Grit, Granite, and Glory – My Swimrun Late Season Recap

This summer was a story told in strokes and strides. A journey that proved the true spirit of swimrun lies in the variety of the course and the strength of the partnership. Each race offered a different canvas to paint our efforts on, and each partner brought a new energy to the challenge. I have already covered the Nynäshamn, Valras and Rockman swimruns so this post covers the key events in the second half of the season.

Wales – Coastal Grit and Currents (July 26th)

The adventure began on the untamed coast of Wales with Niamh, an Irish free spirit who lives just across the sea from Pembroke. She's wonderfully spontaneous and, at times, a little unorganized - which made her the perfect partner for a wild, unpredictable course. She’s also a great swimmer, which came in handy in a race that featured big, current-heavy swims.

This was a test of raw grit and elemental beauty: 32 km total (7 km swim, 25 km run) across rugged trails and dynamic water. We found our rhythm in the challenging transitions, and about halfway through, we passed the 4th place team - securing a fantastic 3rd place finish in the mixed category. Déjà vu from Hydra last year, where we were 3rd mixed and 4th overall.

Do it if big swims and a great seaside town are your thing.

Partner’s Perspective – Niamh
"After a winter of health setbacks, I wasn’t sure I could do this. But the energy of the Envol crew, the breathtaking coastal course, and the sheer joy of moving through nature made it unforgettable. We even made it back to my hotel before checkout - Team Chicken Legs for the win!"

Juniskär – A Local Dream Realised (August 9th)

Next came Juniskär Swimrun with Linda - her hometown race and a personal milestone. Last year, injury meant we had to switch to the short course. This year was about unfinished business.

The long course covered 26 km with 18 transitions (7 km swim, 19 km run), and Linda’s determination was unwavering. It wasn’t easy, but she delivered. For me, this race stood out for its community feel and impeccable organization. Sadly, this was the 10th, and final edition of the event. The week before the water was in the low 20s but a storm blew in and by race day it had dropped to 12 degrees. I’d missed the memo so I hadn’t taken extra rubber! The long swims were cold but the air temp was good, so it was manageable. A great day with the prize ceremony and after-party putting the icing on the cake.

Do it, well, you can't anymore. But it was one of the best.

Partner’s Perspective – Linda

"This was the race of my roots—technical trails I grew up on, waters of my childhood. On my 50th, friends surprised me with a start spot and Tom as teammate. Equal parts shock and joy - could I even keep up? One more year of training gave me time to prepare. On race day, we said little - just 'you ok?' and kept going. It wasn’t smooth. Tom got cold. I struggled on the swims. We pushed through. When he rolled his ankle just before the finish, I wished I could take the pain for him. But he kept going. That final stretch, with locals cheering us in, was pure magic. This wasn’t about time. It was about finishing, closing a chapter, and being lifted by a community."

Grinda – Festival Vibes in the Archipelago (August 23rd)

Then came Grinda with Paula, one of my original swimrun partners and a long-time endurance athlete. It was great to race together again, this time in a more relaxed, festival-style format that encouraged community and shared experience.

There were four courses; two swimrun courses, a trail run and a swim course. In addition there was a kids course. This was truly an event for everyone. Each had to be completed within 30 minutes before the next start. The first four were free choice, with the four after that selected by the organizers with 60 seconds notice. If you completed all eight then you did the Grande Finale where the three courses were to be done as a continuous loop. Grinda was a new swimrun venue for me and it did not disappoint, technical trails, archipelago granite and pristine water. Paula brought great energy, and we moved like a well-oiled machine. I stayed the nights before and after at the Sea Lodge with the Envol crew which added to the community feel of the whole event.

Do it if you love swimrun as a celebration and want to experience the sport in a novel, inclusive format.

Partner’s Perspective – Paula

"When I think about what makes swimrun so special, it always comes back to partnership - and that’s exactly what I’ve found racing with Tom. Whether we’re flying through transitions at Renegade Swimrun or keeping it flowy and fun at Grinda, we trust each other completely. At Grinda, we started slow and relaxed, then clipped on the tether and picked up the pace, finishing as the first mixed team on the competitive trail loop. We were totally in sync. Racing with Tom is always a joy, and I’m already looking forward to the next adventure.”

For the full text from Niamh, Linda and Paula see Partner Perspectives.

ÖTILLÖ – The Legendary Finish Line (September 1st)

The grand finale came at the ÖTILLÖ World Championship with Daniel. For him, this was a long-held dream, and for both of us it was a big challenge.

70 km in total (9 km swim, 61 km run) across 24 islands. From the legendary swims to the brutal trails of the archipelago, every step demanded resilience. I crossed the finish line on Utö overwhelmed by the raw emotion of the moment, for Daniel two years of effort distilled into that final hill.

On a side note, the swims were truly amazing. We’d timed the race with a peak of a moon jellyfish bloom - we were literally swimming though millions of these amazing creatures. Above this distraction, the surface the sea was like a mirror, on each breath a clear view to the horizon. Incredible!

Races like ötillö rarely go to script - the weather can shift, the body can falter, the mind wavers. But that’s part of the game - it’s not always about executing a perfect plan, it’s about refusing to break when the plan unravels. This was very much Daniel’s story so I’ll let him tell it but I am super proud of the big guy.

Do it if you're a true aficionado. ÖTILLÖ is a pilgrimage. A point to point course shaped by nature, and a test of partnership at the highest level.

Partner’s Perspective – Daniel

“In hindsight I can't believe we reached the finishing line in time (or at all), but with a lot of help from my friend we did.

I was first introduced to swimrun four years ago by a member of my management team. We were looking for a team event to do, and the choice fell on the ÖtillÖ Utö Experience. For me, it was love at first sight: the constant switching between running and swimming, the adventure of experiencing nature and the elements, and the stark contrast to the comforts of everyday office life — it all appealed to me immediately.

The following year, I stepped up to “Sprint” races, and the year after that to “World Series” races. The natural progression was, of course, the original ÖtillÖ World Championship from Sandhamn to Utö. I set myself a two-year goal to qualify and complete the race.

Knowing myself, I realized I needed to make the training sessions social to maintain consistency — especially the swims, which I dreaded at the time. Luckily, I found the fantastic Bromma Swim Masters Squad led by the enigmatic nestor Tom Jenkinson. He seemed a little fearsome at first, but turned out to have a heart of gold. The squad also overlapped heavily with Westside Swimrunners and Ängby Runners, both of which had training sessions led by Tom. There I had my teammates (today friends). 

After completing five qualification races and collecting enough ranking points, I asked Tom — himself an ÖtillÖ WC veteran — if he would join me on the journey through the archipelago. Thankfully, he said yes!

Another year of training followed, and in the final build-up I raced ÖtillÖ Åland. Unfortunately, I injured my Achilles tendon, which had troubled me a year before. Believing it would behave as it had previously — only painful after training — I remained confident I could still race. In the lead-up, I managed a few short runs with only minor aches, but on race day the pain flared up after just one kilometer. From there, it was a 13-hour sufferfest.

We had planned for Tom to lead the long swims, but he also ended up towing me on runs across both Nämndö and Ornö — a combined 25 km. Needless to say, I could never have finished without him. I will be forever grateful to Tom for helping me complete this two-year project successfully. That said, I still have unfinished business, and I will return to Sandhamn for a rematch in a couple of years” 

More Than a Sport

This summer has been a powerful reminder that swimrun is more than a sport, it’s a shared adventure, shaped by landscapes, transitions, weather, and most importantly, your teammate. Each course rewrote the story. Each partner brought out something different. And through it all, the spirit of exploration, effort, and connection endured.

Ready to Write Your Own Swimrun Story?

If you’ve got a swimrun dream - whether it’s your first race or a World Championship finish - let Envol Swimrun Coaching help you make it happen. From personalized plans to race partnerships, we’ve been where you are, and we’ll help you get where you want to go.

Visit envolcoaching or reach out to get started.