The Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge

YES, WE KNOW your first question. What is a mudskipper? It’s an amphibious fish that has gills and swims in the water, but that also walks on land. Now we’ll tell you what your next question should be: why haven’t you done a SwimRun event yet?

Over in Europe SwimRun events are becoming extremely popular, rivalling the popularity of triathlons in some areas. There were over 500 SwimRun races around the world last year, with more on deck for 2020.

SwimRun races are multistage events that alternate between swimming and running. Swimming aids (paddles, fins, pull buoys and wetsuits) are permitted, but must be either worn or carried during the run. Running shoes are also required and need to be carried or worn during the swim.

When many people think of SwimRun events, they think of the famous Ötillö race in Sweden, which is SwimRun’s equivalent to the Ironman. Like the famous triathlon in Hawaii, the Ötillö race got its start in a bar, and as a challenge. The first Ötillö race took place in 2002 as a competition between two pairs of brothers. It continues to feature “partner” racing – now teams of two qualify at races around the world for the Ötillö World Championship, a 75-km race that sees athletes swim and run between 26 islands.

In 2014 an individual series of SwimRun races began in Italy, which has since grown to become the Aquaticrunner series, with its own world championship in Grado, Italy. The Mudskipper SwimRun events do feature team events, but the main focus is on individual SwimRun racing.

Now heading into it’s fourth year, the Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge Series, formerly the Canaqua Sports SwimRun Challenge, includes six SwimRun events in Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and New Brunswick. Two of the races, Parry Sound and Kenora, are qualifiers for the Aquaticrunner worlds in Grado.

“Here in Canada, SwimRun is where triathlon was 35 years ago,” says Ian Feldman, the president of Canaqua Sports, the company that is producing the Mudskipper Challenge. “There aren’t enough events, and we need to get people exposed to the sport. In 2020 we’re working on both of those issues by expanding our event series, and we’ll also be doing clinics to help educate athletes about SwimRun training and racing.”