For more information, see Are You Crazy?
Time Limit: Swimmers who cannot complete one mile in open water in 35 minutes should NOT enter. Swimmers must reach mile 6 within 4 hours of the race start time and must complete the swim within 8 hours of the race start. Any swimmers on the course after these time limits may be stopped and listed as DNF in the results.
For more information, see Safety.
Current United States Masters Swimming rules apply. There will be a separate awards category for Category II swimwear, which includes wetsuits. Propulsive devices, such as fins & paddles, and flotation aids, such as pull-buoys, are not allowed.
Everybody’s food needs are different and you’re going to have to figure this out by trial and error. This involves your nutritional needs, how often you need to feed, and what your stomach can tolerate. What tastes fine in your kitchen may not go down or stay down as well when you’re in the middle of the river and swimming hard. Make sure you are working on this well in advance of the swim- race day is not a good time to find out that your food’s not right.
Packet pickup will take place the Saturday before the race from 2-4 pm at Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe (200 NE Tomahawk Island Dr.), and on race day from 5:30 – 6:30 AM at the race start.
Get to the race start?
The race start is at Sellwood Riverfront Park, right at the intersection of SE Oaks Park Way and SE Spokane St.
Get to the race finish?
You have a few options: Swim, catch a ride with your relay teammates, kayak for your relay teammates, etc. The race finish is at Cathedral Park, at the end of N. Philadelphia Ave. right under the St. Johns Bridge.
Get to the relay transfer points?
The first relay transfer point is at the OMSI Pier. OMSI’s address is 1945 SE Water Ave. Parking is available in the OMSI lot on the south end of the building. The lot will be marked with a Portland Bridge Swim flag. Relay teams will receive ONE PARKING PASS ONLY for free parking. Everybody else must pay for parking.
The second relay transfer point is on a lovely beach on Swan Island, near 4435 N. Channel Ave. The parking lot will be marked with a Portland Bridge Swim flag; after parking, head to the pedestrian path along the river and follow the signs.
Motel 6, 3104 SE Powell
River’s Edge Hotel & Spa, 0455 SW Hamilton Court
We eat and drink and do ridiculous things. We’ve got more craft breweries than we can even begin to count, fabulous food EVERYWHERE, great art, outdoor craft markets and farmers’ markets, concerts… If you’re coming to town and you need recommendations to explore, we’re happy to send you to some of our favorite places!