Backwaterman

Schloss Waldreichs serves as a race hub that makes you check whether you packed goggles or a sword. Backwaterman combines open-water swimming and SwimRun through Ottenstein’s reservoir country, featuring fjord-like lakes, dense woods, castles, ruins, and rocky ravines that give it a distinct medieval atmosphere. It feels less like a standard start-line shuffle and more like sneaking a workout through a place where nature and history meet. On the SwimRun course, you alternate between trail running and swimming, passing through the grounds of Schloss Waldreichs and out toward the Lichtenfels ruins and rock formations. Beginners, families, and seasoned racers all participate, but the quirks are what stick: swim caps near medieval castles, running shoes going straight into the reservoir, panoramas from the high points, and an exclusive knight ceremony waiting in the castle setting.