Credit: Victoria Blanco
The spirit of the challenge is to complete the exact route under your own steam (cycling and swimming) in the shortest time you can. You will be responsible for sticking to the rules, the whole challenge is based on honesty and no-one will be checking.
1. #therouteistheroute. The swim entry and exit points are those described on the route page. Changing these would affect the length of a swim (which impacts the time). The cycle route is the only route. There is an option to complete the route in either direction. The original route is the anti-clockwise direction, following the traditional Fred Whitton route but a clockwise route is also possible (see biosecurity information).
2. A support vehicle is allowed and necessary. Your bike will need to be transported to the end of each swim and swim equipment may be carried in the vehicle during the cycles. Food, water and spares may also be carried in the vehicle.
3. No drafting in the water or on the bike. In the water it is a good idea to have boat or swimmer support, just make sure these remain next to you or behind. Other cyclists may offer moral support but again, these should be alongside or behind.
4. Swim aids that are performance enhancing (such as paddles or fins) should not be used. A wetsuit will be necessary for most people and multiple wetsuits should be used for biosecurity reasons.
Ben Dowman speaking at the Kendal Mountain Festival. Credit Victoria Blanco
Origins of the Frog Whitton
The Frog Whitton was created by Ben Dowman in 2019. Inspired by the Frog Graham Round (https://www.froggrahamround.co.uk/), the UKs ultimate swim-run challenge, based on the Bob Graham round, Ben began to wonder what the ultimate swim-cycle challenge would be.
The FRED Whitton (https://www.fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk/) is Britain’s premier cycle sportive and follows an iconic route around the Lake District covering 114 miles and over 3,800 metres of climbing. Every year over 2000 cyclists take part in the annual challenge which raises money for Macmillan Cancer Support, The Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team, the North West Air Ambulance and the Great North Air Ambulance. Having previously completed the Fred Whitton, Ben was inspired by this route and began to work on creating a swim-cycle challenge based on this.
