Åland Swimrun with Simon Brierley and Mikael Eriksson | EP#63

Åland Swimrun - tougher than an Ironman. How did we get along, and what can you learn from our experience to better prepare your race strategy, equipment, nutrition plan, and more, for your next (or first) swimrun. 

• How tough is an event like Åland swimrun really? And why should you do it in 2018?
• Swimrun race strategy - what worked and what didn't?
• Equipment - what worked and what didn't?
• Nutrition - what worked and what didn't?
• Did Simon and I become Finnish Swimrun Champions or not?
• The best fish soup you've never had

16:20 -

• Simon finds the race very challenging. He finds that an Ironman is actually easier compared to a swimrun. (DISCLAIMER: This was said half an hour or so after the finish...)
• The location is amazing. The route of the race is magnificent as it showcased the most beautiful parts of the islands.

16:48 -

• For the roughly 10 km of total swimming and 42 km of running we ended up with a time of 9:57.
• We finished 2nd in the race but won the Finnish National Championships category. Which makes us the first ever Finnish National Champions in swimrun. 

19:38 -

• One thing that was challenging, but still went reasonably well, was following the little markers of the route (for the segments that were even marked - some were self-navigated).
• Simon’s hamstring flared up during the very first run segment, which he was waiting for and expecting.
• The water wasn’t that cold on the first swim section, or any swim sections really. It was around 13-14°C (around 56 F).
• Simon took the lead during the swim as he was the stronger swimmer. He doesn’t think that there is the same advantage of drafting in open water swimming in the swim section of the swimrun as compared to in triathlon. But there still is the benefit of the trailing partner just focusing on keeping up and not having to really navigate at all.
• For nutrition, Simon said that looking back he should have started taking his gels a little earlier. During the 2nd run stage or even towards the end of the 1st run stage to give it time to be absorbed the body.
• Mikael was very diligent with getting his 20 calories every 20 minutes to get that 60 grams of carbs per hour. That breaks down to 2 or 3 gels per hour supplemented with sports drinks at the aid stations.
• The nutrition plan was great, but just as important as having a plan is actually sticking to it. Even in the beginning, or it will cost you later.
• Simon would increase his calorie intake if he were to take part in this event again.
• For hydration, Mikael used the low salt content of the Baltic sea (it's just 0.3% salt) to his advantage by consuming it during the swim sections, because it is challenging to get enough liquid in with just 5 aid stations over a 9-10 hour race.
• Simon took in seawater towards the last stage, because he was starting to get dehydrated, along with getting glycogen-depletion.
• At almost every run Simon removed his swim cap and goggles to keep the heat at bay.
• If you’re trying to cool down quickly, get the hat off your head (except in direct sunlight). You can pour some cold water over your head or dip your hands into a bucket of water or in the sea in order to avoid a heatstroke.

31:16 -

• Planning was a positive takeaway. We did the planning thoroughly and well, and it paid off. We (by and large) knew what we were doing and should be doing at all points of the race.
• Simon didn’t expect the terrain to be so rough that we needed to walk and not run in places. He fell once because he tripped over a tree root being unable to pick his left leg up due to his hamstring injury. Training in race-specific terrain is something we both could improve on for another go at this race.
• The terrain in this race is likely tougher compared to ÖTILLÖ. ÖTILLÖ is a lot of gravel roads, whereas in Åland you need to force your way through bushes, vegetation, and over, through and under difficult roots and rocks.
• Simon found it hard to get out of the water because the rocks were very slippery.
• Mikael found his Icebug shoes had an excellent grip so that he could get up fairly easily even on those slippery rocks.
• Simon also recommends the fish soup at Åland Swimrun. At the beginning of the event he said that the last thing he would want to eat is anything from the sea or anything associated with it. But the fish soup at the finishing line was to die for.

35:21 -

• Join the Åland Swimrun and challenge yourself because it is a tough and demanding race in terms of swimming, temperature, and elevation.
• There is also a shorter version of the race for everybody to enjoy.
• Hubbe's (the race director) favorite part of the race is definitely the beginning, as it is the toughest part having the coldest swim. But it is also the best running having high cliffs, red granite, and the open northern Baltic sea. It’s just spectacular.

• ​FREE TRAINING PLAN

Big thank you to:

• Åland Swimrun (the world's best swimrun race?)
• Colting Wetsuits (Mikael's wetsuit sponsor)
• Icebug (Mikael's shoe sponsor)

Connect with host Mikael Eriksson

Hi! I'm your host Mikael,

I am a full-time triathlon coach and an ambitious age-group triathlete. My goal is podium at the Finnish national championships within the next few years.

I first started the website Scientific Triathlon in autumn 2015 as a passion project to share my learnings with a larger triathlon audience. Later on, in early 2017 I started the podcast That Triathlon Show. 

I sincerely want you to contact me to

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