Episode 27 of the Mile after Mile Podcast is sponsored by my good friends at TriVillage. Be sure to check them out for all your swim, bike and run needs (and wants) be sure to tell them that the Mile after Mile Podcast sent you.
Marcus fell in love with multisport through Xterra offroad events but last year he tackled OtillO a SwimRun event in Sweden.
OtillO is a point to point race that transverses 26 islands in Sweden. They call this SwimRun. We talk about how this works. Marcus also was kind enough to tip me off that when speaking of SwimRun they put it all together in one word because I am a SwimRun novice. You race SwimRun as a 2-person team and Marcus's partner was Dan who had raced it the year before also.
To best understand the race here is a link to Marcus's blog and race report . The photos are spectacular.
Swim Run is a bit of a phenomenon in Sweden and Norway but there are 3 races coming to the US this year.
Marcus says that the toughest thing was going from swim to run to swim to run to swim to run. Although you'll hear from the interview that I was sort of obsessed with the equipment needed and the general concept of swimming in shoes and running in a wetsuit. Did you know there are special SwimRun wetsuits? Me neither.
OtillO is a long race. When you add it all up it's 6 miles of swimming and 42 miles of running. WOW!
There are 120 teams. So 240 racers. The teams stay within 10 meters of each other.
Marcus and I talk about how the course was marked and what the terrain was like, what the support stations were like. The locals were really welcoming and supportive of the racers.
We talk about how his skin held up to all the friction from running and swimming and then running again. Body Glide, Tri Glide, Toe Socks
Marcus and Dan were the first team from the US to finish and it sure sounds like a fantastic finish line. Definitely listen to the interview to hear about who meets you at the finish.
Of course, as is fitting to any event that started as a drunken bet - there is beer at the finish.
SwimRun NC www.swimrunnc.com
Here's how you can keep up with Marcus Barton www.speedylizard.com
Episode 27 of the Mile after Mile Podcast is sponsored by TriVillage.
You can always check up on what the Mile after Mile host Amy is up to at AmySaysSo.com
