gear guide (and other info about swimrun) on our site. Give that a read and please feel free to send an email with any more questions you might have about swimrun, we will be more than thrilled to help you out :)

-Chip