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Gallery: Bellingham SwimRun competitors take over Lake Padden

June 9, 2024 6:00 pm

Sprint course racers of the ninth annual Bellingham SwimRun event take off from the starting line Sunday, June 9 at Lake Padden. Race director Brent Molsberry said he tweaked the courses this year for better flow. — Sprint course racers of the ninth annual Bellingham SwimRun event take off from the starting line Sunday, June 9 at Lake Padden. Race director Brent Molsberry said he tweaked the courses this year for better flow. (Eli Voorhies/Cascadia Daily News)

Two racers transition from water to land, buckling their floats and hand paddles to their backs. — Two racers transition from water to land, buckling their floats and hand paddles to their backs. (Eli Voorhies/Cascadia Daily News)

Chris Douglas, right, and Chipper Nicodemus of the team and podcast Low Tide Boyz cross the finish line first in the long course event, which consists of 7 miles of running and 2 miles of swimming. The duo have competed in 14 swim-run events together. — Chris Douglas, right, and Chipper Nicodemus of the team and podcast Low Tide Boyz cross the finish line first in the long course event, which consists of 7 miles of running and 2 miles of swimming. The duo have competed in 14 swim-run events together. (Eli Voorhies/Cascadia Daily News)

Kat Klass grins as she approaches the finish line, making her the first female finisher and third overall in the long course. Klass had competed once before in a duo and found that racing solo this time felt more like a personal challenge. — Kat Klass grins as she approaches the finish line, making her the first female finisher and third overall in the long course. Klass had competed once before in a duo and found that racing solo this time felt more like a personal challenge. (Eli Voorhies/Cascadia Daily News)

Two participants wish each other luck before the sprint course. — Two participants wish each other luck before the sprint course. (Eli Voorhies/Cascadia Daily News)

Michael Machala crosses the finish line second in the long course. Machela found competing solo was "meditative." — Michael Machala crosses the finish line second in the long course. Machela found competing solo was "meditative." (Eli Voorhies/Cascadia Daily News)

A father and son duo surge forward with the son leading the way. — A father and son duo surge forward with the son leading the way. (Eli Voorhies/Cascadia Daily News)

Competitors congratulate each other and relax on the shores of Lake Padden after finishing the race. — Competitors congratulate each other and relax on the shores of Lake Padden after finishing the race. (Eli Voorhies/Cascadia Daily News)

A racer collects his breath after competing. — A racer collects his breath after competing. (Eli Voorhies/Cascadia Daily News)

A map of the long course. The yellow lines indicate crossing routes for the swim sections. — A map of the long course. The yellow lines indicate crossing routes for the swim sections. (Eli Voorhies/Cascadia Daily News)

A swimmer emerges from the water. — A swimmer emerges from the water. (Eli Voorhies/Cascadia Daily News)

The Low Tide Boyz push through the final swimming leg. — The Low Tide Boyz push through the final swimming leg. (Eli Voorhies/Cascadia Daily News)

The ninth annual Bellingham SwimRun brought laughs and celebrations as participants conquered a demanding mix of swimming and running around Lake Padden on Sunday, June 9.

The event was broken up into two different courses. At 9 a.m., the long-course competitors
ran 7 miles and swam 2 miles. The leaders of the pack finished in about two hours. The sprint course was 2.5 miles of running and three-fourths of a mile swimming. Participants could either compete solo or roped to a partner.

The event is still developing as the first official competition occurred in the early 2000s.