© Remy Whiting/220 Triathlon

When she’s not indulging her passion for open water swimming or running trails, today’s guest, Helen Webster, can be found interviewing the world’s top triathletes and testing the latest, greatest gear through her job as editor of 220 Triathlon, the UK’s biggest triathlon magazine.

With plenty of impressive open water swimming events under her belt (not to mention marathons, triathlons and some of the world’s toughest swimruns) you’d be forgiven for thinking that Helen’s enjoyed a life-long passion for endurance sport, but this couldn’t be further from the truth as she reveals in our Q&A. Plus, find out which kit she rates and what’s on her event bucket list.

© Hokey Cokey Swimrun

Swimrun isn’t a new sport (it originated in Sweden more than a decade ago via ÖTILLÖ), but recently it’s exploded out of its niche sector, becoming popular in more mainstream endurance sport circles. Since I first wrote about swimrun in 2017 a lot has changed, with more events and brands on the scene in the UK and even a ‘solo’ option for competitors (historically it’s been raced in pairs).

According to Breca Swimrun, the brand that brought the sport to the UK, 45 percent of its field at the 2019 Breca Bay of Islands swimrun was female. So if you’re considering a swimrun, what do you need to know? Jude Palmer, experienced swimrunner and swimrun coach, fields my questions on the ins and outs of swimrun and shares her own experiences of racing and training.

© Lisa Nestorson

Swiss amateur multisport athlete, Diane Sadik, competes in both swimrun and triathlon and has scooped a stash of swimrun wins and podiums in some of the toughest swimrun events out there (hello, ÖTILLÖ swimrun). Number one female in the 2017 swimrun world rankings, 30-year-old Diane has enjoyed success in both mixed and female teams.

I put some questions to her about her background, training and love of endurance sport.

Fresh from competing in the ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Championship earlier this month, swimrun athlete Rhian Martin joins me on the blog. A former GB triathlete, Rhian also represented Wales in duathlon and swimming before work in investment banking led her to leave competitive sport. Fast-forward to today and Rhian and her husband, Ben, are a force to be reckoned with on the swimrun scene, ranking third overall in the mixed category world rankings.

Rhian, who now runs her own personal training business, chats to me about her love of swimrun, how she and her husband juggle training with the school run, and the crazy swimrun conditions she competes in.

Photo Credit: Camilla Rutherford photography

With breathtaking lake and sea swims, rugged trails and a challenging multi-sport set up, it’s no wonder the swimrun scene is growing. From swimrun rules to swimrun training, here’s the need-to-know for beginners…