BLUE SKY ENDURANCE FEST VIRTUAL RACE

Due to the uncertainty of racing in the near future and hanging together post race (the best part!), the Blue Sky Endurance Fest is going virtual from June 15th - July 15th, 2020.

How will this work?  You can complete your race distance in any pool or open water for the swim, and any road, trail or treadmill for the run.  However, your swim run distance must be completed back to back without any significant period of time between each swim and run leg.  (If you choose to complete your virtual race at Trophy Lakes, please abide by their rules.  Swimmers must pay Trophy Lakes a $5 fee and sign their swim waiver.  There are no lifeguards on duty.)

Please read the event details below.

Race Date: June 15, 2020 - July 15, 2020  The registration and swim/run can be done anytime during the competition period.

Race Location: Anywhere you like! 

Race Format: Swim, run, repeat (optional).  Skinny Dip:  Swim one-mile and directly follow it with a one mile run.  Racers doing the Double Dip will repeat this format twice (Swim-Run-Swim-Run) for a total of 2 miles of swimming and two miles of running.  Racers completing the Third Times a Charm will repeat this format three times (Swim-Run-Swim-Run-Swim-Run) for a total of three miles swimming and three miles running.  

Choose Your Race Option

Skinny Dip- (Swim-Run) Racers complete a 1 mile swim and directly follow the swim with a 1 mile run - for a total distance of 2 miles raced.

Double Dip- (Swim-Run-Swim-Run) Racers start with a 1 mile swim and directly follow the swim with a 1 mile run, directly following racers complete a second 1 mile swim and a second 1 mile run - for a total distance of 4 miles raced.

Third Times A Charm- (Swim-Run-Swim-Run-Swim-Run)  Racers start with a 1 mile swim and directly follow the swim with a 1 mile run.  Directly following racers complete a second 1 mile swim and a second 1 mile run and follow with a third 1 mile swim and follow with a third 1 mile run - for a total distance of 6 miles raced.  

MINI SKINNY DIP STUDENT RACER (AGE 7-15 only)
(Swim-Run) Racers complete a 200 yard swim and directly follow the swim with a 1 mile run - for a total distance of 1.2 miles raced

Rules  

Blue Sky Endurance Fest is a USA Triathlon sanctioned clinic.  We follow the standard rules of USA Triathlon.  All racers are required to have a current USA Triathlon Membership, or purchase a one day USA Triathlon Membership for race day use. 

Wetsuits and/or swim aids

We follow all rules of USA Triathlon.  Wetsuits will be legal in the event the water is 78 degrees or below.  Average water temps in South Carolina in June/July are well above 78 degree.  Wetsuits are optional in other parts of the country with cooler water temps.  Results will be based on an honor system if wetsuits or swim aids are used and you are qualifying for awards. Please be honest in uploading your results. The competition is meant to be a fun way to engage in open water swimming and running when most races aren't able to happen. 

All swimmers will certify if they swam in a pool or open water and with or without a wetsuit or not when uploading their results so that they are put into the correct division.

Record Your Race

Record the swim and the run using your garmin, smartwatch, Form goggles or other GPS-enabled device (or borrow a friend's).  Upload instructions will be sent to you before the virtual race begins.  

Award Categories

We will have separate awards for Pool and Open water racers and 1st, 2nd and 3rd place overall male and female for each race distance.

Make sure to complete your swim/run back to back and during the competition period. Once the competition completes we will announce the winners!

And don't forget to share your swim pictures on social media! #BlueSkyEnduranceFest

A portion of our proceeds will go to LAPS (Low Country Aquatic Program Swimming) which provides water safety and swimming instruction to kindergartners and first graders in Charleston County Title 1 schools. LAPS currently serves 14 schools and 1,400 children and has up to 20 CPR, First Aid, and Swim Lessons University certified instructors.

SAFETY

This is a virtual race. As such there isn't the support, volunteers and support systems that come with our organized open water swim/run. This means all swimmers must be responsible for their own safety.

Specifically, Blue Sky Endurance encourages swimmers to adhere to the following:

• Review the Blue Sky Endurance Fest Virtual Race Waiver.
• Always swim with a buddy or some sort of safety support (someone in a boat, a lifeguard on shore or at the pool, etc).
• Swim within your limits. Open water conditions vary widely, make sure you know the conditions you are swimming in and swim within your abilities when it comes to distance, temperature, waves and currents.
• Adhere to whatever local COVID-19 related social distancing rules that may be in place.
• We also strongly encourage swimmers to use a swim buoy for both visibility and safety purposes.