Born in Sweden as a bet between friends, swimrun is a way of crossing a landscape, swimming across water and running along trails. It can be long or short, done solo or in a team of two. We run in our wetsuits, swim in our trainers and routes are made up of multiple swims and runs with multiple transitions. Most importantly it is a whole lot of fun with a great supportive swimrun community.

Whilst we may not have the mountains, long distances or open seas, here in the South East,  we create our very own flavour of swimrun. Newcomers to swimrun and seasoned competitors alike will always be welcome at our events as we honour the spirit of swimrun which it is all about the adventure and immersing yourself in a landscape. 

Open to solo or team swimrunners. 

Junior (12-17 years old) swimrunners are welcome to take part but must be accompanied by a competent adult (over 18) throughout the event - so it is a team entry required.

Take part in one event or do all 3. 

For a taste of swimrun fun watch our short video https://youtu.be/3Ed833vvlkg

Sunday 18th May 2025 - Quay Lake, Mytchett

We have two courses on offer.  Choose between either 5km (5 swims and 4 runs) or 2.5km (3 swims and 2 runs) course and whether you go solo or in a pair (the exact course is still to be confirmed). A great way to spend a Sunday for those new to swimrun or more experienced competitors. 

Early bird pricing of £32 per person applies until mid March. Rises to £38 after this

Prizes awarded to top 3 solo and teams. 

Entry: solo or as a team (first team member sets up entry and team name)

Registration opens 12:30 
Race briefing at 13:30 
Race starts at 14:00

Sunday 15th June 2025 - Longside Lake, Egham

We have three courses on offer.  Choose between either 2.5km (2 swims and 2 runs) course or 5km (4 swims and 4 runs) or the full bog (if you know you know) 10km. Go solo or in a pair.    A great way to spend a Sunday morning for those new to swimrun or more experienced competitors. 

Located at Longside Lake, Egham

Early bird pricing of £32 per person applies until mid April. Rises to £38 after this

Prizes awarded to top 3 solo and teams. 

Entry: solo or as a team (first team mate sets up entry and team name)

Registration opens at 7am
Race briefing at 7:45am
Race starts at 8am

Sunday 14th Sept 2025 - Quays Lake, Mytchett

We have two courses on offer.  Choose between either 5km (5 swims and 4 runs) or 2.5km (3 swims and 2 runs) course and whether you go solo or in a pair (the exact course is still to be confirmed). A great way to spend a Sunday for those new to swimrun or more experienced competitors. 

Early bird pricing of £32 per person applies until mid July. Rises to £38 after this

Prizes awarded to top 3 solo and teams. 

Entry: solo or as a team (first team member sets up entry and team name)

Registration opens 12:30 
Race briefing at 13:30 
Race starts at 14:00

Swimrun Training / Have a go!

Fancy a new challenge, both newcomers and experienced swimriunners welcome.  This is a chance to try out different pieces of equiptment, ask any questions and generally have a go.  Some use it to become familier with the set up befotre their first event, others use it for some fine tuning and technical coaching on specific aspects and race strategies.  These are schedulled during usual venue swim sessions and you need to book in with the lake and pay the swim fee in addition to the coaching session.

11th May - Quays Lake

1st June - Longside Lake

7th Sept - Quays Lake

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South East Swimrun is being organised by fellow swimrunners Jude Palmer and Paul Mackenzie of Embrace Adventures CIC

The following rules apply 

1. ENTRY CRITERIA

1.1 Participants can compete in either a team of two or solo. Solo participants must be at least 18 years old on the date of the race. Junior swimrunners (age 12-17) must be accompanied by a competent adult.

1.2 Participants must swim on their fronts at all times unless they are in need of assistance when floating on back, raising hand, blowing whistle are ways of attracting attention.

1.3 Participants must comply with all biosecurity measures where applicable - please come with clean clothing and equipment - we do not want to spread invasive species from one lake to another

1.4 Tickets are non-refundable. Once purchased, your entry cannot be exchanged, refunded or deferred for any reason, including injury, medical issues or factors outside of your control - sorry we just don't have the admin resource.  See section 11.3 below for details relating to event cancellations.

1.5 Participants must attend Registration and the Safety Brief before you can race

1.6 All participants must have either a race number written on their hand or wear a numbered bib given at registration and wear the issued swim hats and numbered bids throughout the entire race.

2. COURSE
2.1 Participants must follow the marked course at all times
2.2 We may be required to amend the course subject to weather conditions. Any changes will be explained in detail during the race Safety Brief

3. MEDICAL

3.1 Participants are obliged to disclose any pre-existing medical conditions or injuries
3.2 Participants are responsible for ensuring they have sufficient fitness and experience to take part, and will sign a Participant Agreement to this effect

4. EQUIPMENT 

4.1 All participants must come with the following,
 - Clean and dry wetsuit, tri-suit or similar clothing which is appropriate to the weather conditions, water temperature. Wet suits are mandatory at all locations if the water temperature is below 18 degrees.

- Suitable shoes for running off road, which must be worn at all times

- A whistle that can used while swimming in the event of emergency. We will check these at registration so please make sure you have one. 

- To avoid biosecurity issues, please ensure all clothing and equipment is clean and dry.  

- For all solo entrants tow floats are optional - we expect you to be a confident swimmer, however if you are used to swimming with a tow float you are welcome to use it.  For junior swimrunners (12 – 17) tow floats are a mandatory requirement. 

- A swim cap will be provided and must be worn and visible throughout the swims

4.2 In line with general swimrun rules, the following items are prohibited:
 - Flotation devices ie.pull buoys, larger than 100cm x 60cm
 - Swim fins longer than 15cm
 - Powered propulsion devices

4.3 Participants must be self-supported:
- Outside help other than that from other participants on the course is prohibited
- An exception will be made for competitors with medical conditions; they must identify themselves to the race organiser prior to the event
- Marshalls will be on hand to assist solo athletes at technical transitions

5. TIMINGS & CUT OFFS

5.1 The clock begins when the whistle goes at the start and finishes when the last team member has crossed the Finish Line

5.2 Participants must complete the 2.5km and 5km courses within the time limit of 90 minutes.  For those on the 10km course at Longside they need to have cleared the last water segment within this 90 minutes and race marshalls will stop participants who don't make the cut off times.

5.3 Timing will be done manually.

5.4 Participants reaching the finish line after the final cut off will not be listed as finishers and will not be eligible for awards

6. PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITIES

6.1 Participants must know the rules and follow them

6.2 Participants must follow the ethos of swimrun which is to offer assistance in case of emergency, maintain a sporting attitude and enjoy being out swimming and running in the great outdoors.

6.3 Littering of any kind will result in immediate disqualification. 

6.4 Participants compete in this event entirely at their own risk.

6.5 Agreement at Registration. Athletes who have not signed the Agreement will not be allowed to start the race

7. PROTESTS

7.1 Protests must be submitted in writing to Race Directors Jude Palmer or Paul Mackenzie within an hour of finishing the race

7.2 Protests must include:
 - The reason for the protest
 - The time and location of the contravention
 - Team number and signatures of the team submitting the protest
 - Team number or team name of the team the protest is against
 - Witness names and team numbers where possible

7.3 Protests that do not satisfy the criteria outlined in rule 7.2 will not be considered

7.4 The protest will be reviewed by the Race Committee and a decision communicated to those involved as soon as possible

7.5 The Race Committee will apply "common sense" to decisions about situations that aren't clear in the rules

7.6 The Race Committee's decision is final

8. SAFETY

8.1 Teams of two must stay together at all times and must remain less than 10 metres apart throughout the race.

8.2 Participants withdrawing from the event must return to the start and inform a Race Director and return their race bib(s).

8.3 You may be prevented from continuing if you are judged to be unable to safely complete the race.

8.4 The run sections are off road. Please be aware that there may be unexpected hazards such as holes, tree roots, brambles, boggy areas etc.

8.5 Please only enter and exit the water where you are directed to do so. Take care as getting in and out can is all part of the swimrun adventure. There will be no carpeted slipways. Please do not dive. 

8.6 If at any time you feel you are struggling in the water, please roll over onto your back and raise your hand in the air and use your whistle to attract attention. 

9. DISQUALIFICATION

9.1 Failure to follow the rules will lead to disqualification

10. MEDIA & SPONSOR EXPOSURE

10.1 Participants give Race Organisers, Embrace Adventures CIC, SouthEast Swimrun, Run Surrey Hills and Adventure Swims the right to use pictures and film material taken during the race, to be used free of rights in marketing, press material, internet, television and film

11. ACCEPTANCE OF THE RULES

11.1 By entering the race each participant accepts the rules in full

11.2 Participants are taking part at their own risk and cannot hold South East Swimrun or any of it’s representatives, volunteers, sponsors or any individual, landowner or organisation associated with South East Swimruns or the venue used

11.3 If an event is postponed by Embrace Adventures CIC, South East Swimrun or by one of our partners; either due to weather, water conditions or a reason out of our control within 7 days of the event date, we will try and offer either a new date the following year, a transfer to another event (if that event entry is more than the original event, you must pay the difference) or a 70% refund.
 
The South East Swimrun Series is a very small event business and we start to incur costs for equipment provision, venues hire and support services long before the event date. We cannot therefore afford to give 100% refunds but offer the best we can.  We shall not accept any liability for any consequential loss.