SWIMRUN CAMP DETAILS
3 Days. All Levels. One Goal: Race-Ready
Sharpen your swimrun skills with focused coaching, purposeful sessions and a supportive community, all set in the endurance mecca of Austin, Texas.
This three-day intensive camp, at Pace Bend Park, is designed to prepare athletes for the upcoming ÖTILLÖ season.
Whether you're aiming to be prepared as possible for ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship or just stepping into swimrun for the first time, this camp is for you!
WHY THIS CAMP
Train With Intention. Race With Confidence.
This is a skills-driven swimrun camp, not just a volume weekend. The focus is on efficient movement, confident transitions, and smart race-day decision-making.
Over three focused days, you’ll work on:
- Swimming and running as one discipline
- Clean, efficient transitions
- Smart pacing and energy management
- Practical skills you can immediately apply to your next race
- All lodging and meals are included
WHAT TO EXPECT
Swimrun-Specific Training
(Not Just Swim + Run)
- Swim Technique for Swimrun - Focus on open-water efficiency, sighting, body position, and swimming in gear.
- Run Mechanics & Terrain Adaptation - Learn how to run efficiently after swimming and across varied surfaces.
- Transitions & Flow - Get smoother, faster and calmer between swim and run segments.
- Swimrun Sessions - Real swimrun workouts that blend disciplines the way races demand.
- Education Sessions - Gear choices, nutrition, race strategy and training structure.
AT A GLANCE
Day 1 - Foundations
- Camp overview and intros
- Technique-focused swim and run sessions
- Gear and nutrition discussions
Day 2 - Integration
- Longer swimrun sessions
- Efficiency, pacing and energy management
- Transition fundamentals
- Applied skills and group discussions
Day 3 - Execution
- Guided race simulation with individualized coaching
- Strategy and decision-making
- Camp wrap-up and next steps
(Exact schedule shared after registration)
INCLUDED
- 3 days of coached Swimrun sessions
- Technique-focused swim and run instruction
- Transition and race skills coaching
- Educational discussions
- Small group environment
- Professional guidance throughout
- Lodging (optional) and meals Included
- Positive and energetic Camp Atmosphere
LOCATION
- Camp Location: Pace Bend Park - home of the ÖTILLÖ Austin Swimrun race
- Setting: On the shores of Lake Travis, 35 miles west of Austin in the beautiful Texas Hill Country
- Lodging: Stay at the Highland Lakes Conference Center, just minutes from the course
- Training Access: Pace Bend trails and swim locations are steps from your room
- Real-World Prep: Train directly on sections of the actual ÖTILLÖ Austin race course
The Team
Trista Mennen
Camp Director
Trista has been involved in swimrun since 2018, both as an athlete and as a key contributor to the growth of the sport in the United States. In addition to racing extensively across the U.S., she has competed at ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship and has helped direct swimrun races domestically. Trista has also served as the lead organizer for three swimrun camps in the U.S., playing a central role in delivering structured, high-quality camp experiences for athletes nationwide.
As the camp’s lead organizer, Trista oversees logistics, athlete support, and all the behind-the-scenes details that allow the camp to run seamlessly. Her deep understanding of swimrun, strong attention to detail, and genuine care for athletes ensure participants can focus fully on training and learning. Trista’s work doesn’t just make the camp possible, it ensures the experience is organized, welcoming, and athlete-centered from start to finish.
Marcus Barton
Head Swimrun Coach
Marcus is one of the most experienced swimrun athletes and coaches in North America. He raced his first swimrun in 2015. Since then, he has competed in over 60 swimrun races worldwide, including multiple ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Championships, and currently holds the top American team record at Worlds (with Kawika Tarayao) of 8:39. He brings a deep background in endurance sports spanning swimrun, trail running, ultrarunning, and adventure racing.
In addition to racing, Marcus coaches swimrun athletes individually and in groups, guiding athletes from their first swimrun through top international events like ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship. He’s a familiar face at U.S. ÖTILLÖ races, where he regularly leads pre-race clinics.
At camp, Marcus focuses on helping athletes become better swimrunners, not just better swimmers or runners. His coaching emphasizes efficient swimrun-specific movement, smooth transitions, smart gear use, and long-day execution. Known for his approachable, down-to-earth style, Marcus helps athletes of all levels gain confidence, refine skills, and leave camp with clear takeaways they can immediately apply to training and racing.
He has helped organize and coach swimrun camps in the US and Sweden for the past three years.
Gemma Hollis
Swim Coach
Gemma is a highly experienced swim coach, swim technique specialist, and founder of Push Glide Kick, where she helps swimmers and multisport athletes improve their swimming through focused stroke mechanics and personalized training. Her coaching centers on developing efficient, powerful technique that builds speed and confidence in both the pool and open water.
With a background in structured swim coaching and a passion for endurance sports, Gemma works with athletes ranging from adult triathletes to competitive open-water swimmers. She uses video analysis and hands-on feedback to refine form and connect swim technique directly to overall race performance.
As Head Swim Coach at camp, Gemma leads all swim sessions, breaking down stroke mechanics and skill development so athletes not only swim faster, but swim smarter. Her coaching style is clear, supportive, and individualized, helping athletes of all levels make meaningful improvements they can carry into training and racing.
Swimrunners love having Gemma on deck because she is encouraging, patient, and deeply invested in each athlete’s progress. She ensures every athlete leaves camp with greater swim confidence, a stronger understanding of their technique, and practical tools they can apply long after camp ends.
Lars Finanger
Swimrun Coach
Lars is a long-time endurance athlete, swimrun pioneer, and an influential figure in growing the sport of swimrun in the United States. Lars’s athletic journey began early as he competed in his first triathlon while still in middle school and went on to race in elite and age-group triathlon events.
In 2014, he traveled to Sweden and ended up racing ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship on a late-notice entry, a race that ignited his passion and commitment to swimrun as both athlete and organizer.
In addition to his race experience, Lars serves as Race Director for ÖTILLÖ Swimrun USA, working to grow the world series and bring high-quality swimrun races to North America.
Lars brings a unique blend of endurance sport experience, swimrun insight, and practical race knowledge to the camp environment. With a background in triathlon and years of hands-on involvement in swimrun as both an athlete and event leader, Lars understands what it takes to perform efficiently across swim, run, and transitions, especially when conditions get challenging.
