The Midmar Mile

Description:

The Midmar Mile is held annually at the Midmar Dam north of Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu Natal.

The Midmar Mile is the world's largest open water swimming event.

Many international competitors enter each year, from serious international athletes and Olympic medallists to recreational swimmers.

The name “Midmar Mile” is derived from its location where it is held, the Midmar Dam and the distance is approximately one mile.

A unique feature of the race is that while the distance covered is always a mile, depending on rainfall and the water levels in the dam, the distance swum varies from year to year. In years with poor rainfall, competitors are subject to the infamous Midmar sprint start: a bedlam of bodies sprinting across the muddy lake-shore and through the shallows until the water is deep enough to swim.

In order to handle the vast number of competitors, the swimmers swim out in several groups at two-minute intervals in 8 batches over two days; the group division is based on a qualifying time in a previous event, with the fastest group leaving first.

Event : The Midmar Mile

Venue : Pietermaritzburg

Date : Saturday, 13 February 2010 to Sunday, 14 February 2010

Commence : 08h00

Category : Sporting Events