Race Shape › Races › aQuellé Midmar Mile
Swimming · Midmar Dam, KwaZulu-NatalaQuellé Midmar Mile training plan
The aQuellé Midmar Mile is 1.6 km in Midmar Dam, KwaZulu-Natal, next held on 13 February 2027. An 11-week block for it starts on Monday 30 November 2026, and at 1 050 m the race-day paces have to come down for anybody who trains at the coast. Race-day targets below come from the same engine that writes the plan.
Build my own Midmar Mile plan — freeThe date, distance and altitude are filled in for you. See the whole block free before you unlock it.
The race
| Distance | 1.6 km |
|---|---|
| Where | Midmar Dam, KwaZulu-Natal |
| Altitude | 1 050 m |
| Next edition | Saturday, 13 February 2027 (expected — not yet confirmed with the organiser) |
The largest open-water swim in the world. 1.6 km, at altitude.
Not yet confirmed by the organiser, so it is shown as expected rather than fact. Last checked 2026-09-11. Check the official entry page before booking anything.
Your calendar to race day
An 11-week block, laid out against the 13 February 2027 race date:
| Block starts | Monday 30 November 2026 — week 1 |
|---|---|
| Harder sessions arrive | Monday 30 November 2026 — week 1 |
| Peak weeks begin | Monday 25 January 2027 — week 9 |
| Race day | Saturday, 13 February 2027 |
Volume rises no more than 10% a week and every fourth week is lighter. The full week-by-week table for this distance is on the 8-week open water mile plan page.
Race-day targets
| The race | 5:11/km for the first third, then hold or lift Even pace beats a fast start on every course ever measured. If you feel comfortable at halfway you have got it right, and you have permission to spend what is left. |
|---|
Worked out for a club athlete running about 40 km a week, 10 km in 50:00. Yours come from your own time trial.
Predict your Midmar Mile time
Filled in with an example. Type your own numbers and it recalculates.
| Zone | Pace | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery | 2:18/100 m | Easy enough to think about your stroke rather than your lungs. |
| Endurance | 2:13/100 m | Steady. You could keep going for a long time. |
| CSS | 2:08/100 m | Threshold. Hard but repeatable across a whole set. |
| VO₂max | 2:05/100 m | Faster than threshold, in short reps with real rest. |
| Speed | 2:02/100 m | Short and quick. Technique first, effort second. |
Common questions
When should I start training for the Midmar Mile?
For an 11-week block, on Monday 30 November 2026. Starting later still works — the plan shortens the base phase to fit — but inside about six weeks the block stops being able to add fitness and becomes about arriving healthy.
Does altitude matter at the Midmar Mile?
Yes. At 1 050 m the plan slows race pace by about 3.7% for an athlete who trains at the coast. Somebody who trains in Johannesburg is already adapted and needs a much smaller adjustment.
What should I know about the Midmar Mile?
The largest open-water swim in the world. 1.6 km, at altitude.