_ The 2018 Ignite SwimRun Virginia, National SwimRun Championship:

Swimrun racing is about getting from A to B in teams of two along a pre-marked course consisting of an Otillo style number of runs and a number of swims. Teams are equipped with wetsuits, a pair of shoes, some compulsory safety gear and other equipment the teams wish to bring, such as paddles, buoys and fins.

Otillo style Swimrun is intensely challenging at every level: all the racers, the staff, the media, and the families are pushed to their limits. Participation is not enough. You have to give it all you have- whether you're committed to finishing or to coming out on top as the winners. No one makes it through without being infected by the spirit and soul of Swimrun.

In many parts of the world where Otillo style Swimrun is exploding, the Swimrun community is closer to a tight-knit family than a collection of strangers. The values of the Swimrun community mirror this: to challenge each other, to respect each other, to support each other, and to be unafraid of expressing our emotions to each other. A sport as demanding as Swimrun has no room for anything except unwavering companionship and understanding.

Even as the popularity of Swimrun has been growing in other parts of the world, this will be one of the first chances many Americans have to challenge themselves to compete in this unique challenge format. The course winds through beautiful Richmond, Virginia, selected by Outside Magazine as the best river town in America, giving racers the opportunity not just to enjoy the physical aspect of competition, but also some truly beautiful scenery.