Everything a triathlete needs to know about moving from race swims to endurance open water.
For triathletes, the move to endurance open water means treating the swim as the whole event, not the warm up. This guide covers long distance pacing, sighting, in water fuelling and the mindset shift needed to swim the 33.3km distance across four days.
UltraSwim 33.3 is an Epic Adventure Swim Race™ covering 33.3km, the historic English Channel distance, split across five to seven point to point open water swims (we hate laps) over four days in warmer water locations (a half Channel 17km option exists). So far held in Croatia, Switzerland, Greece, Spain, Montenegro and the Caribbean, based at luxury spa hotels, with world class safety cover, premium support, a complete preparation programme and a diverse community that ranges from 14 to 74 years old, usually more women than men. From competitive Masters swimmers, triathletes and swimrunners to leisure and wild swimmers simply aiming to complete the distance. From a required pace of just 2km/h, any determined swimmer can do it. Come in a group or alone, everyone leaves with new friends for life. Award winning, all inclusive packages start from €1,575 CHECK (€750 for our 2 day Compact format)
In triathlon the swim is the warm up. Here it is the whole race. This guide covers pacing without a bike to follow, sighting over long distances, fuelling in the water and the mindset shift from three sports to one.
Your pacing discipline, aerobic base and race calm all transfer to endurance swimming. The main new skills are sighting over long distances without a bike to follow, fuelling while swimming and holding an even effort with no rest at a wall. Each is straightforward to build with practice.
The iconic English Channel distance spread over 5 - 7 swims. Choose the full 33.3 CLASSIC, or the 33.3 / 2 BUILD 'Half Channel' which caps each swim at 5km. Life-changing for many.
Swiss precision event organisation. Boat and kayak safety cover provided on every swim. Daily briefings on conditions, route and pace. Experienced and dedicated team
Whether you come on your own or with a club, you will find your tribe, and make new lifelong bonds over 4 days of highs and lows as you reach for that 33.3 Finisher droplet
All iconic, each with their own challenges and beauty - Croatia, Switzerland, Greece, Montenegro, Spain and the Caribbean. From May to December and designed to fit your season and time constraints.
Explore the preparation programme, coaching and swim camps that get you to the start line ready.
Explore trainingYour pacing discipline, aerobic base and race calm all transfer. The guide shows how to build on them for the 33.3km distance.
Coaches and swimmers walk through the open water skills triathletes need most.
In triathlon the swim is a short opening leg. In endurance swimming it is the entire challenge, over far greater distance, so pacing and fuelling matter much more.
With regular feeds from support crews at set points. The preparation programme covers a fuelling strategy for the distance.
Not necessarily. A sustainable, efficient stroke matters more than speed. Technique work in the programme focuses on endurance efficiency.
Most triathletes build over several months, adding volume and open water sessions. The programme sets out a clear progression.