V&A Waterfront abuzz as athletes line-up to take part in Torpedo Swimrun festival

Battery Park at the Cape Town V&A Waterfront has been abuzz with excitement as athletes young and old lined-up to take part in the first urban race of the Torpedo Swimrun festival.

It is a combination of swimming and running with no transitions, meaning the athletes run in their wetsuits and swim with their shoes on.

Swimrun Co-founder Martin Mc Martin says the short 1000 meter course tested the endurance of the participants.

“We’ve launched a series of races across South Africa. The first race was in Cape Town. That’s across the six famous beaches of Cape Town. That’s Sandy Bay, Llundudno, Oudekral, Bakoven and Cliffton and we have other races that we’ve launched – the Wilderness in Joburg, and today, we welcome this Battery Park in Cape Town Waterfront.”

During the first part of the morning, athletes set off individually with the aim to set their best time and come top 16 in their age category, starting at age 12 to 79. At the end of the knockout rounds, there was one winner in each category. But for many of the competitors it’s all about participating.

Judging from the number of participants, the Torpedo race is set to become a highlight on the Swimrun calendar.