Sri Chinmoy Marathon-Schwimmen 26km

The approach to Rapperswil by train reveals the lake in its full, elongated glory, a blue corridor sliced through the Swiss landscape. As you arrive at the station, the sight of the water stretching towards the distant city skyline sets the tone for a long, meditative day in the water. This 26km marathon swim, organized by the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team since its inception, is a demanding point-to-point journey that requires participants to manage their own support boat, a logistical necessity that ensures safety across the entire span of the basin.

The water and the path

Beneath you, the lake bed is a deep scar carved by the Rhine-Linth glacier some 20,000 years ago. This glacial history has left a basin of remarkable depth and purity, with water quality consistently high enough to drink. As you push off from Rapperswil, you are swimming between two distinct worlds: the eastern shore, known as the 'Goldcoast' for its sun-drenched slopes, and the western 'Pfnüselküste', which earns its name—the Sniffle Coast—from the cold mountain shadows that settle there during the winter months. While you navigate the middle of the lake, the 870-meter Uetliberg dominates the horizon, serving as a constant, looming landmark that guides you toward the city of Zurich.

Historical echoes in the landscape

Mid-way through the marathon, the shoreline tells stories of older, slower transit. Near Herrliberg, you pass the area known as 'Steinrad', where a historical treadmill-operated lifting device once hoisted heavy stones onto 'Ledi' ships for transport. Further along, the 'Sust' building in Horgen stands as a quiet witness to the days when muleteers moved goods across the alpine passes, storing their cargo in these warehouses before final distribution. These landmarks aren't just scenery; they are the markers of a 26km progress that eventually leads to the finish at Tiefenbrunnen. For those seeking a shorter experience in the same basin, the annual Seeüberquerung provides a different pacing, though it lacks the sheer distance of this marathon. Water temperatures in late summer are typically pleasant, though the starting point in Rapperswil is often a degree cooler than the finish in Zurich, a nuance to keep in mind as you settle into your rhythm.