Three Rivers Marathon Swim

Team Forever will host the 11th Annual Three Rivers Marathon Swim (#3RMS) on Saturday, August 24, 2024. This unique 30K open water swimming event benefits Team Forever, which donates the 3RMS profit to the Forever Fund. The fund benefits local families in need of help to cover the costs associated with infant cardiothoracic surgery at the UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Learn More about the history of Team Forever, and the Forever Fund. To make a donation directly, please visit the following: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/team-forever-foundation

We launch at 7:00AM with powered escorts, kayaking teams and all crew from Kayak Pittsburgh North Shore, (Kayak Pittsburgh – Venture Outdoors) and head over to “the Point” (Point State Park) where swimmers will begin with a water start from the Point State Park Fountain.

• Swimmers will be fed from a designated kayak. Additional supplies (water/supplements) will be on the second kayak. Should it be required, additional water will be available aboard one of our powered escort boats which will patrol the course during the entire swim.
• Swimmers will have two kayak volunteers to flank them at all times, with information provided in advance to communicate. Swimmers can bring their own kayakers/kayaks with them. Part of the entrance fee goes to cover the kayaks from Kayak Pittsburgh North Shore who have been kind enough to allow us a 50% discount.

Swimmers will swim north, current assist, along 5K of the Ohio River where they will turn around at Brunot Island, and swim 5K, against the current, back to the city. Once the swimmers hit the Point State Park 10K mark, they will begin swimming against the current to the half-way point (15K) on the Monongahela River, for the Hot Metal Bridge turnaround point Swimmers will return to the starting point once again for the 20K mark. Swimmers will make the turn around the Point, and head out against the tide of 5K of the Allegheny River to the 40th Street Bridge, and head back (current assist) the final 5K to the Point (along the city-side of the Allegheny) the original starting point, for a buoy finish. Swimmers will exit the water via a powered escort, and return to the Kayak Pittsburgh North Shore location.

Distance: Roughly 30K – 3 X 10K, out-and-back, in each of the three rivers; (1) Ohio, (2) Monongahela and (3) Allegheny

Format: 2 kayakers/swimmer, powered escort boats and Pittsburgh River Rescue/Pittsburgh Police/Coast Guard in support

Water Temperature: Average +/-72F

Water Conditions: Usually calm during first 10K (Ohio River), boat traffic and potential headwinds churn up the Monongahela and the Allegheny Rivers. Overall, current is minimal. Keep in touch with local river conditions (Allegheny River Conditions)

**Time Cutoff** Strict 12-hours cut-off. 4-hour 10K pace. I believe safety is the most important aspect of any marathon swim. Twilight will begin to set in after the 12-hour mark. It can potentially be a very busy Allegheny River, and I want my swimmers to be visible.

3RMS Swimming Attire: Marathon Swimming Costume

This marathon swimming event will not only give hope and encouragement, but will provide the opportunity for families to remain together during the biggest challenges of their lives. Can you handle swimming 30K through the Ohio, Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers?

Darren E. Miller, Race Director