IGNITE SwimRun Series

Update: 15 May 2020

IGNITE have made the following announcement on their website:

"COVID-19 pandemic has affected events all over the country and IGNITE SwimRun is no exception. Our event venues are closed for the foreseeable future and new registrations have all but stopped, making it difficult to continue operating as is. While we had hoped to weather this storm, we are forced to make some tough decisions.

Effective May 15, 2020, Rip It Events LLC will acquire IGNITE SwimRun LLC. IGNITE SwimRun Maryland will become SwimRun Maryland. ​We are grateful that you chose IGNITE this year and in years past. THANK YOU for promoting this sport. We have had a blast creating unique event experiences and have made many friends along the way. We hope you consider SwimRun Maryland in 2021."

We will update this page when Rip It Events announce new event dates and venues.

Information on the Original Company


IGNITE SwimRun Series were a Virginia based company in the USA started in December 2017 and were the first US company to offer multi-state SwimRun races across the country.  The 2018 Virginia race was the first ever US National Championship.

Inspired by the international ÖTILLÖ, ”Island to Island” races, the IGNITE races follow the same rules and guidelines, with teams running and swimming together, wearing wetsuits and carrying pullbuoys, paddles and tethers if they wish.  As always, all gear must be carried throughout the race.

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UPDATE October 2020:

The only Swimrun planned for 2021 at the moment is SwimRun Maryland but we will aim to keep this page updated if further events are added in the RIP IT EVENTS schedule.

In the meantime we have included below information on past IGNITE events.

The RIP IT EVENTS Team

RIP IT EVENTS is run by the following team:

  • Danny Serpico - Owner, Race Director, Timer
  • Suzy Serpico - Owner, Head Coach

You can read more about the RIP IT EVENTS Team here.

World SwimRun Rankings

If you compete in the "long distance" race at an event, you will score points in the TSR Global Ranking System.  You can check out your World SwimRun ranking at the TSR site HERE.

The Races

There were 4 races in the IGNITE SwimRun Series, running from May through to October, and all have a general entry.  Team entries are all male, all female and mixed.  In previous years, the winners of each individual long event got free entry to the 2019 National Championships at the SwimRun Virginia event.  This is not being held this year, presumably due to COVID-19 with many events cancelled or postponed.

In 2019 the company introduced the Solo 'Spark' category to bring the SwimRun experience to more athletes - providing the 'spark' need to try this challenging sport! The Spark category is only in the short course events for those wishing to compete without a partner.

IGNITE Swimrun series

Races were held in:

  • Maryland
  • Knoxville
  • Minnesota
  • Rhode Island (new venue to be confirmed soon)

RIP IT EVENTS SwimRun Maryland

This event has been taken over by RIP IT EVENTS and is going ahead in 2021.

Update:  The 2020 event has been cancelled due to COVID-19

NEW DATE:   May 8 2021

VENUE:   Greenbrier State Park, 21843, National Pike, Boonsboro, MD 21713

IGNITE Swimrun series

LONG COURSE - TEAMS

Swim: 6 legs: 2.1 miles

Run: 7 legs: 14.1 miles

Total Distance: 16.2 miles

SHORT COURSE - TEAMS

Swim: 4 legs: 1.4 miles

Run: 5 legs: 6.2 miles

Total Distance: 7.6 miles

SHORT COURSE - SOLO 'SPARK'

Swim: 4 legs: 1.4 miles

Run: 5 legs: 6.2 miles

Total Distance: 7.6 miles

For more information about the RIP IT EVENTS SwimRun Maryland click here.

IGNITE SwimRun Knoxville

DATE:  Sunday, June 28 2020 - This event is CANCELLED.  RIP IT events have not yet rescheduled.

VENUE:  Ijams Nature Center, 2195 Island Home Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37920

IGNITE Swimrun series

LONG COURSE - TEAMS

Swim: 3 miles

Run: 14 miles

Total Distance: 17 miles

SHORT COURSE - TEAMS

Swim: 4 legs: 1.25 miles

Run: 5 legs: 7 miles

Total Distance: 8.25 miles

SHORT COURSE - SOLO 'SPARK'

Swim: 4 legs: 1.25 miles

Run: 5 legs: 7 miles

Total Distance: 8.25 miles

IGNITE SwimRun Minnesota

DATE:  Saturday, August 29 2020 - This event is CANCELLED.  RIP IT events have not yet rescheduled.

VENUE:  Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area, 307 3rd St, Ironton, MN 56455

IGNITE Swimrun series

LONG COURSE - TEAMS

Swim: 7 legs: 4.1 miles

Run: 8 legs: 13.2 miles

Total Distance: 17.3 miles

SHORT COURSE - TEAMS

Swim: 4 legs: 1.5 miles

Run: 5 legs: 7 miles

Total Distance: 8.5 miles

SHORT COURSE - SOLO 'SPARK'

Swim: 4 legs: 1.5 miles

Run: 5 legs: 7 miles

Total Distance: 8.5 miles

IGNITE SwimRun Rhode Island

DATE:  To be confirmed.  RIP IT events have not yet rescheduled.

VENUE:  NEW VENUE COMING

IGNITE Swimrun series

Below are the distances that were used in the previous Rhode Island events.

LONG COURSE - TEAMS

Swim: 8 legs: 4.6 miles

Run: 9 legs: 13.9 miles

Total Distance: 18.5 miles

SHORT COURSE - TEAMS

Swim: 3 legs: 2 miles

Run: 4 legs: 7 miles

Total Distance: 9 miles

SHORT COURSE - SOLO 'SPARK'

Swim: 3 legs: 2 miles

Run: 4 legs: 7 miles

Total Distance: 9 miles

IGNITE SwimRun Virginia

National SwimRun Championship & General Entry Race

The IGNITE SwimRun Virginia is not on the website this year so we assume is not taking place.  RIP IT events have not yet rescheduled.

We have included the distances for this event for previous years below, for your information.

IGNITE Swimrun series

LONG COURSE - TEAMS

Swim: 6 legs: 3.1 miles

Run: 9 legs: 14.8 miles

Total Distance: 17.9 miles

SHORT COURSE - TEAMS

Swim: 3 legs: 1.2 miles

Run: 4 legs: 5 miles

Total Distance: 6.2 miles

SHORT COURSE - SOLO 'SPARK'

Swim: 3 legs: 1.2 miles

Run: 4 legs: 5 miles

Total Distance: 6.2 miles

Click here to go the RIP IT EVENTS home page.


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