Swim the Suck takes place on Sat, Oct 3, 2026 in Chattanooga, United States. The main route is 16.1 km.
- Date
- Sat, Oct 3, 2026
- Start
- Chattanooga 🇺🇸
- Distance
- 16.1 km
- Level
- Open to all
Swim the Suck is a 10-mile open water swim through the scenic Tennessee River Gorge in Chattanooga, TN.
Official event pageWhat this race demands
Swim the Suck demands sustained aerobic capacity and mental resilience to complete a continuous 16.1 km open water swim.
Aerobic endurance
Covering 16.1 km in open water requires a highly developed aerobic engine and the ability to maintain an efficient stroke rate over several hours.
Sighting and navigation
Navigating a long river gorge course demands consistent open water sighting skills to maintain an efficient line between landmarks.
Temperature management
An October swim in the Tennessee River requires proper physiological preparation for open water temperatures and potential thermal regulation challenges over a long duration.
Athletes should plan to ingest 60 to 90 grams of carbohydrates per hour through liquid or gel feeds managed from support watercraft during the swim.
Your road to race day
Race day at Swim the Suck is 6 weeks away. This is how a coach divides that time. The first phase starts now.
01Peak3 weeks · Aug 23, 2026 – Sep 12, 2026
The hardest weeks of the plan: race-specific intensity at nearly full training load, sharpening exactly what this race asks for.
02Taper2 weeks · Sep 13, 2026 – Sep 26, 2026
Volume drops while intensity stays: short, sharp efforts keep the legs awake as fatigue drains away.
03Race week1 week · Sep 27, 2026 – Oct 3, 2026
Openers, rest and logistics. The work is done; the job now is arriving fresh.
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