Frequently asked questions

- We recommend getting to the venue at least an hour before your specified Race Start Time. This is so you can register, collect your chip, warm up and prepare yourself for an amazing challenge. Please be aware that even though the session starts at a particular time, different participants will have different start times within that wave. Warm ups in the pool are not possible, however you can purchase a swim session at the LAC reception for their training pool, if you do want to warm up swimming or swim down.

1. Start times will be communicated a month out from the event. The start times for Marathon Swims are arranged based on your estimated completion time (entered at time of registration). It is important, for the enjoyment of all, to ensure that swimmers of similar speeds are placed in the same wave, as we know it can be frustrating if participants are continually overtaken or need to overtake. The start times of waves are set to enable a consistent flow of participants throughout the event. Start times on both event days vary between 8.30am and 6pm. The slower swimmers (regardless of distance) have earlier starts, the faster swimmers have later starts. There was an option for a limited number of people to select a start wave in registration (subject to availability). We operate individual starts - not all swimmers can start at exactly the same time. Participants for each start wave line up in race number order (lowest first) and begin their challenge when instructed to do so by the Race Team.

- There is limited car parking space at London Aquatics Centre and will be on a first come first served basis. Parking charges vary from around £2 to over £20 depending on length of stay. Buy your parking tickets inside the venue, as they may be cheaper. There is additional parking available at Westfield Stratford nearby. We recommend taking public transport, where possible. Parking on the day may be busier than normal due to West Ham playing at home at 3pm on the day of the event.

- Your Race Pack includes a wristband, race tattoos and any Marathon Swims merchandise you have purchased with your entry. You will also collect a timing chip specifically for you at registration.

- Yes you can but not in the Competition Pool or the diving pool. If you wish to warm up or swim down by swimming, please go to the main centre reception, where you will be able to purchase a session swim in the training pool. Please be aware that the Training pool is likely to be very busy between 11am and 3pm. There will be a charge payable to the centre for this. The Training pool closes at 7pm on a Saturday.

- Yes, participants have their own water table in the Transition area enabling you to take on your vital fluids and fuel as needed between each kilometre swum. We recommend you bring your own (distinctive - so they're easy for you to identify) water bottles with water/energy drinks that you usually use. Water to top up your water bottles will be available ​ - No energy bars or gels are provided. If participants wish to bring their own they are welcome to. It is recommended to attach any bars/gels to your water bottle. No boxes or items other than a water bottle and a few gels/bars are allowed on poolside.

- Front crawl and breaststroke are the only strokes permitted. You will be asked which stroke you are likely to use on registration. The waves you are allocated in may depend on the stroke that you select. Backstroke and butterfly not permitted.

- No, swimming aids (such as pull buoys, paddles, fins etc.) are not permitted You are allowed to wear underwater earphones, but the music needs to be set to a level where you can hear instructions of the marshals. No Buoyancy aides, such as wetsuits, buoyancy shorts etc are permitted.

- Yes, of course. Swimcaps are not provided as part of the event, so you are welcome to wear your own cap or none at all. Marathon Swims swim caps are available to buy online (via the registration system) and you can log back in to add additional items if you wish.

- Yes, a fantatsic medal - but only for those that successfully complete their challenge. Medals are only awarded to swimmers completing their chosen distance. No other medals are available, for instance, if a Marathon 10k swimmer completed only 5k, they will NOT receive a Half Marathon 5k medal.

Yes, there is a cut off time - all swimmers need to complete their swim by 20:30 at the very latest. There is flexibility in the cut off times with the earlier waves (slower swimmers), so please make sure you add in an accurate estimated swim time when you enter (estimated swim times can be amended post entry). The cut off times of 1 hour (1k Challenge), 2 hours 30 mins (Half Marathon 5k) and 4 hours 30 mins (Marathon 10k) only apply in the latter waves.

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- Yes, there are a limited number of Exclusive Poolside Access passes available to purchase on the registration system. These are allocated on a first come, first served basis. It is also free to spectate in the seats - please see our Spectators page (https://www.marathonswims.com/spectator-information)Free spectator passes will be available soon. Photography and filming of the event is permitted. Filming/photography in the changing village is not permitted .

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No buoyancy aids are permitted, this includes clothing.

Yes. The event is like a triathlon, where the longer you are in transition, the longer your overall recorded event time will be