What We Do
- Organise challenging events that journey through the natural beauty of Wales
- Lead on improving swimming participation, access and education in south Snowdonia
- Develop trail and mountain running participation in south Snowdonia
- Grow the swimrun community and deliver swimrun workshops
- Develop local partnerships in the South Snowdonia area
- Guide on ultra-distance mountain routes
- Compete, coach and share in the wonderful world of swimrun
- Creator of The Dyfi Round - 114km, 4800m ascent
- Lead on improving swimming participation, access and education in south Snowdonia
- Develop trail and mountain running participation in south Snowdonia
- Grow the swimrun community and deliver swimrun workshops
- Develop local partnerships in the South Snowdonia area
- Guide on ultra-distance mountain routes
- Compete, coach and share in the wonderful world of swimrun
- Creator of The Dyfi Round - 114km, 4800m ascent
We swim, we run, we swimrun... how WESWIMRUN came to be:
Through a combined love of "wild" swimming, and adventures in the great outdoors I came across the swimrun race format. The first race I took part in was OtillO's Uto in Sweden, 2014, with fellow Outward Bound Instructor Janek (there were no swimrun races in the UK in 2014), I was immediately hooked.
I had competed in triathlons before but, although a great sport, I generally find them a little dull unless they are off road or the weather kicks in. I had competed in multi-day expedition races which were especially challenging and rewarding but require a lot of kit-faff and logistics. For my first swimrun we just turned up with wetsuit, trainers and goggles. I learnt a lot through starting simple and minimal, in every race since I have learnt something new. I've documented much of what I have learnt in my blog.
The WE in WESWIMRUN comes from the fact that you do it in teams of two. Although there are some solo swimruns, in its best and original format swimrun is done together. The tougher the race, the more valuable your partner becomes.
New to swimrun? Try our Introduction To Swimrun Workshop... and look out for a new event - Dyfi SIWMRUN coming soon!
My race reports:
+ Malta Sprint 2019 - 12km run, 3km swim - 6th (solo)
+ Llanberis 2019 - 13km run, 3km swim - 1st + course record (male team)
+ Gower 2018 - 37km run, 5km swim - 8th (male team)
+ Uto 2018 - 38km run, 5km swim - 55th (male team)
+ Coniston 2017 - 38km run, 5km swim - 4th (mixed team)
+ Holy Island 2017 - 17km run, 3km swim - 1st (mixed team)
+ Llanberis 2017 - 13km run, 3km swim - 5th (male team)
+ Hvar 2017 - 35km run, 10km swim - DNF
+ Buttermere 2016 - 38km run, 6km swim - 9th (male team)
+ Llanberis 2016 - 13km run, 3km swim - 2nd (male team)
+ Isles of Scilly 2016 - 30km run, 8km swim - 21st (male team)
+ Engadin 2015 - 40km run, 6km swim - 8th (mixed team)
+ Uto 2015 - 38km run, 5km swim - 10th (mixed team)
+ Uto 2014 - 38km run, 5km swim - 38th (male team)
Mike Alexander, founder of WESWIMRUN
Events ~ Coaching ~ Guiding
Through a combined love of "wild" swimming, and adventures in the great outdoors I came across the swimrun race format. The first race I took part in was OtillO's Uto in Sweden, 2014, with fellow Outward Bound Instructor Janek (there were no swimrun races in the UK in 2014), I was immediately hooked.
I had competed in triathlons before but, although a great sport, I generally find them a little dull unless they are off road or the weather kicks in. I had competed in multi-day expedition races which were especially challenging and rewarding but require a lot of kit-faff and logistics. For my first swimrun we just turned up with wetsuit, trainers and goggles. I learnt a lot through starting simple and minimal, in every race since I have learnt something new. I've documented much of what I have learnt in my blog.
The WE in WESWIMRUN comes from the fact that you do it in teams of two. Although there are some solo swimruns, in its best and original format swimrun is done together. The tougher the race, the more valuable your partner becomes.
New to swimrun? Try our Introduction To Swimrun Workshop... and look out for a new event - Dyfi SIWMRUN coming soon!
My race reports:
+ Malta Sprint 2019 - 12km run, 3km swim - 6th (solo)
+ Llanberis 2019 - 13km run, 3km swim - 1st + course record (male team)
+ Gower 2018 - 37km run, 5km swim - 8th (male team)
+ Uto 2018 - 38km run, 5km swim - 55th (male team)
+ Coniston 2017 - 38km run, 5km swim - 4th (mixed team)
+ Holy Island 2017 - 17km run, 3km swim - 1st (mixed team)
+ Llanberis 2017 - 13km run, 3km swim - 5th (male team)
+ Hvar 2017 - 35km run, 10km swim - DNF
+ Buttermere 2016 - 38km run, 6km swim - 9th (male team)
+ Llanberis 2016 - 13km run, 3km swim - 2nd (male team)
+ Isles of Scilly 2016 - 30km run, 8km swim - 21st (male team)
+ Engadin 2015 - 40km run, 6km swim - 8th (mixed team)
+ Uto 2015 - 38km run, 5km swim - 10th (mixed team)
+ Uto 2014 - 38km run, 5km swim - 38th (male team)
Mike Alexander, founder of WESWIMRUN
Events ~ Coaching ~ Guiding
The end of Breca Gower racing with Chris.
My first ever swimrun with Janek. No paddles, no buoys, no tow. And full length neoprene on the legs!
ITERA Expedition Race (5 days), Wales 2014, where the team element was paramount
Adidas TERREX 5 Day Adventure Race, Scotland 2012. The first time I saw a tow used in racing, and it was during the mountain bike section!
~ The Cuillin Ridge, Isle of Skye, May 2006 - my first "swimrun"? ~
~ Achill Island, Co Mayo. Mike's spiritual home ~
