Borås Swimrun is neither the longest swimrun in Sweden nor the hardest. But it might just be the hilliest swimrun on the Swedish swimrun calendar!
With close to a 1,000 metres (3,500 feet) of climbing on steep trails, technical footpaths and winding gravel roads, it’s a challenge not to be taken lightly.
Borås Swimrun features 27 different sections totalling 5 km of swimming and 29 km of running. The longest swim is 1,300 metres and the longest run 7 km. There’s also a sprint course totalling 1,150 metres of swimming and close to 12 km of running.
Borås Swimrun is the brainchild of Jonas Colting, a two-time Ultraman World Champion and ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championship medallist. More than having had a long professional triathlon career, Jonas is also one of the original swimrun athletes since the sport’s humble beginnings. Jonas is, to date, the only athlete having taken part in every ÖTILLÖ since its inception in 2006 and he also won the event three times from 2008 to 2010.
“I wanted to create an event in my hometown of Borås,” says Jonas, “an event which is not only a worthy challenge but also as an opportunity for more people to discover and take part in this beautiful sport.”
The city of Borås, with a population of some 66,000, is set 70 kilometres from Gothenburg, in the southwest of Sweden, and is only 40 kilometres from Landvetter International Airport.
Borås Swimrun offers a magnificent outdoor experience with a unique and challenging terrain.
Borås Swimrun is set by Öresjö, the largest lake in Borås, which is where the majority of the swimming takes place. Known for its clean water, the town of Borås also takes its drinking water from Öresjö.
The water temperature in early June can vary quite a bit from year to year but on average the lake is around 14°C to 17°C at this time.
The scenery around Öresjö is truly picturesque and breathtaking! The course winds its way through and over magical forests and deep waters. Borås Swimrun circumnavigates Lake Öresjö and its neighbouring nature. Borås Swimrun offers a magnificent outdoor experience with a unique and challenging terrain.
The race centre, including the start and finish line, is located in Almenäs, a few kilometres from Borås. Almenäs is home to huge grassy areas, plenty of parking, and toilets, as well as a café and restaurant.
“We take a lot of pride in providing a great and hospitable race environment with supremely well-marked courses, stocked aid stations and a warm welcoming for all finishers, including a barbecue buffet,” comments Jonas.
“Since our first race in 2014, we’ve had well over a 100 teams each year. For 2017, our race seems to be more popular than ever, especially among foreign teams with Borås having close access to an international airport,” Jonas adds.
The 2017 race will be held on Sunday, June 11th. For those athletes looking for an additional challenge, there’s also a Half-Ironman triathlon the day prior to the swimrun!
Article first published in Swimrun Life Magazine Issue # 1 (Feb/Mar 2017)
