[music] Heather Fell: All right, we have got something
rather special for you guys today, something we've been thinking about and planning for
quite some time now. Mark Threlfall: Yes, Heather and myself are
going on a little swimrun adventure today. We've come to the Lake District in the UK
to swim and run our way along a point to point route and we're bringing you along for the
ride. All right, before we get too far into this,
you may be wondering what swimrun actually is. Well, as the name suggests, it is a mix
of swimming and running. It's a sport that's really grown out of Sweden, which hosts the
ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Championship each year. Heather: Yes, the format is fairly straightforward.
You're basically running and swimming along the given route, and that usually means several
swims that are interspersed with running in between. As it is a self sufficient sport,
you end up swimming in your trainers and you run in your wetsuit, but we'll cover more
on the kit later on. Mark: Yes, now as far as swimrun locations
go, it doesn't get much better than this in the Lake District. We have lake after lake
and hill after hill, or fell after fell, as they call it here. Not you Heather, which
makes it a rather beautiful but also rather challenging terrain. Which brings us on to
today's route. I've planned out approximately a 20 kilometer route. I say approximately
because well, this is an adventure after all. We had planned to start on the east side of
this lake but due to blue green algae warnings we've had to abort the first swim.
We're starting with the run along the west side of the lake, before beginning the long
run up and over the hill towards Derwentwater. Along the route there are a few small mountain
lakes, called tarns, which we'll be swimming across as we go. As we come down off the hill,
we'll navigate our way around the west side of Derwentwater, before embarking on a swim
across, broken up by a couple of island crossings in the middle of the lake.
Finally, we'll exit the water on the east side of Derwentwater and run towards our finished
point at the picturesque Keswick boat dock. [music]
I'm going to start with a wetsuit because it is a little different from your normal
triathlon wetsuit. I've got an Orca swimrun wetsuit here. Obvious difference, obviously
it's a shorty, so haven't got any arms, haven't got any legs, that's obviously just because
I'm running in it, so you're going to heat up and you want that kind of movement around
the knees. You can get longer ones and you can also get these little sleeves that you
can pop on a bit like arm warmers for the bike.
It's got a front zip so you can just easily unzip it whilst you're on the run. It's got
a little pocket for a whistle there, it's got a little zip on the back that you can
put stuff in. They're pretty well thought through, and different materials just for,
obviously, the movement of running. It tends to have a bit more buoyancy. See the thickness
there on the front, just to help you because obviously you've got that less neoprene. Yes,
got that to start with and then I've got this to go under.
Again, it's got some pockets on it for storing nutrition and whatnot. Then the bit that you're
going to think is absolutely crazy, because we're wearing running shoes I'm actually going
to wear a pull buoy. That's what a lot of swimrunners do. You just want to add a bit
of buoyancy to your legs, because obviously the shoes are going to be weighing them down.
Heather's done something similar. She's got some flotation things that go on her legs
instead of the pull buoy. I'm also going to be using paddles. Optional.
Heather's decided not to, but again, just because you got those run shoes on you want
that- some little bit extra propulsion. Then just for safety, we're both going to be using
one of these tow floats, which we can also store some stuff in. I've got a little dry
bag as well I'm going to chuck some bits in there. That's more or less it, as well as
this thing, Vaseline, because I'm going to need that because my feet are going to get
very wet. [music]
Okay, we're ready to go. I don't know what we've let ourselves in foe here. We've got
a little run along the road here and then we'll turn off up the hill, and then our first
swim. Let's do it, Heather. Heather: Let's go. See you.
[music] How's this Mark?
Mark: Steep. It's pretty hard on foot. Heather: Good work.
Mark: That was steep, Heather. Heather: That was the respite.
[laughter] [music]
Mark: We are swimming and running over a hill, swimming in Palm like this is behind me, and
Derwentwater at the end. In terms of safety we've got tow floats on, which you can see
on my back here, so nice and visible, and we're also wearing bright caps. We'll try
and stay as bright as possible. We also got neoprene wetsuits on for warmth. Also we got
food, we've got a whistle, we have first aid kit with us. We have a support crew with us
obviously, the cameramen. It is quite rocky on the entries so we are
just taking our time, we're going to be walking in and looking out for each other. Heather
and myself are with each other the entire time and we'll be looking out for each others'
safety. We have food with us as well and hydration. Anything else, guys?
Crew: Phone. Mark: I have my phone, as well, which hopefully
is still working, and I think that's everything. [music]
Heather: It's quite like it's holding me [inaudible 00:06:23].
Mark: Oh, it's actually quite cold in here. [laughter]
Heather: It's fricking freezing. Mark: I'm glad this is a short one. We're
getting out pretty quickly. [laughter]
[music] Heather: It's time to warm up after that little
dip. I think this hill's going to do it. Mark: I think we've decided we're going to
keep our caps on until we've warmed up a bit. [music]
Heather: Mark said to me after that last turn that we were going down hill. That's going
to be and easy few K. All we've done since is go uphill. How's the route, Mark?
Mark: Yes, sorry. That's what swimrun adventure's about. It's not a race you don't need to run.
[laughter] She's very excited about this. It think we're
on the path. Says we're about 700 meters off it but it's the best we can find at the moment.
It's hard to not stop and take photos all the time. This is incredible.
Heather: I'm not even sure if you can hear me because it's super windy but we made it
to the top of the hill at last, the never ending hill has ended. That's pretty good
views [laughs]. [music]
Mark: The next swim. Heather: I know I'm trying to follow Mark
[laughs]. Excuse me. He's quite [unintelligible 00:08:48].
Mark: It's our next swimming spot. I'm going to be honest after the last swim, I'm not
looking forward to this too much. Heather: All right, Mark, are you ready?
Mark: Yes, I think I'm taking one for the team here. Aren't we, Heather?
Heather: Yes, I must admit I'm chickening out. Yes, chicken because Mark just told me
that we're not swimming across because that's what I thought we had to do. I don't actually
have to swim, and if I don't have to swim and I'm quite warm and toasty in my wetsuit,
we're going to leave this one to it. I can feel that I know how cold it is. That's got
to hurt. [music]
Okay, you guys can give me stick for being a bit lazy but our camera guys haven't made
it this far as you probably could guess. Since we are in the middle of nowhere in the Lake
districts and it's [unintelligible 00:09:40] [laughs] I still haven't recovered from that
first tarn. It is so cold. It just hurts your chest and the pain in your face is pretty
indescribable, but Mark seems to be enjoying himself.
[music] This is an impressive effort by Mark. Hey
[unintelligible 00:09:57]. Heather Fell: I'm impressed, Mark.
Mark: It's quite nice. Heather: Did the pain numb, in the end?
Mark: I think that's it! Heather: [laughs] All right. This is the sign.
Can you tell me where the footpath is, Mark? Mark: I think that was where we're meant to
go. Heather: All right. Guess we better keep going.
[chuckles] [background noise]
[music] It's all right.
Mark: What are you doing? [music]
Heather: [giggles] I should've stopped sometimes. Look at that. It's where I want to zoom camera.
[music] Mark: [unintelligible 00:10:53]
[music] We have got about 11K to go. Two minutes ago,
I said, "We're not swimming across this lake." Appears we are, because we're heading downhill
towards it. [music]
Heather: This is Heather and we actually are on a fell right now. I found that quite a
novelty. It's quite pretty isn't it? [music]
We've gone slightly off course, having a little adventure through the trees here and through
lots of Heather. He's all the way down there. I don't know if you can see him. No, you can't.
It's a bit like a jungle. Right, he's now going across. This is actually turning into
more of an adventure than we first thought. Not sure what's going on ahead of me. Looks
like some wading. [music]
Mark: One tiny navigational mishap, but I think we're back on course. Either way, it's
quite cool, isn't it? Heather: Yes, look at all the Heather, brilliant.
Mark: I've had enough of Heather. It's everywhere. Heather: [chuckles] You can't get away from
it. [music]
Mark: So pleased to say we are on the flat now.
Heather: Right so he says. [laughter]
Can't quite trust that. Mark: I think it's just more of this as we
head around the lake and then our final swim across to the finish. Because it's an adventure,
we are taking our time. We're having some food now.
Heather: I think it's much needed. We just realized that actually it's the afternoon
and we've got so carried away with these views. We've not really kept on top of our nutrition
and biting us a little bit, or me anyway. Mark: I've had very little fluid. A Rice Krispie
bar. I'm going to have a gel. Not ideal, but it'll do.
[music] [background noise]
Heather: Are you all right? Mark: No, I'm fine.
Heather: How's your injured wing? Mark: Snapped it.
[laughter] I fell over.
Heather: Did you snapped it or stacked it? Mark: I stacked it and snapped it, probably
on the smoothest trail we've had all day. [laughs]
[music] Heather: It was still downhill and flat to
the way home. Mark: I think I've said it about five times
now, haven't I? Honestly, we're trying to find a good route across the lake because
it is quite a big wide lake, so going for the shortest route, but the path to get there
is wiggling everywhere. I think we're quite close, but this isn't helping things. We're
both very tired now. Heather: I've had to resort to my only bit
of food. I really want some water, but I'm also getting hungry. This is taking us quite
a bit longer than we expected, having a little of that navigational issue, trying to meet
up with the rest of the team. Mark's trying to get his phone to work, which I think is
slightly dying. [laughs] We're slightly dying, and we've still got a fairly chunky swim to
get across the lake. At this rate, we're going to have to do it. There is no option, so,
yes, refueling. [music]
[background noise] This is actually so much nicer than I expected.
After that first time, I was massively put off and this is refreshing, but actually in
a good way. Sorry, I'm holding Mark up a little bit here, but it's an adventure not to race,
the theme of the day. [music]
[background noise] Mark has just told me it's 100 meters until
the finish. Do I believe him? How many hills are there left? Where is this finish then,
Mark? Mark: End of route! Done. Big one there. Oh,
we've been told we're all done. Heather: Thank you. We've even got some spectators.
[laughs] 21.1K. [music]
Good work. Mark: Well done.
Heather: Well done. [laughs] Oh my god, that was just awesome actually. I must admit the
first tarn, I was thinking this is ridiculous on that ridiculous hill, but the views we've
had-- I have to take my hat off to you, Mark, because you did plan this route and it was
a true adventure. I would recommend to you guys, if you've got the chance or something
like this on your doorstep or even a few hours away, just go and do it. Pack some stuff,
plan a route. Maybe take a bit more nutrition than us and go and have fun.
Hopefully, you guys have enjoyed it as much as we have. Give us a like and remember you
can follow us on our social media and you can subscribe on YouTube as well.
[music] [00:18:13] [END OF AUDIO]