29.06.24

Practicals

Location

Race

Rules

Event Schedule

The Location

The Sure-to-Sure Swimrun race is organized just West of Esch-sur-Sûre, in the North-West of Luxembourg. This region is arguably one of the best locations for swimruns imaginable. The meandering arms of the Upper-Sûre reservoir lake and hills around it makes for ideal and safe swimming distances while the dense forests around Öewersauer Nature Park and the surrounding hills hold truly magnificent views. We fell in love with this beautiful place and decided to organize our own version of the popular endurance sport: The Sure-to-Sure Swimrun Luxembourg!

If you are looking for a place to stay in the area, there are several options:

Youth Hostel Lultzhausen (located right at the start/finish)
Logis Gourmet & Relax Hotel (5 min by car)
Camping Liefrange (13min by car)
Camping Fuussekaul (15min by car)
La Diligence (7min by car)
Hotel Saint Fiacre (20min by car)

We often get asked the question what sightseeing spots or other activities are worth doing around the Lac de la Haute-Sûre. Below, we've summarized a few highlights in the region, that are worth taking the extra time for. Why not make a weekend trip out of it?

Castle Bourscheid (20min drive) is not only the largest castle in the country but also one of the most important between the Rhine and the Meuse. And if you're really into castles, check out this great visual map listing must-see castles and fortresses in Luxembourg.
The MoMa photography Collection The Family of Man at the Château de Clervaux
Éislek : 'Les Ardennes Luxembourgeoises' (with absolute highlight Vianden castle)
The 'parcs naturels de la Haute-Sûre et de l’Our' with mountainbike tours that start right at the event area in Lultzhausen as well as kayak expeditions on the Sûre or Our
Guttland and the 'vallée des sept châteaux' (Mersch - Schoenfels - Ansembourg - Hollenfels - Ansembourg - Septfontaines - Koerich)
The famous hiking trails of the Mullerthal or 'Little Switzerland'
'La Moselle Luxembourgeoise' (Ehnen, Ahn, …)
Luxembourg City: The capital of the Grand Duchy (Mudam, rocher du Bock, chemin de la Corniche, les Casemates, …)

The Race

24.4 Challenge

The 24.4 Challenge route: Around 24 kilometers of trail running and 4 kilometers of swimming, spread across 10 swim sections in the river Sure. Several replenishment points along the way provide much needed sugars & water and first-aid teams are ready and stand-by at all times. Please note that the organisation has the right to change the route to its sole discretion. Any amendment will be communicated before the race. The start of the race will be at 11:45 am. After the last contestant crosses the finishline we close the day with the award ceremony! Barbecue will be available throughout the course of the afternoon from 14:00 till 20:00.

24.4 CHALLENGE SECTIONS (START 11:45) Run 1 – 300m (0.3) Swim 1 – 400m (0.7) Run 2 – 1100m (1.8) Swim 2 – 200m (2.0) Run 3 – 2300m (4.3) Swim 3 – 200m (4.5) Run 4 – 1100m (5.6) Swim 4 – 400m (6.0) Refreshment Station 1 (6.4) Run 5 – 4100m (10.1) Swim 5 – 100m (10.3) Refreshment Station 2 (12.2) Run 6 – 4500m (14.7) Swim 6 – 200m (14.9) Run 7 – 1800m (16.7) Swim 7 – 500m (17.2) Refreshment Station 3 (18.6) Run 8 – 3700m (20.9) Swim 8 – 900m (21.8) Refreshment Station 4 (21.9) Run 9 – 100m (22.0) Swim 9 – 600m (22.6) Refreshment Station 5 (24.1) Run 10 – 4900m (27.5) Swim 10 – 800m (28.3) Run 11 – 300m (28.6) TOTAL RUN = 24.3km TOTAL SWIM = 4.3km

10.3 Sprint

The 10.3 Sprint Route: As we received many requests for a second, shorter route we wanted to come up with a track that is easy enough for first-timers but is still challenging and takes you along some of the best trails and view points. We really think you will love the new and improved SPRINT route which will start at 12:00 noon!

10.3 SPRINT SECTIONS (START 12:00) Run 1 – 300m (0.3) Swim 1 – 400m (0.7) Run 2 – 1100m (1.8) Swim 2 – 200m (2.0) Run 3 – 2300m (4.3) Swim 3 – 200m (4.5) Run 4 – 1100m (5.6) Swim 4 – 400m (6.0) Refreshment Station 1 (6.4) Run 5 – 700m (6.7) Swim 5 – 400m (7.1) Refreshment Station 3 (8.6) Run 6 – 3800m (10.9) Swim 6 – 700m (11.6) Refreshment Station 4 (11.8) Run 7 – 1100m (12.7) Swim 7 – 300m (13.0) Run 8 – 200m (13.2) TOTAL RUN 10.6km TOTAL SWIM 2.6km

The Rules

Participants start and finish the race as teams of two, running and swimming the whole course together, helping each other where possible in an effort to be stronger than the weakest link. A special feature of swimrun is that teams are allowed to carry anything they want (except floating devices or motorized items) as long as they finish with all their items. Teams have come up with a whole range of creative solutions, however the bungee cord connecting team members seems to be one of the more efficient ones on the swim which obviously induces a strong team spirit.

To help you decide what equipment to use, below is a list of common gear used for Swim Run (as found on this wonderful website):

For those of you new to Swimrun or interested in knowing more about it, we warmly recommend visiting loveswimrun.co.uk

The trainers you wear for SwimRun not only need to be comfortable for the long distances of technical trail running that you’ll be doing in your race but also need to be suitable for use in the water. Make sure they are a snug fit so they don’t come off when swimming and that they don’t soak up much water and drain well. Running with wet shoes on slippery rocks requires good traction so good grippy soles are essential!

Make sure you wear your trainers in properly before the race day to avoid blisters! When your feet get the wet the skin softens and makes them more prone to soreness and rubbing. Start by running short distances with wet feet and build up – they soon toughen up! See article our article on SwimRun Trainers for more information.

Goggles are essential to avoid getting water in your eyes. You will need to have clear vision for sighting in open water. Cold water can also be quite uncomfortable on the face and eyes so covering up helps a lot! Goggles come in all shapes and sizes so try lots on and select a pair that fits your face well. Test them well in open water before hand – there is nothing more irritating than leaky goggles! Sprays are available that help coat the inside of the goggles and help to prevent them misting up. It might be worth having a couple of pairs at the ready with different lenses. On dull days clear lenses will be best but on bright sunny days a tinted or polarised pair will help stop glare from the water. Some participants carry a second pair of spare goggles incase they lose them whilst running. Think about how you are going to carry them if you take them off your head to run.

Many people use hand paddles for SwimRun. These add some extra power to your strokes by increasing the ‘catch’ are of your hand. There are loads of different paddles on the market, but you’ll need some that have straps to hold it on your hand or they can easily come off and be lost in open water. You’ll also need to think about how you are going to carry them on your runs and practice your transitions – getting out on rocky ground is hard when your have paddles on your hands!

If you decide to use paddles you must train with them a lot! Using paddles takes good technique and puts a lot of strain on your shoulders and back muscles. You need to build up the strength to be able to use them over long distances. If you don’t you will soon find you get very tired and worse you can injure yourself!

SwimRun rules state that you can use any flotation aids so long as they are no bigger than 100 cm x 60 cm – imagination is your only other limit! Most people just use a pull buoy.

If you decide to swim wearing your trainers rather than carry them you might want to consider using pull buoy. This float, which you hold between your legs instead of kicking, gives you extra buoyancy and allows you to save your legs during the swims. You’ll appreciate this when it is time to run! Using a pull buoy is generally why people decide to use the hand paddles as the extra propulsion makes up for the loss of the power from the kick. Pull buoys come in different shapes and sizes – what you use depends really on how much lift you need in your legs. For example, if you have a short wetsuit and heavy trainers you’ll need a bigger float.

Remember that you are going to have to carry the float during the runs so for hands free usage you can customise the pull buoy so you can attach it to your leg. Pierce it and insert rubber or elastic straps to make a loop that you can wear around your leg. Test it well in the water and running before a race – if it’s too tight it will be uncomfortable and restrict the blood flow, to loose and it will twist around and drop down at inconvenient times! Watch this ‘How to’ video from Head.

Some SwimRun teams use an elastic towline, this can perform several functions. Attaching yourself to your partner prevents you from losing each other. Also, the stronger team member can help the weaker by pulling them along. This works in both the run and the swim and you can swap position at different stages during the race of you need to. The maximum length of line allowed for SwimRun is 10m. Bear in mind that you need to find a way if attaching the line to each other. This might involve wearing belts and using karabinas, or some SwimRun specific wetsuits are integral waist loops for this purpose. You also need to practice using the line as it can be quite fiddly to manage.

Tow floats are a brightly coloured, inflatable device that is tethered around your waist, increasing your visibility to other water users and, providing bouyant support if you need to rest or wait for assistance. They come in a few different styles: simple blow up floats, dry-bag versions (with internal inflatable pockets) in different sizes, and a doughnut shaped one with a dry bag on top – both of which enable you to tow belongings with you. They are great to use for security if you are swimming alone or if you are doing a long swim and want to carry some food, drink and your phone etc. Some now have pockets with clear windows that are great if you need to carry a map etc. You can also attach small items to the outside of your tow float, such as a whistle, or small mesh bags to hold gels for quick access.

Neoprene calf sleeves are now available and even come as extra with some SwimRun specific wetsuits. They are usually made from 6-8mm neoprene so wearing these will give you lots of extra buoyancy in the lower legs and help in the same way a pull buoy will if you are wearing trainers during the swims – you can use both if you wish! The advantage of wearing neoprene calf sleeves over using a pull buoy is that you will still be able to kick freely during the swims. They also offer protection to your legs when you are getting in and out of the water on sharp rocks and when you are running through undergrowth. They do get rather warm though!

Having a small bag or pack can be useful for carrying the mandatory kit during an event, such as first aid kit, compass and map and spare food. Practice swimming with the bag/pack you intend to use to make sure it is not too heavy or restrictive to swim in. Close fitting bags made from free draining mesh fabrics often work best. If you use a tow float (see above) you can carry your gear in that instead.

Most SwimRun events will have water and food stations, but it’s also a good idea to take your own with you for emergency bonks! Some people swim with a hydration pack, others with a hydration belt/bum bag and it is also possible to stuff a small soft water bottle inside the wetsuit. Whatever food you carry needs to be water proof! Gels or individually wrapped energy bars are good. Make sure you take any litter away with you!

There is no mandatory equipment except for the swimcap, the foldable cup, the map and the bib that is given to you at registration. It is a good idea to carry a compass, whistle, first aid kit and your phone in a waterproof case and some emergency food such as a gel. If you are not using a tow float then your wetsuit will provide you with some buoyancy if you need to stop in the water but other small emergency flotation devices can be carried such as The Swim It or Restube. Full first aid kits are provided at all checkpoints along the course. Please refer to “The Race” section for the detailed maps.

For training in colder months: There are SwimRun specific wetsuits available but if you are new to SwimRun there is no reason why you can’t give it a go in the wetsuit you already own. A regular full swimming wetsuit will certainly do a perfectly good job for you in the swimming stages, it will just take a bit more getting used to when you find yourself out running on dry land. During a SwimRun race you are likely to be wearing a mesh bib over the top so suits that have the zip at the back can be tricky to undo when you start to get hot and want to take the top half off.

Do you really need a wetsuit or swimrun suit during the SuretoSure Swimrun? It always depends on your own preference, the weather and temperatures of the water but up until now the answer for the majority of participants has clearly been 'no'. We have had an average water temperature of around 21 degrees which is very warm. A very slim fitting top or a triathlon suit has proven to be more than enough.

All teams will receive a bag at registration in which the below items can be found. This bag has your team number and will serve as a container for any valuable items you wish to leave at registration. We have limited space, so please try to fit everyting in this one bag! We store these bags in our registration tent safely but cannot take any responsibility in case of loss or theft.

Bib Jerseys: These one-size unisex jerseys with your team’s bib number are made in Sweden (the home of Swimrunning) and can be worn over your wetsuit or trisuit. If worn on bare skin, it is a good idea to use anti-shafing cream (we will provide some at registration). The jerseys are handed to you at registration and returned at the finish. If you wish to keep them as a souvenir, the jerseys can be purchased at the registration desk

Swimming caps: Every team receives two swimming caps in the same colour: blue for the 24.4 Challenge and red for the 10.3 Sprint race.

Foldable Cups: To avoid plastic waste we provide foldable TPU cups at registration that are to be carried along the course and used to hydrate at the checkpoints.

Waterproof map: Whilst the course is fully marked, there is an element of navigation in the race. For that reason, we provide an A6 waterproof printed map to each participant.

Showers and toilets are present on site at the Base Nautique and accessible during the event day.

The SuretoSure waymarking stays the same every year and is recognizable by the red arrows. Additionally we will place markings to announce swim entry points and replenishment stations.

Over the years we have improved our waymarking to a point we believe it should be clear enough. Be aware, you will still need a certain level of focus while navigating which we believe is part of the adventure. This has been our approach from the start, rather than littering the forests with red arrows. To comfort the 'navigationally challenged' we have introduced the infamous "wrong way" signs. The team that collects the most wrong way elastic bands, can win an additional prize.

Event Schedule

Date: 29th of June 2024 | Location: Lultzhausen, Esch-Sur-Sure, Luxembourg

Registrations 9:00 – 10:30

Briefing 11:00

Start 24.4 Challenge 11:45

Start 10.3 Sprint 12:00

Finish 14:00 – 17:00

Award Ceremony 10.3 Sprint 15:00

Award Ceremony 24.4 Challenge 16:00

BBQ & Bar Open All Day!