Race Details

SWIMRUN CAPE COD

Welcome!

Pre-Race:

• See the schedule above for the times when you may pick up your race packet, swag and swim safety buoy. Packet pick-up, along with the finish line (and the start for the Short Course race) will be held at the Wellfleet Elementary School.
• All parking will be at the elementary school. Medium-course racers will be taking the “Funk Bus” (two buses) to their race start. Buses will begin shuttling racers and spectators at 6:15am; the buses will return every 20 minutes until the last bus will leave at 7:45. Both buses will return to the finish line immediately after the 8am start. 
• The Short Course race begins at 9am at the elementary school.
• Here’s an overview of the courses:
  • the medium course racers will run to, and swim across, 7 ponds. About 9.7 miles of running; 2900 yards of swimming.
  • The short course racers will encounter 3 ponds. About 4 miles of running; 1230 yards of swimming.
  • Those 3 short course ponds are the exact same as the last 3 ponds of the medium course race. This means racers may encounter, and run/swim alongside, other athletes who are competing at the different distance. Everyone crosses the same finish line.

The Run(s):

• Here’s what you will be looking for on the run course: small pink (with the NEEE insignia) marker flags placed at every turn or questionable area along the run course. Keep your eyes on the ground ahead of you — both for the course markings and to also take care to not trip on any tree roots.
• There is one exception to the pink flags: the first run leg of the short course (about 1 mile in length) will be marked with yellow marker flags. This is to avoid confusion by the medium course athletes, who will also encounter this part of the route for a period of time. After the first swim, the remainder of the short course will be marked with pink flags, and you will share it with medium course athletes as they head for their last two swims.
• The eight run segments of the Medium Course add up to 9.7 miles. The four run segments of the short course add up to 4.0 miles. As you train, keep in mind that trail running is more difficult than flat running. Our opinion? A medium course athlete should be prepared to tackle a half-marathon; a short-course athlete a 10k.
• Medium course athletes: portable restrooms will be located near the start line. There will be a trash barrel at the 2.5 mile mark of the first run to dispose of wrappers/containers. There will be an aid station and restroom at the end of the first swim (Snow Pond). Aid stations and restroom will also be at the end of the fourth swim (Gull Pond), start of fifth swim (Long Pond), and end of sixth swim (Great Pond), as well as at the finish.
• Short course athletes: in addition to restroom facilities at the start line, there will be an aid station and restroom at the start of first swim (Long Pond), and end of second swim (Great Pond), as well as at the finish.
• At the aid stations: Water, fluid replacement drink, GU gels, Honey Stinger gels, Cliff Blocks, Cliff Peanut Butter bars.
• At the aid stations, you are responsible for putting containers and wrappers into the trash barrels yourself. Swimrun is a sport where most participants and events are very conscious of sustainable practices, so keep this in mind if you wish to avoid a penalty.
• Tethers (for teams). Allowed but not mandatory. However it is mandatory that teammates swim within 10 yards of each other.
• Penalties may be assessed for discourteous behavior! Primarily, this would be for refusing to allow another athlete(s) to pass on a narrow trail. It may be typical practice for high school cross-country races, and perhaps for other swimruns, but it will not be tolerated here — especially given that short-course and medium-course athletes will be sharing the trails.
• Fun fact: a portion of your run between swim #1 and #2 (medium course) will be along a super-narrow sandy road known as the Old Kings Highway. You will be tracing a footpath used by Native Americans dating back to before recorded history. In 1650, upon the order of King Charles II, the path was widened to allow for travel by horse and carts, and later, stagecoaches. In recent decades of little use, it has narrowed again.

The Swim(s):

Overall Course Map:

This is an interactive map. To zoom in, and to follow the route, go to:
https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5721880162/

Layout: Start Area:

Click on the map for a larger version

Restroom facilities will be available near the start. A hopper will be placed next to NEEE vehicles in the parking lot for your personal items (sweatshirts, warm-up pants etc.) to be placed just prior to the race start. This barrel will be relocated to the finish area for you to retrieve your items post-race.

Run 1 & Swim 1

Distances:  Run: 3.3 miles,  Swim: 225 yards

Click on the map for an interactive version of the run

After the 3/4-mile beach run, you will climb a fairly steep path to the top of the clay cliffs overlooking the Atlantic. You will then journey along footpaths on (at times) difficult terrain to Snow Pond, where the swim distance will be approximate 225 yards. Available are rest facilities and an aid station at the conclusion of the swim.

Important Note: this route may be altered due to potential erosion during 2023-24 winter storms. This map will be updated prior to June 1, 2024.

The map below shows the conclusion of Run #1 and the first swim in greater detail.

Click on the map for a larger version.

Run 2, Swim 2

Distances:  Run: 1.4 miles,  Swim: 440 yards

Click on the map for an interactive version

You will run a portion of the Old Kings Highway to Slough Pond Road. Both “roads” are very narrow jeep paths. You will turn off Slough and follow a footpath to the western side of Slough Pond. The swim is approximately a quarter-mile. Swim to the intermediate yellow buoy, then to the orange buoy at the finish. No facilities/aid stations during this stretch.

Important Note: this route may be altered due to potential erosion during 2023-24 winter storms. This map will be updated prior to June 1, 2024.

The map below shows a closer view of the swim.

Click on the map for a larger version.

Run 3, Swim 3, Run 4, Swim 4

Distances:  Run: 0.5 miles,  Swim: 200 yards,  Run: 50 yards,  Swim: 800 yards

Click on the map for an interactive version

From the Slough Pond exit you will run west on Black Pond Rd. to a left onto Schoolhouse Hill Rd. The entrance to Higgins Pond will be on your left. The water’s edge is muddy and has tree roots beneath the surface; walk (don’t run) on the rubber mats and use the possible rope handholds placed by race staff. The swim will be 1/8 of a mile. Exiting Higgins, you will run a very short stretch (less than 50 yards) to the northern edge of Gull Pond. Your swim in Gull will be a half-mile, with two intermediate buoys (yellow) which you should use for sighting, with a final orange buoy on the west side of Gull. At Gull’s finish are rest facilities and aid station. 

Note: in case of unusually high winds, the Gull Pond swim may be cancelled. Runners will emerge from Higgins Pond and follow Schoolhouse Hill Rd. in a southerly direction. Pink flags will mark your way.

Run 5, Swim 5

Distances:  Run: 1.2 miles,  Swim: 850 yards

Click on the map for an interactive version

Exiting Gull Pond, you will see a restroom and aid station. Follow the now-paved Schoolhouse Hill Rd. south to Gull Pond Rd., where you will turn left and follow the road to where it crosses Gross Hill Rd. Here you will enter a sandy road leading into the woods, called Sapakonish Way. Follow this road/path to its end and (carefully) cross the paved road (Long Pond Rd) to enter the beach for your Long Pond swim. Here there will be an aid station and restroom facilities. Start your swim at this western edge of Long Pond for a half-mile to a small sandy beach at its northeast corner. Look for yellow buoys to guide you along the way, as this swim is a dogleg left. An orange buoy marks the finish.

Run 6, Swim 6

Distances:  Run: 1.5 miles;  Swim: 140 yards

Click on the map for an interactive version

As you exit Long Pond, it is a short run along a sandy path to Long Pond Rd, where you will turn right and follow the road until you reach an Buttry Way. Turn right (remember: follow the small pink markers) for a short downhill stretch along this sandy road, then left onto Way 626 (no sign, follow markers). As you approach a paved road do not enter that road; instead you will be turning right onto a narrow path. Follow the path to where it meets with Cahoon Hollow Rd., and turn right. You will run along the shoulder of Cahoon Hollow Rd. until you reach the almost-hidden southeast entrance to Great Pond. You will swim from this point to the orange buoy located on the southwest corner of the pond. Next, you have a challenging stair climb to the top of the kettle, where there will be an aid station and restroom facilities.

Important Note: this route may be altered due to potential erosion during 2023-24 winter storms. This map will be updated prior to June 1, 2024.

Run 7, Swim 7

Distances:  Run: 0.5 miles;  Swim: 240 yards

Click on the map for an interactive version

After climbing the multi-level wooden staircase to the pond’s parking area, you will run alongside the parking lot and leave via a dirt path at the northwest corner of the parking lot. Follow the jeep trail (Forest Rd.) to the entrance to Dyer Pond on your left. Your swim at Dyers will be about 1/6 of a mile, from north to south. There are no facilities at this pond. 

Run 8

Distance:  Run: 1.3 miles

Click on the map for an interactive version

Exiting Dyer Pond, you will follow the pink marker flags along a narrow footpath through the woods and onto a public easement following power lines. After a half-mile on the easement, you will turn left onto Long Pond Rd. where you will run along the shoulder to Lawrence Rd, where you will turn right and run up the hill to the finish line. There are no facilities available on this leg — except at the finish line.

Important Note: this route may be altered due to potential erosion during 2023-24 winter storms. This map will be updated prior to June 1, 2024.

Overall Course Map:

This is an interactive map. To zoom in, and to follow the route, go to:

https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5435324020

Layout: Start Area:

Click on the map for a larger image.

The start area is across from the Wellfleet Elementary School, near the finish line. Restrooms will be available at the start as well as the entrance to the first swim.

Run 1 + Swim 1

Distances:  Run: 0.7 mile,  Swim: 850 yards

Click on the map for a larger image.

From the elementary school. you will run down the hill on Lawrence Rd., take a left onto Long Pond Rd., and run for approx 1 mile total. The beach and entry for Swim 1 will be on your right.

Important Note: this route may be altered due to potential erosion during 2023-24 winter storms. This map will be updated prior to June 1, 2024.

Here is more detail of the swim:

Click on the map for a larger image.

Run 2, Swim 2

Distances:  Run: 1.5 miles;  Swim: 140 yards

Click on the map for an interactive version

As you exit Long Pond, it is a short run along a sandy path to Long Pond Rd, where you will turn right and follow the road until you reach an Buttry Way. Turn right (remember: follow the small pink markers) for a short downhill stretch along this sandy road, then left onto Way 626 (no sign, follow markers). As you approach a paved road do not enter that road; instead you will be turning right onto a narrow path. Follow the path to where it meets with Cahoon Hollow Rd., and turn right. You will run along the shoulder of Cahoon Hollow Rd. until you reach the almost-hidden southeast entrance to Great Pond. You will swim from this point to the orange buoy located on the southwest corner of the pond. Next, you have a challenging stair climb to the top of the kettle, where there will be an aid station and restroom facilities.

Important Note: this route may be altered due to potential erosion during 2023-24 winter storms. This map will be updated prior to June 1, 2024.

Run 3, Swim 3

Distances:  Run: 0.5 miles;  Swim: 240 yards

Click on the map for an interactive version

After climbing the multi-level wooden staircase to the pond’s parking area, you will run alongside the parking lot and leave via a dirt path at the northwest corner of the parking lot. Follow the jeep trail (Forest Rd.) to the entrance to Dyer Pond on your left. Your swim at Dyers will be about 1/6 of a mile, from north to south. There are no facilities at this pond. 

Run 4

Distance:  Run: 1.3 miles

Click on the map for an interactive version

Exiting Dyer Pond, you will follow the pink marker flags along a narrow footpath through the woods and onto a public easement following power lines. After a half-mile on the easement, you will turn left onto Long Pond Rd. where you will run along the shoulder to Lawrence Rd, where you will turn right and run up the hill to the finish line. There are no facilities available on this leg — except at the finish line.

Important Note: this route may be altered due to potential erosion during 2023-24 winter storms. This map will be updated prior to June 1, 2024.

Friends/Spectators:

We understand you may have friends and family who wish to watch your race. While we welcome their presence, please let them know beforehand that it may be difficult to see you on a course that largely follows footpaths, jeep trails and dirt roads. Also, no spectators are allowed on any dirt road in either Wellfleet or Truro!  These roads are incredibly rutted and narrow, and our athletes will be running on them. At many points it is impossible for a person on foot to get past a car on the dirt road. We hate to write it, but per orders of the rangers: any spectator who enters onto a dirt road near or on the run course or ponds is subject to their athlete being disqualified from the race. Please understand, this is a condition of our permits and we must adhere to it.

However, there are public parking lots for your spectators to visit, from where a short walk will allow them to watch: at Gull Pond (swim exit only), Long Pond (swim start only) and Great Pond (able to view both swim start and exit). Spectators should use paved roads only to access these points, and always proceed at 25 mph or less on these roads. Runners will be on some of these roads for short durations. This will be discussed further at the Athlete’s Meeting.

Also: your friend or family member or coach cannot run or swim with you along any of the trails or across any water crossings. This is also a condition of our permits and our insurance coverage. Violations are subject to disqualification.

A penalty! What, me?