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SwimRun with your Dog

How can a swimrun with your dog work?

In Poland, on Saturday 19 September 2020, swimrunner Michal Jabloński took part in a sprint event as a solo racer - except that he took his dog with him for the entire race! It was the Swimrun Nidzica hosted by Goswimrun.pl .

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Michal had entered the sprint event as a solo competitor. However, he planned to take his dog "Venus" with him on the race, and had been training with Venus to prepare for the challenge.

Swimrun with your Dog

There is nothing in the Swimrun rules that prohibits taking an animal. After all, an animal that might tow you on the swim (such as a dolphin) would be very difficult to carry around on the running sections. By the same token, an animal that could help you on the run (such as a horse) would be slow on the swims. So it seems that an animal is unlikely to help you to a faster time.

BUT what about taking an animal just for fun? And one that's good at running AND swimming?

Introducing Michal and his 5 year old Labrador Retriever called Venus! Michal and Venus have been running together for 3 years now, so Venus is well used to running by Michal's side. (There's actually a whole sport called 'Canicross' that does this!)

But Venus has only been swimming with Michal since 2020. The maximum distance they have swum together is about 800 metres, at a speed of just under 2 minutes per 100 meters. That's a great swim pace for a dog - as fast as me over 1000 metres! (Although I am now 68).

Venus and Michal

When Michal and Venus are running together, they are connected by a tether, like most swimrunners. BUT on the swimming sections, Michal releases the tether, and Venus swims instinctively by his side.

Michal and Venus with a Marshal

In the race at Nidzica, the total distances involved were 10km of running and 2km of swimming, divided into several sections. The longest single swim was just 450 metres, well inside Venus' ability. She certainly looks like she enjoyed herself!

Venus after the race, looking great!

Michal tells me that he will continue to train with Venus, with more running in the woods and on rougher terrain, to see how they do. Of course, all swim training will have to be in the lake, as dogs are not allowed in the swimming pool!

Venus afterwards, with her medal.

So, doing a swimrun with your dog is perfectly possible, as long as you train your dog for the event. The dog must understand what is expected, and the challenges that might occur. With a good training plan, the dog will get fitter and faster, and you will both have a lot of fun!

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Richard Mitchell, BDS, and Mogsy Ford are swimrun competitors and endurance athletes who write from direct racing experience. We have competed in swimrun since 2016, and bring added perspective from competitive running (5K to marathon) and open-water swim racing. This website has been mentioned by The Guardian newspaper. As married teammates, we train together, and build holidays around races. Read more at the 'About Us' page.