The Hardest Race You've Never Heard Of! | ÖtillÖ Swimrun World Championships 2022

The ÖtillÖ Swimrun World Championships can be regarded as one of the hardest endurance events on the planet & this year we've sent Heather to take it on! With the help of pro Jenny Ramstedt could Heather finish it? Let's see! Is this race on your bucket list? 🤔
A massive THANK YOU to ÖtillÖ for having us, start your adventure here 👉 gtn.io/OtillO
Special thanks to Aaron Palaian for the thumbnail image, check out his work here 👉 gtn.io/-s
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[@gtn]

Is this race on your bucket list? 🤔

[@wowitsjames]

It is now!

[@BeeYksrr]

Qualifying for this is no joke these days. But this made me want to try. Amazing job Heather.

[@chaseanderson996]

How could it be if I've never heard of it as you claim?

[@andrewcampbell1231]

Now it is, yes.

[@seahog32]

Yes, as the very last item on my bucket list, just before I kick it.

Well done Heather for being so open to something new and doing it with a smile. An honor to have you and GTN take part in our event. We hope to see you in a World Series race soon.

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thank you guys for welcoming us and making it such a wonderful experience. It was a pleasure to share it with our viewers.

[@a.k.1351]

Bucket list ✅

[@vaalenzuelaf]

I'd love to be in the meeting where Heather suggests going to different kinds of events like a 10 hour swim/run and Mark counters by going to a 60 meter swim in the mud.

[@timetraveler_0]

Man, Jenny is hardcore. I almost teared up at the finish, is this GTN I'm watching?!

[@gtn]

Us too 🥲

[@heatherfell_oly]

Yes Jenny is awesome!

[@akermediapro]

SwimRun is the most demanding thing I've done in my sporting career, and I've only done two, one in Lanzarote and one in Vitoria (Basque Country), and these two together are not comparable to Ötilö! I know people who have done it is a real madness! Cold, long distance, running with all the equipment on you, swimming with all the equipment on you (and in very cold water). My utmost respect and admiration for each and every one of the participants.

[@Saitir942]

I'm sure I'll phrase this poorly, so try and see the intent here... I'd like to thank the team and Heather especially for all of these videos, not just for the inspiration, but for being willing to share the raw naked (down Mark...) vulnerability at the lower points of these races. It would be so easy to edit around them, put a narrative piece in that sort of mentions the challenge, but it just wouldn't be the same. There's a level of honesty here that's truly inspiring. It's all too easy to focus on the highs and emotions at the end of the day. Thank you and congratulations.

[@gtn]

Thanks for the kind comment,it means a lot to our team 🙌

[@davidmurray3685]

Wow!! I still can't get my head around how challenging this must have been... Just the idea of running in a wetsuit alone, let alone 65ks!! So impressive! 💪💪💪

[@jcoterhals]

Congratulations on a race well done, Heather. Also great to see you do a swimrun, as the sport doesn't get the exposure it deserves. Heather, I'd like to hear how you compare this race to Iron Man in terms of effort, etc. I'd also like to know how you found swimming with shoes. I imagine that would be a bit of a drag (pun intended).

[@rebeccahatten784]

I feel like I've never seen something be truly difficult for Heather! It was so relatable (especially for a very "middle pack" triathlete like me). I love the teamwork nature of this event and you can really see how much that made a difference. Well done Heather and Jenny!

[@amycbush]

My partner kept saying "Do you hear a drone? I swear I hear a drone.." So of course she sent me a link to this saying, "See! There we are! I told you I heard a drone!" Amazing day out there, congratulations to you both. I love hearing about it from other peoples' perspectives.

[@rogerc23]

Lol that’s hilarious.

[@RasmusLodenius]

Guess who flew it 🤭

[@amycbush]

@@RasmusLodenius Whaaaaat?! Why didn't you do a simulated swan dive-bomb on Trista?! That would have been AMAZING!

[@tristamennen]

@@RasmusLodenius sneaky sneaky

[@hyunnh]

This is why I love this channel, new adventures, great story telling and relatable positive vibes.

[@gtn]

Thanks so much! 🙌

[@kateshephard4920]

Well done Heather and Jenny. You had me tearing up at the end too. Two very inspirational women having a wonderful adventure together. Thank you for such brilliant content GTN

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thank you Kate, it was an emotional day!

[@FlorianGeffers]

Heather, since I was part of this race as well: you did an awesome job on ötillö worlds. The video is one of the best swimrun teasers I know so far. The mix of self cristiscm, fun on the race and good endurance work is superb. And your race results is amazing as well. I didn't expect you to get to the finish line so good. You didn't have any swimrun training before, amazing. I suppose not many other athletes could do the same. And best greetings to your camera friend (Quinn?) Flo

[@heatherfell_oly]

Hey Flo, it was great to meet you and see you enjoying it too!

[@angelag5708]

Amazing job Heather! You did such an great job. This race looks amazing and like all good GTN race challenge, was started by drunk people in a pub.

[@heatherfell_oly]

Ha yes very true. And thank you.

[@ingeross4384]

Thanks so much for this. New item for the bucket list. Looks incredible! Well done, Heather, jumping into this challenge! 👏

[@gtn]

Thanks - Glad to hear it's now on the bucket list! 🙌

[@csaba675]

This was amazing to watch! Became my favorite GTN video all time!! Well done ladies, well done GTN!

[@benlau91]

So amazing to see you guys covering swimrun, Jenny, Bartos and Lars you guys are amazing!

[@SBoots29]

WOW, JUST WOW. Way to go. To complete a race like this brings quite the emotion. The mental fitness to meet someone new and a new race shows a really strong person. Thank you for the video. A big shout out to the execution of videoing this as well. Beautiful.

[@tareknaly2311]

So much effort to create value to your content.. love it and appreciate it. Keep the hard work GTN.

[@esoteric404]

well it wasn't on my bucket list before, but it is now. i swim 1 mile 5 days a week and thought that was a lot but swimming 10km at one go AND running 60km. yeah i'm a long ways out from this. gotta say tho that Heather really is living her best life and i'm very jealous

[@gtn]

You have to do it 🙌

[@sandyzathletemom]

So good. Tears were flowing down my face when you crossed the finish line. Thank you for sharing this adventure!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Oh thanks Sandy, it was an emotional day for sure!

[@XMan-mi6gs]

Bucketlist? It looks incredible. Such a beautifull environment to race in. Maybe maybe. Great effort and lot’s of respect for you two. Very inspiring to watch!

[@jassaljs]

This was amazing! You both were just wonderful 🤗

[@andrewhawthorne688]

Fab video! Kudos to Heather for taking that one on with so little prep. Otillo is a completely crazy challenge but looks so beautiful in this video.

[@acausedelle1547]

And as the sun fades away and the race is over, a faint voice can be heard through the trees saying, "THEY DON'T KNOW ME, SON!"

[@nihanab]

How happy I was to find this long video on the channel. And it was great too. Heather at her best , lovely footage, fascinating event, well produced. Well done!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Aww thanks 😊

[@innesdunbar]

That looked a tough one Heather, well done getting all those different sections done and all with a new team mate as well! Fantastic.

[@MrTigerlilly68]

What an amazing race you guys did! Heather is really outstanding, talking running and filming at the same time 😀

[@lindelystables]

Heather you absolute beast, how on earth did you finish that and managed to put on a smile at the end? I'm so impressed I'm almost at loss for words, absolute world class fitness and endurance levels on display here.

[@simplydad2015]

Well done such an awesome race and effort. I love Heather, but her early morning race scenes are so funny 😂She is two different people

[@travisgraham2906]

Well done Heather! You handled this unfamiliar, and serious, challenge with such class. What a super cool sport! Thanks GTN for another epic race video.

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks Travis 🙂

[@ComposerJon]

This is a brutal event, so amazed at the strength displayed by you both.

[@trplpltr8804]

Well done!! Great race and great experience!!! You are a machine!!💪😎🎉🎊

[@nikolast9663]

Loved the video. Great to learn more about ÖtillÖ!

[@kathrynhilder9609]

That was incredible! Loved it! Well done Heather and Jenny!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks Kathryn 🙂

[@WayneWBishop]

Wow, what a incredible journey! I’ve been watching you (Heather) on this channel for years and this about the happiest I’ve ever seen you. Looks like you’re on to a good thing!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Oh thanks Wayne, it was certainly an emotional journey!

[@baardhermansen6261]

Now that's impressive! Bravo and congrats Heather :)

[@alansmith2593]

Wow amazing achievement on a hard amazing race Awesome video thank you :)

[@georgierolttucker3650]

This is brilliant!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@ltendler3]

That was great to watch. Very inspiring too! Thanks

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks

[@AaronGoodTimes]

What an incredible experience! Great video and effort!

[@gtn]

Thanks so much!

[@avawhelan5982]

brilliant video. I really enjoyed it thank you. congratulations Heather absolutely amazing

[@creativechimp03]

Heather this was an awesome episode! Not an easy challenge, add to the mix you are doing it with someone you have just met. The GTN content is awesome and I don't even do tri stuff but I still love it, came here from GMBN 😂

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks Samuel, I was lucky to have Jenny to guide me / put up with me!

[@SendingStache]

missed this video and am coming to it a bit after you released it - just want to say hats off to heather for always trying new things with such a great attitude and full gusto! very impressive!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks Karan 🙂

[@clairhardywynn5620]

Omg how amazing - just awe inspiring, I don’t mind admitting I teared up at the end - what a journey for both of you - just brilliant 🫶💖

[@heatherfell_oly]

Oh I gather you weren't alone, it was an emotional day for sure!

[@zoebackhouse4554]

What a great video!! Well done Heather..A trooper as always.

[@lifeisabeautifulride]

Wow!! Heather, you did amazing!! What a wonderful experience! Congratulations on such great achievement! Very inspirational! 💖

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks Mara

[@elliegrimes7712]

Great video,I fell in love with swimrun last year when I did one in wales with my friend. We had an amazing time, but I also couldn’t cope with paddles and I ditched the pull buoy completely as my wetsuit has so much buoyancy compared to my swimming one it gave me a banana back!

[@georgeredbranch652]

Beautifully done ladies, you are both so humble. This is the first l've heard of this sport, and it looks awesome.

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks George 😊

[@darianbroadhead2863]

If you listen to the Rich Roll Podcast you hear about this race all the time. Looks amazing!

[@hefferonjoe]

Damn, i would have been crying too. Incredible race - well done

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks Joe 😊

[@juliandivett4244]

Amazing achievement well done. I did a long distance swim-run a few years back and it was obvious that this is a real team event. Massive ups and downs emotionally. Never felt so drained at the end. Maybe smaller paddles to start with😉

[@jennycampbellritchie4705]

Great work, well done Heather. I have done a few UK based swimruns now and love them! Looking to get to Ötillö Engadin next year. Could you answer (or maybe it's a Jenny or #gtncoachescorner 😉) a question about longer distance runs keeping your wetsuit fully on. Unzipping of course helps keep you cool and gives your ribs more room to breath, but I'm always interested to see who strips their wetsuit down to the waist for runs longer than 5k for example. Terrain and temperature are factors of course, but interesting to see in the video no-one had. Thanks!

[@mike_ro]

Oh, yes. I'm preparing an athlete for this race. Iron people, these swimraners

[@atlosass]

Wow, truly inspirational! Amazing!! ❤

[@gtn]

Thanks - glad you enjoyed it 🙌

[@hielkevh]

This was a great video. The music going so well with emotion

[@gtn]

Right! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

[@nastinbox]

You are incredible, girls 🤩! Well done!!! It looks so inspiring! I am taking part in Otillo swimrun in Malta this November (my first time ever swimrun). Thanks for sharing 👍, it looks really challenging and fun!

[@gtn]

Awesome! Good luck and let us know how it goes 🙌

[@heatherfell_oly]

Good luck, and enjoy!

[@nastinbox]

Thank you 💛

[@mathewemden2068]

Wow, that is amazing! Well done, Heather.

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks Mathew

[@GrooveyBobby]

That was so awesome to watch loved every moment 💜💛💕

[@gtn]

Thanks so much 🙌

[@Kid_ofthefuture]

Congratulation Heather, wow very interesting challenge ! I might do it one day ! Thanks for the Video.

[@gtn]

You should!

[@rmjames83]

Maybe new friends for life?🤔what a beautiful place, & such a challenging race!!! Well done ladies!!!🙌

[@heatherfell_oly]

Totally!

[@darrenleslie266]

Great stuff Heather, that was outstanding. I did Breca Wanaka (New Zealand) short course in 2017, and that was hard enough. But it was great fun too, the off road run trails, the point to point nature, the camaraderie between my and my team-mate and between all the pairs. I hope the event gets resurrected again now Covid is disappearing.

[@heatherfell_oly]

Oh I bet that was a stunning race too!

[@spooner8267]

Very cool and well done!

[@DanielFarrell]

That looks so fun, what a great sport and place.

[@triroo107]

What an amazing race….. its all about the journey… to share it is amazing, My wife & I did a 24 hour three mountain run in Japan a few years ago. after finishing she completely understands the draw of going long and pushing your mind & body to the limits… so much fun to guide her and see her overcome everything…. This something I need to do.. 👍💪🙏🥂

[@gtn]

Awesome 🙌

[@GuidoHaverkort]

Cool concept with the teams

[@DanTheCaptain]

I’ve only just heard of this new sport. I’ve never even done a triathlon, but I’m thinking of doing a sprint this summer. I’m currently training for my first running race in about 3-4 weeks. I guess now I have a to try a SwimRun too! The idea of running around in a wetsuit, pull buoy, and paddles, and then swimming with shoes on is pretty wild.

[@relaxedtriathlon7095]

Who would have seen it coming that doing something markeable together might be so much more intensive than a one person on it‘s own show 😬 it‘s really an inspiration for me to carry on my plans trying more or better different things than just triathlon - thank you!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Yes I was very lucky to have Jenny to share that experience with.

[@jkso6343]

Heather is an absolute beast and such an inspiration!!!!

[@savagepro9060]

First Kona, now Ötillö! You can bet all it took was for drunk men to make a bet at who is bet-TER! It's so sobering to know the world's best sport started under the influence!

[@2009pepepanama]

That was gnarly coach Heather!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Ha it was a bit 😄

[@muddytweed]

I’m not a runner and this looks brutal, but I love the clips where people are smiling nevertheless. Please keep bringing us these great stories!

[@michaelchiller2494]

You are all amazing. What an effort. Well done.

[@gtn]

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the video 🙌

[@stuartwalker6786]

What a brilliant Barking event!!

[@doernerrr]

Wow, what a race. Well done.

[@relaxedtriathlon7095]

What I woul love to see is often something like a „beginners tip“. I mean that event, the landscapes, the adventure trails…awesome. But tgat race seems to be some kind of the equivalent to the norseman triathlon. I‘d love to end those inspiring Videos with a top 3 Bucket List for your first swim/run in europe e.g.

[@heatherfell_oly]

The events are usually shorter and not quite so challenging, not sure where you are based but other brands in Europe run these events too.

[@garybc]

Oh wow! Massive congrats Heather and Jenny. Can’t imagine swimming with shoes on. 😳

[@RRP3168]

Congrats Heather! You are awesome! Well done!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks 😊

[@jayhoughton4174]

Ahh lots of memories here, we got married on Üto 17 years ago, we still go back there loads, and we have just done the vatternrundan, a 315km cycle race around lake Vättern, which would be no trouble for you guys 😀👍

[@meaganwalsh1]

Amazing Heather! Congratulations

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks Meagan 🙂

[@Arrow352]

Amazing job Heather and Jenny!

[@gtn]

Thanks 🙌

[@tomasvalve930]

Beautiful

[@djjazzydean]

Hats off Heather and GTN for getting this race in the bag!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks!

[@laura-liisjuursalu4438]

Wow, truly admirable!

[@gtn]

Thanks! 🙌

[@jobanski]

Heather’s doing all of the cool races! James and mark need to step it up!

[@gtn]

We're always looking for new exciting challenges, do let us know your ideas 🙌

[@qasiatv2180]

Tbh most people in triathlon know Otillo, well done to the beautiful Heather😍🥰

[@LgunturS]

What a race!

[@gtn]

Right!

[@leeomurchu1213]

Have to agree with Heather there it looks like a stunning place for a run or a swim but both together and carrying all that kit seems a bit much. I'd crack up with it all hanging off of me. Well done to both Heather and Jenny certainly an experience.

[@shaner3723]

great video

[@barryedwards1905]

amazing congrats

[@neliawellness5262]

Well done

[@yanart.9187]

Nice 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@leioakes3791]

👋Wow! Congratulations to all who entered this incredible hard race!!

[@jascollinscork]

Good lord this is Nuts 🤯 but kudos to everyone who took part!!! Including you Heather 👏🏻👏🏻 but did you draw the short straw or the men wimped out 🤔😂

[@gtn]

Thanks for the kind comments! As for the boys, we'll be finding them a new challenge, any ideas? 🤔

[@jascollinscork]

@@gtn Awh Heather you made me 🥲 at the end for your achievement at the end too 👏🏻👏🏻 ya I’ll 🕵️‍♂️ a event

[@heatherfell_oly]

@@jascollinscork Aww, it was an emotional one!

[@DB-sm2do]

@@gtn challenge for next year... surf life saving, start getting ready for next year's champs???

[@kalifinch8376]

yo this race would actually be amazing to do in xc spikes. not too little support but light for the swim

[@yakiengel7489]

Was that a flying Pterosaur at 15:55? It appears they are still thriving in Sweden…

[@wingwalker007]

I tried the Jersey Breca swimrun… the only race that’s defeated me to date

[@gtn]

Tough! Will you be going back?

[@wingwalker007]

@@gtn maybe… it’s a partner race, I was really disappointed to let down my mate that did it with me, I’m not sure I want to go through that again if it doesn’t go well.

[@lachlanmcdermid8539]

Have you tried any adventure races? Would be awesome to see you guys take on a 24 or 48hr adventure race!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Oh I'd love to try one!

[@raymondbrown866]

As a triathlete I hate cycling! This is everything I've ever wanted in an endurance race

[@gtn]

Will you be signing up to a swim-run event then? 🙌

[@savagepro9060]

0:00 Hey! Hey! I know that girl. I do! Ttttthat's HEATHER!