July 2026
I have spent the last two weeks hiding from the heat. Not metaphorically, literally hiding in the woods for my runs, choosing routes by canopy cover rather than terrain, and on the days when even that felt too much, getting in the water instead.
What started as a heat survival strategy has turned into something I am genuinely excited about. I am training for the Clevedon Swim Run, four lengths of Clevedon Marine Lake broken up with a 1k run between each length, and it has given me a completely different way to train through a heatwave without losing fitness or losing my mind.
This is not a post from a triathlete or a swimmer. I am a trail runner and a UKA qualified running coach. I have spent years running on fells, directing fell races and coaching runners through their first ultras. Swimming was never part of the plan. But here we are.
The Honest Swim Run Background
I first tried swimming properly a couple of summers ago. I entered a 400m pool triathlon and spent weeks attempting front crawl, failed completely and did the whole thing in breaststroke. I told myself it was fine. It was fine. But I knew I was avoiding the thing that was actually holding me back.
The problem was not fitness. It was the feeling of being out of control and out of breath with my face in the water. Panic is the honest word for it. Every time I tried to breathe in front crawl I felt like I was drowning slightly, and my body responded by wanting to stop immediately.
Last year I tried again. Same result. A bit of pool swimming, a bit of breaststroke, the same avoidance of putting my face properly in the water.
This summer something finally clicked. I have been working on technique with a swim coach, one tip at a time rather than trying to absorb everything at once, and gradually the panic has started to leave. I am not fast. I am not elegant. But I can now put my face in the water, breathe properly and keep moving without my brain convincing me I am about to drown. For someone who could not do that six months ago that feels significant.
Why Swim Run Made Sense
The Clevedon Swim Run is a genuinely accessible event. Four lengths of Clevedon Marine Lake, a beautiful tidal marine lake on the North Somerset coast, broken up with a 1k run between each length. It is not an elite triathlon. It is the kind of event that suits a trail runner who has become a reluctant swimmer, which is exactly what I am.
The format suits my strengths. I can run. The swimming sections are manageable distances rather than open water marathon crossings. And the whole thing takes place in a genuinely beautiful setting that makes training there feel like a pleasure rather than a chore.
The Swim Run Kit Question
Swim run has one piece of kit that makes it genuinely different from either running or swimming alone. You never end up where you started, which means you cannot leave your shoes at the water’s edge and put them back on for the run section. You swim in your shoes.
This sounds terrible. In practice, with the right shoes, it is fine.
I have been using an old pair of Hoka Speedgoat 6s for the swim sections. They drain quickly, they are breathable enough that they do not hold water in a way that makes running miserable, and the Vibram Megagrip outsole gives me confidence on the wet ground around the lake edge. Road shoes would be far worse, they hold water, they are heavier when wet and they take an age to drain. A breathable trail shoe that you do not mind getting properly wet is the right choice. The Speedgoat 6 has been perfect for this.
The Kit I Actually Bought
I have not invested heavily in swim run specific kit. I am dabbling, not committing to a full triathlon lifestyle, and the kit reflects that.
Tri suit
A tri suit is the most swim run specific purchase I made. It works for both swimming and running without needing to change between disciplines, dries reasonably quickly during the run sections and is more comfortable in the water than running kit. I went for a budget option rather than something expensive. At the level I am competing at, the suit is not going to be the difference between a good day and a bad one. I paid £36 for mine, and I have worn it several times now for bike/swims or run-to-swim training. No chafing, nothing uncomfortable.
Waterproof belt
Essential for carrying a phone, keys and anything you need to keep dry between water sections. Mine sits around my waist and has been reliable so far. Nothing has got wet that should not have. It has survived half a dozen sea swims so far – I use both the phone case and the belt for double protection.
Waterproof phone case
Belt backup. If the belt seal fails, I want a second layer of protection around my phone. Clevedon Marine Lake is not the ocean, but I would rather not find out the hard way that my phone is not as waterproof as the manufacturer claims.
They come as a pair, and at £10.99 they are a steal.
Tow float
Open water swimming in the UK typically requires a tow float for safety and Clevedon Marine Lake is no exception. It clips around your waist, floats behind you while you swim and makes you visible to other water users. It also doubles as a dry bag for anything you need to keep completely dry. This was a non-negotiable purchase rather than an optional extra.
The Fenix 8 for Swim Run Training
The one piece of kit I did not need to buy for swim run training is a new watch, which given the cost of GPS watches is a genuine relief.
The Garmin Fenix 8 has both pool swim and open water swim modes alongside its trail running, fell racing and multisport workout features. I have been using the open water mode at Clevedon Marine Lake and the pool swim mode for technique sessions, and the tracking has been accurate and useful in both environments. The multisport workout feature lets me set up a run-swim-run-swim sequence that tracks each discipline separately and transitions between them cleanly, exactly what a swim run event requires.
If you are a trail runner considering swim run and you already own a Fenix 8 or Forerunner 970 you do not need a new watch. Both handle open water swimming, pool swimming and multisport workouts without any additional purchase. See our Garmin Fenix 8 vs Forerunner 970 comparison if you are deciding between the two for a watch that will serve both your trail running and any swim run ambitions.
What Swim Run Training Has Done for My Running
This is the part I did not expect. Training in water during a heatwave has kept my fitness genuinely intact in a way that reducing my running mileage alone would not have.
Swimming is a full body cardiovascular workout that is completely non-impact, which means my legs are fresher going into every run session than they would be if I was running through the heat six days a week. The breathing discipline that front crawl demands, controlled, deliberate, timed- has also made me more conscious of my breathing on climbs, which is something I coach runners on but had stopped actively practising myself.
I am also, quietly and unexpectedly, enjoying the water. The panic that stopped me for two summers has not disappeared entirely but it has reduced to a manageable background noise rather than an immediate stop signal. That feels like progress worth building on.
Should Trail Runners Try Swim Run?
If you are a trail runner who wants cross training that keeps your cardiovascular fitness high, is completely non-impact and becomes genuinely enjoyable once you get past the initial learning curve, yes. Swim run events are accessible, the kit requirements are modest if you already own trail shoes and a GPS watch, and the combination of running and swimming suits the trail running mindset more naturally than a traditional triathlon does.
The Clevedon Swim Run specifically is a brilliant entry point. Beautiful venue, manageable distances, the kind of relaxed community atmosphere that feels familiar if you have ever run a Category B or C fell race.
If you are thinking about it, start in your local pool. Get your face in the water. One tip at a time. It is worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What shoes should I wear for swim run?
A breathable trail shoe that drains quickly is the right choice. Road shoes hold water and become heavy and uncomfortable. I have been using Hoka Speedgoat 6s, an older pair I do not mind getting wet, and they have performed well. The Speedgoat 7 is the current version and would work equally well.
Do I need a special watch for swim run?
If you already own a Garmin Fenix 8 or Forerunner 970 you do not need a new watch. Both have open water swim mode, pool swim mode and multisport workout features that handle swim run training perfectly. See our Garmin Fenix 8 vs Forerunner 970 comparison for more detail on both watches.
What is a tow float and do I need one?
A tow float is a brightly coloured inflatable device that clips around your waist and floats behind you while you swim, making you visible to other water users. Most open water swimming venues in the UK require one for safety. It often doubles as a small dry bag for valuables.
Is swim run suitable for non-swimmers?
It depends on the event and the distance. The Clevedon Swim Run is accessible for competent recreational swimmers. If you are not yet confident in open water, working with a swim coach on technique before entering an open water event is worth doing. The front crawl breathing is the most common barrier for adult learners and it is genuinely learnable with the right coaching.
Can I do swim run training during a heatwave?
Yes, this is exactly why I started. Swimming is a non-impact cardiovascular workout that keeps your fitness intact on days when running in the heat would be risky or unpleasant. Pool sessions for technique and open water sessions for confidence building can replace running sessions during extreme heat periods without significant fitness loss.
What is the Clevedon Swim Run?
The Clevedon Swim Run is an open water swim run event held at Clevedon Marine Lake in North Somerset. The format involves four lengths of the lake broken up with a 1k run between each length. It is an accessible entry level swim run event suited to trail runners who are competent recreational swimmers.
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