Engadin SwimRun 2015 – Gear Retrospective

A magnificent and challenging race is over. Swimrun is a relatively new and the community is still small. Since additional equipment is allowed during swimrun races, Gear is a very important aspect of this sport. In the following I will give insights into the gear I used during Engadin Swimrun 2015.

Gear used in the 2015 race

We use the HEAD Rough SwimRun wetsuit, which is very flexible and perfect for both, swimming and running. The second front zipper allows to quickly pulling down the upper part of the wetsuit. Compared to prevalent wetsuits for competitive open-water swimming or triathlon, the uncoated neoprene of the Rough wetsuit has some advantages: On one hand, it is more resistant to mechanical stress and one the other, it is more breathable. Another benefit of the uncoated neoprene is the cooling effect after the swim legs. Due to the warm weather conditions during Engadin Swimrun 2015, we pulled down our wetsuits after each swimming leg. As the wetsuit is flexible and thin, it was easy to tie the sleeves at the hip level. Since the wetsuit is very flexible as well as breathable, there was no need to cut off the calves. In my opinion, the HEAD Rough is the perfect wetsuit for swimrun training and competition for a reasonable price.

Low water temperature

As the water temperatures during last years Engadin Swimrun were very low (10 to 12 degrees Celsius), the HEAD Neoprene Cap should provide some extra protection. The latter was very handy and could easily be attached to the belt of the RESTUBE during the run sections. In turn, putting on the mandatory latex swim cap on top of the neoprene cap was a little tricky.

Pflichtausrüstung

To carry the mandatory race equipment (e.g., race maps, water-proof bandage, compass) I decided to use a CamelBak Classic equipped with a 2-liter bladder for additional hydration. Firstly, the backpack is lightweight and, secondly, it has no pockets at the front that may slow down during swimming. Since the straps of the backpack are not cushioned, I sewed additional neoprene to the straps. Hence, the neoprene of the wetsuit is protected against scouring of the backpack. Furthermore, the additional neoprene provides some extra buoyancy. The CamelBak was easy to carry around during the run sections and did not impede the swims. Since there were sufficient hydration and energy stations during the race, the bladder was not required. Therefore, carrying the mandatory race equipment, a hip belt might be the more favorable option. In turn, during long training sessions with no additional water supply the CamelBak is an excellent and handy hydration backpack.

Sicherheit dank Restube

To improve safety during the swim legs, we carry CO2-inflatable RESTUBE buoys that are worn around the waste. The CO2-catridge can be replaced after usage, which is a big bonus. Additionally, the buoy can be inflated manually and, therefore, be used to increase visibility during training in open-water. To protect the wetsuit from scouring at the hip level, I sewed fabric tubes to the belt of the RESTUBE. As a result, six SIS energy gels could be attached to the belt. While the HEAD Rough wetsuit provides pockets on the inside, energy gels stored within the RESTUBE belt can be reached more easily.

Schuhe

Prior to the race I was not sure which shoes to wear: INOV-8 Trailroc 255 or INOV-8 X-Talon 200. Finally, I have chosen the latter, since they provided the better buoyancy during swim and the better grip. Looking back, the X-Talon was the perfect shoe for Engadin Swimrun, as the trails were challenging and steep.

Finally, I wore a Zoggs Predator with polarized glasses and used a pullbuoy for a better leg positions during swims.

I hope that some of these gear tips might help you to prepare for your first swimrun.

Sincerely yours,

Julian

Die Ausrüstung findet Ihr im Shop..

Nachtrag 2017

Aus heutiger Sicht gesehen, ist das Setting ganz gut. Der HEAD Rough bietet beste Laufperformance, was vor allem für die langen Anstiege von Vorteil ist. Wer mehr Schwimmperformance sucht, ist wohl mit Barbara’s Setting besser aufgehoben.
Auf jeden Fall nicht mehr benutzen würden wir im Engadin die Trinkblase. Die Seen bieten beste Trinkwasserqualität und zusammen mit den Verpflegungsstellen reichen die für die Getränkeaufnahme über das ganze Rennen völlig aus.
Die Menge der mitgeführten Gels wäre uns mittlerweile aber zu gering. Die müssen dann aber auch im Neopren untergebracht werden. Siehe Andrea’s Setting von 2017.
Andreas.
hier der Link zu unserer Aktuellen Ausrüstungsliste …
http://swimrun-germany.com/ausruestung-fuer-engadin-swimrun