Aquathlon events calendar

To some it might seem like an obvious distinction to make, but aquathlons are not swimruns - let's get that cleared up straight away. Both involve running and swimming, and while there are a few differences, there is one glaring distinction: while swimruns have no kit transitions, aquathlons do.

This means that in an aquathlon, you transition between disciplines as you would in a triathlon: with a kit change and following specific rules.

Many aquathlons take the run-swim-run format while others may just be swim-run. While there are no official distances for aquathlon categories, they will generally fit into one of the following groups:

Sprint

These entry-level aquathlons are very accessible to beginners, often including just a 400m swim and 4K run.

Standard distance

The official standard distance, as set by the ITU Aquathlon World Championships, is a 2.5K run, 1K swim and another 2.5K run.

Long distance

Encompassing another longer than the standard distance, these can range up to the Ironman distances for swimming and running.

Many aquathlons will be held at the same time and location as a triathlon, in which case the running and swimming sections will mirror those within the more classic event.

There are also kids aquathlons available for entry, where the races have been designed specifically for children. The entire course is kept inside the event venue to avoid roads and the running course is multi-lapped, so parents can maintain a view of their kids.

The sheer variety available within aquathlons - including whether the running is on tarmac or trails - is one reason why these events are so exciting and are growing in popularity. For both triathletes looking for a change and beginners to endurance sports, aquathlons offer a unique experience to be active outdoors.