Jen Schnell is Super Stoked on Swimrun

Welcome to episode 346 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast! This week we welcome Jen Schnell, a Bay Area swimrunner and designer who came into the sport from eight years of competitive triathlon. Jen first heard about swimrun on the Rich Roll Podcast, carved out space to try it, and got hooked right away with a solo race at Folsom. From there she raced Whistler solo, found her first partner in Kayla Kobelin at Austin, and this year has raced her way into the Ötillö Elite Program through the wild card process, competing at Orcas Island, Engadin, and Casco Bay with a different partner at every start. We talk through how her coach restructured her training to add paddle strength and swim volume while pulling work out of her bike sessions, the mechanics of tethering and the swim slingshot move, and what she has learned about compatibility and shared goals from racing with a new partner each time out. Jen also shares what surprised her about the vibe at Engadin compared to racing in the States, including the staggered women's start and just how established the sport feels in Europe. Jen is sitting out Ötillö this year to focus on the Elite Series final in Cannes, with her sights already set on Worlds in 2027. We also catch up on our own final prep before Sweden, our fika meetup plans, and the limited edition stickers we will have on hand. Enjoy! That's it for this week's show. If you are enjoying the Löw Tide Böyz, be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player and leave us a five-star rating and review since that's the best way for people to discover the show and the sport of Swimrun. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and on YouTube. Check out our website for Swimrun resources including gear guides, tips, how-to videos and so much more. Also make sure to check out our meme page @thelowtideboyz on Instagram. If you have any suggestions for the show or questions for us, send us a dm or an email at [email protected]. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon...if you feel so inclined. Thanks for listening and see you out there! Chip and Chris