ATHLETE GUIDE
Thank you for entering Swimrun Australia: Sydney East 2025.
This will be the seventh running of the Sydney East event, and we welcome first-timers and returning athletes to Australia’s original swimrun.
This year, we’re excited to re-introduce the swim section at Shark Beach in Nielsen Park. These swims have been out of action for the last three years whilst the beach was under construction and they will add another dimension to the race.
However you’re choosing to race, you’re going to love every minute of it!
Thanks again for your support, enjoy your adventure.
Andre Slade
Race Director
PREMIER PARTNER
SPONSORS
EVENT PARTNERS
SUPPORTERS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
DATE
ANNOUNCEMENT
WEATHER & COMMS
Weather
The Race Director will monitor weather and on-course conditions in the lead-up to the event.
As a rule, the event will be run rain, hail or shine.
With water conditions the largest variable, as part of the race rules, we reserve the right to remove one or more swim legs if they become unsafe.
Communications
This online Athlete Guide provides dynamic updatable information for participants.
As it can be updated in real time, participants can return for any updates in the lead-up to the event.
Follow the Swimrun Australia Facebook Page as it will also be used to provide event updates.
VENUE
Event Hub: Woollahra Sailing Club
The event hub (incl. registration, race start and race finish) is located at the Woollahra Sailing Club in Lyne Park, New South Head Road, Rose Bay.
We recommend taking public transport; there is one ferry stop and two bus stops located approx. 200m from the event hub. There is also limited parking in Lyne Park and on New South Head Road.
Facilities
At the event hub, you’ll have access to the following:
- Changing rooms
- Toilets
- Showers
- Water
Note: Athlete’s should bring their own drink bottle and/or reusable cup for use at the hydration station.
Bag Drop
Bags can be left by athletes in a room on the first level of the sailing club, turn right when up the stairs.
Whilst all care is taken to look after bags, full security is not provided, so you should factor this in when deciding what to bring to the event.
Spectator Locations
If you have friends and family keen to watch you race, these are the most easily accessible locations along the course.
- Rose Bay (Event Hub – start/finish)
- Nielsen Park (Short Course turnaround, access via Steele Point Road off Vaucluse Road)
- Parsley Bay
- Watsons Bay
- Camp Cove
Friends and family can’t make it? They can follow the live team tracking (link live on race day).
What’s Happening at the Event Hub?
Invite your friends and drag along your family, the event hub will have plenty to entertain them.
- Coffee
- BBQ
- Music
- Race Commentary
- Giveaways
The event hub will be open from 6:30 am to 12:00 pm.
EQUIPMENT
Mandatory Equipment (Participant)
Supplied and worn by each participant:
- 1 swimsuit per person, suitable for running and swimming
- 1 whistle per person, easily accessible so you are able to use it during the swims (for sale at rego)^
- 1 pair of shoes per person, worn at all times, including during the swims^
Mandatory Equipment (Provided)
Supplied by Swimrun Australia:
- 1 race vest per person that must be worn and visible all the times (returned to SRA at the finish)*
- 1 timing chip per person that must be worn on an ankle at all times (returned to SRA at the finish)
- 1 swim cap that must be worn on the head during all the swims (kept by the participant)
*Race vests are the property of Swimrun Australia. The intentional cutting or permanent alteration of a vest is strictly prohibited. Participants are permitted to tie a knot in the back of the vest to reduce its size.
^Excluding the Swimrun Mini race
Vests and tracking bracelets must be returned at the finish line.
For optional equipment, please see the Swimrun Basics page.
Refer to the Swimrun Australia Race Rules for official Equipment rules.
RACE RULES
This event is conducted under the Swimrun Australia Race Rules.
It is a requirement of entry that participants follow the Race Rules. Failure to do so may result in a disqualification and being asked to leave the course.
This is a Triathlon Australia-sanctioned event
A Triathlon NSW technical official will be present, ensuring the event is run under a policy that delivers a safe and fair event that’s accessible to everyone.
SCHEDULE
Time | Event | Location | Required |
|---|---|---|---|
6:30 AM | Registration opens | Upstairs, Sailing Club | Registration confirmation email/SMS |
7:20 AM | Registration Closes^ | Upstairs, Sailing Club | RACE PACK: TRACKING BRACELET, VEST, SWIM CAP |
7:30 AM | Compulsory race briefing | OUTSIDE COURTYARD | DISCOVERY/EXPERIENCE/ENDURO ATHLETES |
7:45 AM | ENDURO TEAM START | START LINE | MALE/FEMALE/MIXED |
7:48 AM | ENDURO SOLO START | Start line | MALE/FEMALE |
7:51 AM | EXPERIENCE TEAM START | Start Line | MALE/FEMALE/MIXED |
7:54 AM | EXPERIENCE SOLO START | Start Line | MALE/FEMALE |
8:00 AM | DISCOVERY SOLO START | Start Line | MALE/FEMALE |
8:10 AM | COMPULSORY RACE BRIEFING | OUTSIDE COURTYARD | STROKE ‘N STRIDE ATHLETES |
8:15 AM | STROKE ‘N STRIDE START | START Line | MALE/FEMALE |
9:00 AM | PRESENTATIONS | PODIUM | STROKE ‘N STRIDE PLACEGETTERS (1ST, 2ND, 3RD – MALE/FEMALE) |
9:05 AM | First DISCOVERY ATHLETES DUE | Finish Line | DISCOVERY RACE Supporters |
9:20 AM | First EXPERIENCE ATHLETES DUE | Finish Line | SHORT RACE Supporters |
9:30 AM | First ENDURO ATHLETES Due | Finish Line | ENDURO RACE Supporters |
10:30 AM | PRESENTATIONS | PODIUM | DISC/EXP/ENDURO Placegetters (1st, 2nd, 3rd in each cat.) |
11:30 AM | ALL ATHLETES FINISHED ON COURSE | FINISH LINE | ATHLETES |
* All categories combined into a single race start
Please note, race start times are approximate. Teams should be ready to go as early as possible.
Registration
Athletes must check-in and register upon arrival.
Registration will take place between 6:30 am and 7:20 am on level 2 of the club, turn left at the top of the stairs.
^No registrations will take place after the Compulsory Race Briefing.
Athletes should bring the following to register:
- Entry Confirmation Email or Race Number SMS (digital copy ok on phone or watch)
- Mandatory equipment
Athletes/teams will receive a Race Pack with the following items:
- Race vest
- Swim cap
- Tracking bracelet
- Silicone Cup (if pre-purchased)
- Whistle (if pre-purchased)
Presentations
The presentations to placegetters are planned to take place at the following times:
- Stroke ‘N Stride – 8:45 am
- Discovery/Experience/Enduro – 10:30 am
We know that some teams may still be on the course at this time, and we reserve the right to delay the presentation if event crew resources are required elsewhere.
COURSE map
Map set to the Enduro race course; expand the map to select your race course.
The final route for all races is determined on the morning of the event.
IMPORTANT: The course is not extensively marked. As an adventure race, it is the responsibility of teams to know the course and carry what they need.
Live Tracking
Participants in this event will wear a tracking bracelet, secured to the ankle. It is mandatory that both team members wear a tracking bracelet each.
Tracking bracelets are used for:
- Determining the order teams cross the finish line
- Providing real-time team positioning for safety management and cutoff determination
- Ensuring all participants are accounted for at the completion of the event.
Note: Placings in this event are determined by the position a team crosses the line, irrespective of what start wave a team started in.
Participants must not remove their tracking bracelet at any time and ensure they run as close to the checkpoint scanners as possible.
Live tracking check-points are located at:
- Event Hub (Start/Finish)
- Nielsen Park (Discovery turnaround)
- Parsely Bay (Experience turnaround)
- Watsons Bay
- Hornsby Lighthouse (Enduro turnaround)
Download GPX Files
You can import our race maps to your Garmin or other GPS device via our .gpx files.
You can import our race maps to your Garmin or other GPS device via our .gpx files.
For a how-to guide for Garmin read this article.
Downloads
- Coming soon
Garmin Events
Garmin Connect users can add this event to their calendars.
- Coming soon
On-course Hydration
Hydration Stations
Hydration Stations are provided at the following locations:
- Event Hub (Start/Finish)
- Nielsen Park
- Parsley Bay
Hydration Stations have fast-flow water.
Public drink fountains, showers and taps are available along paths and participants are encouraged to use these to hydrate when necessary, even if it means detouring off the course a little to do so.
If you require more nutrition than is provided, this should be carried on you.
Please note: All rubbish (i.e. nutrition wrappers) must be kept on you until the finish. Littering will result in a team disqualification and the team will be asked to leave the course.
Cup-less Aid Stations
Participants should carry their own cup or drink bottle, which can be used at hydration stations and public water taps.
Lightweight collapsible silicone cups can be purchased at registration. These 200ml reusable cups squash down flat and can fit into your pocket, clip onto a belt or be tucked into your swimsuit or wetsuit.
Finish Line Nutrition
At the finish line, participants will be provided with the following nutrition:
- Fruit (i.e. bananas, watermelon, oranges)
- Water
Toilets On-course
There are toilets at the Event Hub and along the course. See the Google course map for locations.
Course Markings
Parts of the course are marked to assist in navigation.
Participants should not rely on the course markings and should know the course before starting the race.
Course markers consist of (but are not limited to):
- Arrow signs
- Ribbon, tied to poles/fences/trees
- Cones
The colour of the marker will indicate whether you are on the correct or incorrect course.
Yellow markers
Yellow markers indicate the correct course direction.
Red markers
Red markers indicate the incorrect course direction. If you come across red markers, you should turn around and head in the opposite direction.
Feathered Flags
Large Swimrun Australia feathered flags will also be placed along the course, predominantly at the beginning and end of a swim leg and at race turnaround locations.
Course Modifications
It is possible that the event crew may change the course for safety and/or other reasons at any time during the race.
The course communicated in the pre-event briefing is deemed to be the official course for the event.
Once the race has got underway, if a swim leg is considered to be unsafe or if water safety is preoccupied with an emergency, one or more, or all, of the swims may be removed from the course.
In this instance, event crew will communicate this to participants and you may be asked to continue racing by skipping one or more swim legs and continuing on foot (this might be temporary or for the remainder of the event).
Should it be deemed necessary to remove all the swims from the event due to an unacceptable level of risk before the start of the race, a revised run-only course will become the official course.
Cut-off Times
There are technically only cut-off times for the Swimrun Long race.
Participants should be able to finish the course in 3 hours 40 minutes, with the following check-point cut-off times on the return leg:
- Checkpoint 4: Watsons Bay (completed swim) – 2 hrs 20 mins
- Checkpoint 5: Nielsen Park – 2 hrs 50 mins
Participants in the Discovery and Experience races must complete the course within the 3-hour 40-minute Enduro window.
Cut-off times are in place for participant and event crew safety and to ensure that the event is completed within the licenced time stipulated by landowners.
Event safety, medical support and crew reserve the right to remove participants from the course at any time if it appears their safety is at risk.
The event crew, at the discretion of the Race Director, may extend the cutoff times.
How Results Are Determined
See Section 2.6 Results of the Swimrun Australia Race Rules for official rules relating to Eligibility, Wave Starts, Results and Awards.
Previous Splits
2024 Swimrun Enduro (Long) Times*
Checkpoint 4 (Cut-Off: 2:20)
Fastest time – 1:11
Slowest time – 2:14
Average time – 1:39
Checkpoint 5 (Cut-Off: 2:50)
Fastest time – 1:23
Slowest time – 2:45
Average time – 2:01
Finish Line
Fastest time – 1:49
Slowest time – 3:41
Average time – 2:41
2024 Swimrun Experience (Short) Times*
Finish Line
Fastest time – 1:29
Slowest time – 2:30
Average time – 1:53
2024 Swimrun Discovery (Sprint) Times
Finish Line
Fastest time – 1:02
Slowest time – 2:10
Average time – 1:27
Note: These times do not include the swim at Nielsen Park, which was reintroduced in 2025 following the opening of the beach. 10 minutes has been added to the cut off time to compensate for the additional swim.
Delivering environmentally-friendly events
Swimrun Australia strives to deliver events that have the least possible impact on the locations we race in.
Procurement & Packaging
We only purchase what we need and don’t use plastic packaging
Minimal Consumerables
Event merchandise is chosen to ensure the greatest lifetime use
Reusable Vests
Participant race vests are washed and re-used for every event
Cup-less Aid Stations
We don’t provide single-use paper cups and promote reusable cups
Operations
Reusable ties are used to secure banners instead of cable ties
Reusable Swim Caps
Swim caps are not dated and can be reused at the next event
Did you know? We only generate two bags fill of rubbish at each event!
EVENT SAFETY
Swimrun Australia takes the safety of participants, event crew, and the public extremely seriously
Water Safety
Water safety for this event is in the form of lifeguards on boats, rescue boards and with rescue tubes.
In-water Emergencies
If you, a team member, or another participant requires assistance in the water, you should:
- Relax and stay calm
- Use any floatation equipment (i.e. pull buoy) to assist with floating
- Get the attention of other teams and/or lifeguards by raising your arm and continuously blowing your whistle
- Slowly get yourselves to safety, if you can.
Video: How to Perform a Swimrun Rescue
Watch Swimrun Australia founder and ex-Bondi Lifeguard, Adriel Young, demonstrate how to assist your partner in the water if they require assistance.
Personal Water Safety
Do not dive head-first into the water. All water entries must be feet first.
Shoes must be worn at all times during the race and cannot be removed for the swim leg. Take care as you enter and exit the water over slippery surfaces, including sharp rocks, barnacles and miscellaneous items.
When swimming, be aware of underwater obstructions, tidal movements, watercraft (moving and anchored), currents, rocks and marine life.
Take extra care at swim legs where teams are travelling in both directions.
Team Safety
For team races, team members must stay within 10m of each other at all times.
This includes:
- When racing (swimming and running)
- When a team member is injured and being seen to by event crew/medical support
In it Together
When a team member has to retire from the race this forces the retirement of the team. One member of a team cannot race alone.
Water Safety Philosophy
The over-arching philosophy of swimrun is that you are racing in nature, along a course that isn’t overly marked.
Water safety is directed to keep back from participants whilst maintaining 100% oversight during the race so you get the feeling of swimming free in nature.
If you require assistance from water safety, you should use your whistle to attract attention.
Use of the Whistle
Each participant must carry a whistle (no sharing one between two team members).
The whistle is to be used in emergencies to get the attention of other teams, lifeguards, medical support, or event crew.
Participants should never leave an injured or tired team member, or another participant, alone.
To attract attention, continue to blow the whistle until help arrives.
Emergency Contacts
In the case of a life-threatening emergency, call 000 first
Event Safety Coordinatorr
TBC
Race Director
Andre Slade
0433082541
Medical Safety
First Aid
Trained event medical staff are provided:
- At the Event Hub
- As a mobile medic
If you, your team member, or another participant, require the assistance of medical support, alert the nearest event crew member who will call for assistance. Stay with this event crew member until help arrives.
Assisting Others
Participants are responsible for their own safety and the safety of others.
If you are asked by an event crew member to assist in an emergency, you must stop racing and render assistance.
You must do your best to help another participant that has been injured or who is sick.
Race Safety
Participants must:
- Know, understand and follow all race rules and attend all participant briefings
- Not run on the road (stick to the footpaths)
- Follow instructions from event crew
- Treat race officials, event crew, spectators, the general public and other athletes with respect and courtesy
- Obey laws and local regulations
- Take all caution when crossing a road and follow the road and traffic rules at all times
- Inform an event crew member promptly after withdrawing from the race and return your timing bracelet and vest.
Open Course
This event is run on an open, public course.
Participants share the course with the public at all times (i.e. walkers, runners, vehicles, marine craft).
Please give the public right of way, even if it means slowing down or stopping to do so.
AFTER YOU FINISH
WHAT TO DO
We’ve got you covered after your race. Keep an eye out on the event website and socials for the latest.
Finisher Pennant
All finishers will receive a finishers pennant.
There are medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd placegetters in all races and categories.
Race Photos
Free race photos will be available shortly after the race.
Please check the Swimrun Australia Facebook page during the afternoon.
RESULTS
Having been tracked throughout the course, you will be able to view your race splits and overall placing by category.
Share on Social
Share your excitement with your friends on social media.
Take a photo beside the media wall with your medal!
