FAQ

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FAQ

Seeding Events 2025/6

Can I enter more than one swim during the weekend?

Yes you can. Please follow all instructions on the entry site. When you register for your first swim at Registration on Race Weekend, you will be issued with a Timing Chip and a Body Marking Number. You will be required to re-register for every swim that you have entered and will be issued with a fresh Timing Chip but will retain the first Body Marking Number you were issued.

I’m a 45 year old male and would like to swim with my daughter in the 13/under 1.2km swim. Is this possible?

Yes it is. All the 1.2km Events are Age-Group and Gender specific for prizegiving reasons but anyone may enter those events if the need arises. Please note however, that if you outside of the age/gender category for an event that you are swimming, you will not be eligible for any position/prize in your own age/gender category. Eligibility at Prizegiving is based on having swum the event within your own age/gender category.

I see there are minimum ages for some distances –please explain why this is?

Swimming South Africa (with whom we partner for our Seeding Swims) have a minimum age of 14yrs for both the 5km and 10km distances, and a minimum age of 12yrs for the 3km distance. This is entirely for safety reasons. We do recognize that some swimmers younger than 14 or 12 are capable of safely and confidently completing the distances and it is at the Race Director’s discretion as to whether those swimmers may be allowed to enter those distances. If this applies to your swimmer, please send a mail to: seeding@midmarmile.com with details and we will respond accordingly.

Why are there cut off times for the 10km, 5km and 3kmdistances?

The cut off times are in place for safety reasons but it will be at the discretion of the Water Safety Officer and the Race Director as to whether a swimmer is to be taken out of the water at any point. It is largely dependent on conditions and circumstances at the time.

How will I know the route I am to swim when in the water?

Before the start line, you will be verbally briefed on the course, conditions and any other points to be aware of. It is vital that you are in place in the holding area, ready to swim around 10 minutes before the start time. The Start, Course markers and Finish buoys are easy to see, and our safety team on the water will also ensure that swimmers stay on course.

May I wear a wetsuit for my swim?

Yes you may wear one if required. Bear in mind that wearing
of a wetsuit for your event will mean you forfeit any position or prize within
your age group/race category.

 Will there be Swim Safe Floatation Devices available to use?

Swimmers in the 10km, 5km and 3km events will be loaned a swim cap with their Body Marking printed on it. They are required to wear it for the entire swim and it is to be handed back in with the Timing Chips at the Finish - even if you are swimming an additional event on Sunday.
Swimmers in all other events must bring and wear their own Swim Cap but are asked to make it as bright as possible for safety reasons.

Is there a Tog Bag service if I don’t have someone to look after my belongings?

We will have a desk in the Registration Area for bag drop and pick up for those who need to use the service. You will be asked to complete a luggage label with your Body Marking Number and to tie to your bag. It will be kept safely for you at no charge and you may collect it at the end of your swim.

What will I get at the Finish of the Seeding Swim?

Every finisher will receive an official Seeding Swim Finishers Medal and either a bottle of aQuellé water or a bottle of aQuellé Viv.

How will I know what cap colour I am in at Midmar Mile once I have my result from my Seeding Swim?

Seeding at Midmar Mile is primarily done for safety reasons in order to keep swimmers together who would likely complete the distance in roughly the same time, as well as even out the numbers in the starting batches. The seeding batches are calculated using the entire entry field from the fastest to slowest seeding times. This being the case, means that seeding from one event to another in Race Weekend at Midmar Mile will vary (ie a swimmer could be in a yellow cap in an event on Saturday but in a blue cap in an event on Sunday).
Generally speaking, by gaining a Seeding time at any of our events a swimmer is likely to be in an orange, blue or yellow cap at Midmar Mile but for the reasons above, it is not possible to commit as to which one until the final seeding is done around one week before Midmar Mile.

What are the contact details for Seeding Events?

Email : seeding@midmarmile.com

WhatsApp: 082 759 4410

Midmar Mile Weekend 2026

SAFETY

CAN I USE A FLOATATION DEVICE DURING MY SWIM?

The only device permitted is a safety swim buoy that is attached to your torso and
floats behind you while you are swimming. There are many different brands of
this product on the market. Alternatively you can use one the official event
swim safe buoys which is picked up as you enter the starting pens and returned
shortly after crossing the finish line.

Note that no kick boards or any other kind of floatation device is permitted.

CAN I WEAR PADDLES ON MY HANDS OR FINS ON MY FEET DURING MY SWIM?

No you may not. For safety reasons no equipment may be used during your swim, apart from the permitted safety swim buoys that are available to purchase from various outlets or available to borrow for the duration of your swim.

HOW LONG HAVE I GOT TO FINISH MY SWIM?

In all events on Race Weekend, there is a cut off time in place at the halfway mark (800m). Swimmers not yet at the halfway point by that time may be taken out of the water for safety purposes. Cut off times are taken from when the final batch for the event leaves the start line and are as follows: Event 1: 45 mins | Events 2-8: 35 mins

Swimmers are taken out of the water at the Water Safety Officer’s and his team’s discretion and will depend on the circumstances and conditions at the time.

All swimmers taken out of the water at this point will be transported by boat to Munro Bay for a medical check

WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET INTO DIFFICULTY DURING MY SWIM?

Our Water Safety team is in place to ensure every swimmer is safely monitored throughout the distance. A dedicated team of over 120 lifeguards line the route on a network of boats, jetskis and rescue boards and are able not just to respond quickly to any incident but also to ensure swimmers feel safe and secure while participating.

Alongside the lifeguards, SA Navy, SAPS Diving Unit, NSRI, SARZA and ER24 are on the water to patrol and respond as appropriate.

Swimmers are asked to make arrangements in advance regarding special medical or health requirements while taking part in the event.

TEAMS

ARE TEAMS THE SAME AS BULK OR GROUP ENTRIES?

Teams are only for Events 2-4 on Saturday of Race Weekend and are between 3-5 members (Event 2) or 2-5 members (Events 3 & 4). A Bulk or Group Entry is designed for an organisation that purchases 20 or more entries. A Team entry is not a Bulk or Group Entry but Team entries may form part of one.

HOW DO TEAM EVENTS WORK?

Team Events take place on Saturday of Race Weekend: Family Teams / Company Teams / Non-Company Teams. Please click here for the full terms and conditions regarding the Team Events.

DOES EVERY TEAM MEMBER HAVE TO SWIM 1 MILE?

Yes they do. The team result is drawn from the top three finish times of the team therefore at least three of the team members must have completed the full distance.

DO ALL TEAM MEMBERS HAVE TO SWIM TOGETHER?

At point of entry, Teams are given the option to be seeded together in the same starting batch (therefore same colour swim cap) or to be seeded individually – potentially in different starting batches. The team result is calculated using the fastest three finish times from the team so we would recommend that the more competitive teams looking for a podium finish opt to be seeded individually.

SEEDING & START BATCHES

HOW DOES SEEDING FOR MIDMAR MILE WORK?

Swimmers are seeded according to both the fastest entry time into that event and the total number of swimmers entered into that same race. A swimmers’ allocated starting batch could vary depending on the event itself (ie a swimmer could be in the BLUE starting batch in Event 3 but in the YELLOW starting batch in Event 5).

HOW DO THE FIVE START BATCHES WORK?

Events 2-8 have five start batches that are in place for Water Safety Purposes. They ensure, to the best of the event’s ability, that athletes likely to swim at a similar pace are alongside one another. Starting batches also aim to spread the entire entry field as evenly as possible.

Each batch is led into the water before the gun sounds for their swim to begin. Each batch leaves 3 minutes after the one before.

CAN I CHANGE FROM ONE START BATCH TO ANOTHER?

For safety reasons, swimmers are asked to remain in the batch they are allocated. Swimmers wishing to move batch may only move to a batch behind them and not ahead.

BULK/GROUP ENTRIES

HOW DO I ENTER MY LARGE SCHOOL GROUP OR COMPANY GROUP OF SWIMMERS?

The Bulk Entry facility is in place for organisations that need to enter 20 or more swimmers across all 8 events during Race Weekend. The swimmers do not all have to enter the same event as each other.
If you would like to purchase a Bulk Entry, then please contact one of the following people directly for assistance:
Mary Martens (aQuelle Midmar Mile Race Office) | mary@midmarmile.com | WhatsApp 082 758 4410

Throughout the entry process, we will assist with changes and additions to your entries, invoicing and payments to ensure Registration is smooth for your swimmers on Race Weekend.

REGISTRATION

I PRE-ENTERED SO CAN I PICK UP MY RACE PACK BEFORE RACE WEEKEND?

All Pre-Entry race packs are collected at the Pre-Entries counters at Registration on Race Weekend, around 1 to 1.5 hours before your race start time. No race packs are given out in the days prior to Race Weekend, nor are race packs for Sunday handed to swimmers on Saturday.

CAN I DO A LATE ENTRY ON RACE WEEKEND?

Late entries will be available for all events (as long as there is space available) at a cost of R600 per entry. The Race Committee may close an Event ahead of Race Weekend if each of the five start batches have reached capacity. This will be communicated across our normal platforms should the situation arise.
There will be no late entries taken on Race Weekend for the Comrades Biathlon, Dusi Biathlon or Ironman/woman categories in Event 1. These categories are only available during the online pre-entry period.

WHAT AM I GIVEN AT REGISTRATION?

Every swimmer is allocated a Race Pack that contains a timing chip on a strip of strong Velcro, as well as a barcoded tag with a safety pin. Each swimmer will also receive a swim cap that is the same colour as the start batch they have been allocated.


The Timing Chip
must be worn on the ankle with the number on the chip facing outwards. NO TIMING CHIP at the start will mean NO SWIM PERMITTED.


The Barcoded Tag is a back up measure for timing (and finish position in Events 5-8) and is pinned to the inside of your swimming costume.


The Swim Cap is the official cap of the aQuelle Midmar Mile and must be worn. No other swim cap is permitted.

I WOULD LIKE TO SWIM IN AN EVENT ON SUNDAY THAT IS NOT MY CATEGORY? MAY I STILL SWIM IT AND WILL I GET AN OFFICIAL RESULT?

Events 5-8 on Sunday of Race Weekend Age-Group and Gender specific for prizegiving reasons but anyone may enter those events if the need arises. Please note however, that if you outside of the age/gender category for an event that you are swimming, you will not be eligible for any position/prize in your own age/gender category. Eligibility at Prizegiving is based on having swum the event within your own age/gender category.

Any swimmer who is 71/over wanting to be in the category medals must compete on the Sunday. Event 1 is for 71/over participants to have an extra 15 minutes to complete the event. Category medals are awarded only from Sunday’s races.

THE SWIM

I WOULD LIKE TO SWIM IN AN EVENT ON SUNDAY THAT IS NOT MY CATEGORY? MAY I STILL SWIM IT AND WILL I GET AN OFFICIAL RESULT?

Events 5-8 on Sunday of Race Weekend Age-Group and Gender specific for prizegiving reasons but anyone may enter those events if the need arises. Please note however, that if you outside of the age/gender category for an event that you are swimming, you will not be eligible for any position/prize in your own age/gender category. Eligibility at Prizegiving is based on having swum the event within your own age/gender category.

HOW LONG IS THE MIDMAR MILE AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER DISTANCES I CAN SWIM?

Every Event over Race Weekend is a full mile swim which is approximately 1.6km. We do not host any other distances over Midmar Mile weekend, only at our Seeding Swim weekends.

MAY I WEAR A WETSUIT FOR MY SWIM?

Yes you may wear one if required. Bear in mind that wearing of a wetsuit for your event will mean you forfeit any position or prize within your age group/race category.

WHERE CAN I LEAVE MY BELONGINGS WHILE I AM SWIMMING?

Whatever items you are not able to leave in a locked vehicle, please put in a bag and make use of the Tog Bag Service that will be in place on Race Weekend. You can hand your bag to the designated team near the Registration Tent at the Start, and they will transport it to the Finish for you to collect.

Get in touch

Midmar Mile Event Weekend

reply@midmarmile.com | WhatsApp: +27827584410 | Office: 0861MIDMAR

Location: Midmar Dam, Howick, 3290, South Africa

Seeding Events

seeding@midmarmile.com I WhatsApp: 082 759 4410