SWIMMERS: Order fulfillments and other emails are currently being sent out to registrants, so please add our address (racedirector@theportlandmile.com) to your contacts. We wouldn’t want you to miss important communications!!!
Begin your open-water adventure
A one-mile race is a great way to introduce your mind and body to open-water swimming competition. No intimidation, just awesome experience.
Enjoy the beauty of our downtown
Few cities in the world have a downtown river that’s swimmable, so take this opportunity to dive into the Willamette River and see our city from a completely new vantage point.
GET YOUR OPEN-WATER MILE TIME
Planning to do some open-water swims and/or triathlons this summer? We scheduled this race early in the summer to give you a baseline mile and competitive practice for your upcoming events.
Essential Details about the Race
Swim tow floats are mandatory to ensure safety and visibility for all swimmers. If you’re not wearing a swim tow float, you will not be allowed to race. No exceptions. We hope to have some for sale at the event, but availability is not guaranteed. If you need to buy one, here’s an example.
Swim caps are mandatory to ensure swimmer visibility and to track race numbers (we will write your swim number on your cap). If you’re not wearing your assigned swim cap at the race start, you will not be allowed to race. No exceptions. If you have a latex allergy or other issue, please note that under “Allergies” on the registration form when you sign up for the swim online.
Timer chips are mandatory to track your start/finish times, and you will be assigned one with your swimmer number. After the swim, you must return your timer chip when you retrieve your gear bag.
The swim race cut-off time is 45 minutes sharp, and we will begin pulling swimmers who are farthest from the start first. Your pool swim will need to be 40 minutes or less to qualify for the swim.
We will require that swimmers without cold water experience wear a wetsuit if the water temperature is at or below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and we will recommend that swimmers wear a wetsuit if the water temperature is at or below 72 degrees Fahrenheit. We offer no separate swimwear category for wetsuits, and we will publish the results based solely on swim durations. If you select “Non-Wetsuit” on the registration form, you will be asked to provide proof of your cold water experience.
Swimmers will enter the river one at a time in single file, not in a mass start. The timer begins and ends when you cross the Timer Line, which will be clearly marked.
Plan to wear sandals or flip-flops down the river embankment because the terrain is a little rough.
Bring a gear bag with your Swim Number Tag attached. You will leave the bag at the Gear Drop/Pick-up Table prior to starting the race. You will then use the swim number on your swim cap and timer chip for retrieval after the race.
More details here.