Open Water Swim Challenge & Aquathlon 2027
- Date
- Sunday, July 11, 2027
- Start time
- 7:00 AM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Cedar Hill, Texas
- Entry fee
- From $40 · goes up to $50 on Jan 1, 2027
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details
Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Aquathlon | AquathlonSwim 1,500 m · Run 6.2 miOpen water swim | Jul 11, 20277:00 AM | $50$60 after Jan 1, 2027 | – |
| Olympic Aquathlon Relay | AquathlonSwim 1,500 m · Run 6.2 miRelay or teamOpen water swim | Jul 11, 20277:00 AM | $65$80 after Jan 1, 2027 | – |
| Open Water Swim 1500M | 1 Mile | Jul 11, 20277:00 AM | $35$45 after Jan 1, 2027 | – |
| Open Water Swim 2.4 Mile | Other | Jul 11, 20277:00 AM | $45$55 after Jan 1, 2027 | – |
| Open Water Swim 750M | Other | Jul 11, 20277:00 AM | $35$45 after Jan 1, 2027 | – |
| Sprint Aquathlon | AquathlonSwim 750 m · Run 3.1 miOpen water swim | Jul 11, 20277:00 AM | $40$50 after Jan 1, 2027 | – |
| Sprint Aquathlon Relay | AquathlonSwim 750 m · Run 3.1 miRelay or teamOpen water swim | Jul 11, 20277:00 AM | $55$70 after Jan 1, 2027 | – |
| USMS Wave 1500m Swim - $20 discount when USMS# entered | 1 Mile | Jul 11, 20277:00 AM | $55$65 after Jan 1, 2027 | – |
| USMS Wave 2.4M Swim - $20 discount when USMS# entered | Other | Jul 11, 20277:00 AM | $65$75 after Jan 1, 2027 | – |
| USMS Wave 750m Swim - $20 discount when USMS# entered | Other | Jul 11, 20277:00 AM | $55$65 after Jan 1, 2027 | – |
| Adaptive 1500M Swim | 1 Mile | Jul 11, 20277:30 AM | $30$45 after Jan 1, 2027 | – |
| Adaptive Athlete Open Water Swim 2.4 Mile | Other | Jul 11, 20277:30 AM | $30$45 after Jan 1, 2027 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The Aquathlon fee goes up to $50 on Jan 1, 2027.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Olympic Aquathlon: $50 until Jan 1, then $60 until May 15, then $70 until Jul 5, then $80 until Jul 11.
- Olympic Aquathlon Relay: $65 until Jan 1, then $80 until May 15, then $90 until Jul 5, then $100 until Jul 11.
- Open Water Swim 1500M and Open Water Swim 750M: $35 until Jan 1, then $45 until May 15, then $55 until Jul 5, then $60 until Jul 11.
- Open Water Swim 2.4 Mile: $45 until Jan 1, then $55 until May 15, then $65 until Jul 5, then $70 until Jul 11.
Online registration closes Jul 11, 2027, unless the race fills first.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:28 AM, and the Olympic Aquathlon starts at 7:00 AM. The start sits about 770 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Cedar Hill State Park, South Boat Ramp, Cedar Hill, TX 75104
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2026 results
All results (2 years)Sprint Aquathlon
Open Water Swim 2.4 Mile
Olympic Aquathlon
Aggregated from official results (RunFAR Racing Services, Inc.) for Open Water Swim Challenge & Aquathlon. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Open Water Swim Challenge & Aquathlon?
At the 2026 Sprint Aquathlon, the fastest tenth finished in 42:54 or better, the top quarter in 46:42, and half the field in 50:19; the last tenth came in after 1:10:58.
At the 2026 Open Water Swim 2.4 Mile, the fastest tenth finished in 1:19:24 or better, the top quarter in 1:24:19, and half the field in 1:33:58; the last tenth came in after 2:01:57.
At the 2026 Olympic Aquathlon, the fastest tenth finished in 1:20:11 or better, the top quarter in 1:28:30, and half the field in 1:43:57; the last tenth came in after 2:16:01.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 30-39 | n/a | 57:40 |
| 40-49 | n/a | 48:12 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2026.
Swim and run splits at Open Water Swim Challenge & Aquathlon
| Leg | Top 10% | Top 25% | Median | Slowest 25% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swim | 14:13 | 17:11 | 19:32 | 21:49+ |
| T1 | 0:53 | 1:22 | 1:39 | 2:42+ |
Each column ranks finishers on that leg alone, from the race's published results. T1 and T2 are transitions.
At the 2026 Olympic Aquathlon, the run decided the most: the middle of the field lost about 12:07 to the top quarter there, 53% of the gap across the legs.
| Leg | Top 10% | Top 25% | Median | Slowest 25% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swim | 27:12 | 31:19 | 38:27 | 44:02+ |
| T1 | 1:27 | 1:52 | 2:21 | 3:27+ |
| Run | 48:52 | 52:35 | 1:01:30 | 1:15:25+ |
Each column ranks finishers on that leg alone, from the race's published results. T1 and T2 are transitions.
Finishers by year
Up 6 percent since 2025.
All events combined, from official results.
Open Water Swim Challenge & Aquathlon Aquathlon year by year
From 2025 to 2026, the field went from 43 to 39 finishers, and the median time dropped from 52:49 to 50:19.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 39 (-9%) | 50:19 | under 42:54 | 39:08 |
| 2025 | 43 | 52:49 | under 44:24 | 39:06 |
From each year's official results for the Aquathlon; virtual options are left out.
Typical race-day weather
Around July 11 the day usually runs from 77°F at dawn to 95°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 28% of days. Cold snaps dip to 73°F and hot years reach 102°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- Cedar Hill State Park, South Boat Ramp, Cedar Hill, TX 75104Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 770 feet
- Included with entry
- Towel
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- Aquathlon, 1 Mile, Other
- Editions
- 2027 (Jul 11, 2027), 2026 (Jul 12, 2026), 2025 (Jul 13, 2025), 2024 (Jul 14, 2024), 2023 (Jul 30, 2023), 2022 (Jul 24, 2022)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Quick answers
- When is Open Water Swim Challenge & Aquathlon?
- Sunday, July 11, 2027, starting at 7:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $40 before processing fees, and rises to $50 on Jan 1, 2027.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Jul 11, 2027, unless the race fills first.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances are offered?
- Aquathlon, 1 Mile, Other.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2026, 39 athletes finished the Sprint Aquathlon; the median finish was 50:19 and the winner finished in 39:08.
- Where does it start?
- Cedar Hill State Park, South Boat Ramp, Cedar Hill, TX 75104.
From the organizers
Swim or Swim + Run!
From a short course swim/run to an iron distance swim - the Open Water Swim Challenge & Aquathlon has something for everyone!