The race originated overseas and most events take place there, in countries including France, Germany and Sweden, the birthplace of Swimrun. USA Triathlon runs a similar event involving running and swimming, called aquathlon, though the format is different. He says his kind is rarer in a Swimrun race: Many of them are swimmers who gut through the running. It’s a reflection of the core of the sport, as most of them revolve around competitors swimming from one place to another and running trails in between. “That’s not advised, but I’ve cramped up before and deployed that tactic myself.”Most competitors, Finanger said, are much like Ritsema who enjoy triathlons and want to try something else.