Swim the Loop
Swim the Loop is a swimming race on October 11, 2026 in Wilmington, NC, with entry fees from $50 to $85.
- Date
- October 11, 2026 (80 days to go)
- Location
- 1308 Airlie Road, Wilmington, NC
- Price
- $50–$85
- Sport
- Swimming
From the Organizer
Swim The Loop starts and finishes at the Dockside Restaurant, which is located on Airlie Road (Wilmington side of the Intracoastal Waterway). The race will start at a high tide to ensure an even, but challenging tide pattern throughout the 3.5-mile swim. Don’t be fooled though; there will be times of incoming tide, falling tide and some slack tide.
Mott’s Channel Sprint starts at the Trailborn Surf & Sound, located on Wrightsville Beach, and finishes across the intracoastal at the Dockside Restaurant on Airlie Road. The course is approximately 1.3 miles long and is a point-to-point swim. The race will start at a high tide to try and ensure a slight incoming to slack tide throughout the 1.3-mile swim.
Events
Weather
Typical Conditions
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
78°
Typical Low
58°
Chance of Rain
29%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Wilmington Intl Ap, 6 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Wilmington, NC
Population
118,578
as of 2023
City Elevation
38 ft
Nearest Airport
ILM
Wilmington International Airport · 5 mi
Major Hub
MYR
Myrtle Beach International Airport · 70 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
A mid-size host city. Enough lodging and amenities to keep race weekend easy, without big-city sprawl.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Swim the Loop, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
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From Endurance Grid
About This Sport
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it’s the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer’s event page.
Swimming events drop you into something that demands navigation, feel, and focus all at once. It's a sport that rewards the quietly competitive — the ones who do the work in the water before anyone's watching.
Open Water Swimming
Open water races take place in lakes, rivers, bays, and oceans. Distances can run anywhere from a short 500m swim to 10K marathon events. Just you and the water.
Coming Up
More Swimming races near Wilmington, NC
VBLA 2026 Ocean Swim Series Race 3: 5K or Mile
5K · 1500m · From $45 · 400 Atlantic Avenue
208 miles away
Take the Lake
5K · 10K · Under 25 mi · From $10 · Lake Waccamaw
41 miles away
White Lake Fall Swim Challenge
From $45 · The Grand Regal @ Goldsten's Beach
53 miles away
YMCA Pier-2-Pier Swim
2 mi · From $50 · Johnnie Mercers Pier
1 mile away
Plan your trip
Make it a Racecation
Coming from out of town? There's more to Wilmington than race day. We'll help you line up nearby lodging, flights, a rental car, and things to do so you can make the most of your racecation.
Plan your trip to WilmingtonFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Swim the Loop
Oct 11, 2026