The Huntington Mile: Open Water Swim Series & Race

The Huntington Mile
Open Water Swim Series & Race

USMS-Sanctioned (pending)

📍 Lake Clare | Huntington, Indiana
1005 N Broadway Ave. (Fire Station side of lake)

 
EVENT OVERVIEW

The Huntington Mile is a one-mile and two-mile USMS-sanctioned open water swim race held at Lake Clare, a 65+ acre recreational lake in Huntington, Indiana. This event is designed for experienced open water swimmers and is presented and organized by L4L Community Studios, a volunteer-operated 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

The Huntington Mile Open Water Swim Series & Race serves as a fundraiser for L4L Aquatics programming and helps bring awareness to open water swimming, water safety, and community-based endurance sport. Throughout the season and on race day, swimmers are supported by the L4L Aquatics Safety Team both on land and in the water.

 
HOST & AFFILIATION

Join USMS Swim Club L4L Aquatics (L4LA) and our host organization, L4L Community Studios, for the 2026 Huntington Mile Open Water Swim Series & Race at Lake Clare.

2026 Race Date:

🗓 Sunday, September 13, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM Start

 🌊 SUMMER SUNDAYS — OPEN WATER PRACTICES

In addition to race day, the L4L Aquatics Team returns for its 7th season offering weekly open water swim practices at Lake Clare.

#SummerSundays2026
🗓 May 17 – September 27, 2026
⏰ Sundays | 1:00–3:00 PM

Summer Sundays provide a 300–500 yard triangular open water practice course and serve as race-course familiarization for Huntington Mile participants. These sessions are ideal for experienced swimmers and those looking to safely explore open water swimming in a supported environment.

Eligibility:
Experienced swimmers 14 years and older (Youth Race Division will be added by May 17th)

Pricing & Registration

• Season Pass available at a discounted rate
• Early Bird pricing through May 18

Suggested Daily Donation:

• $10 USMS / USAT / USA / YMCA youth swim club members
  (Discount codes: USMS2026, USAT2026, USA2026, YMCA2026)
• $20 non-members

Season Pass Benefit (New for 2026!)
Registration for The Huntington Mile race is INCLUDED with purchase of the Summer Sundays Season Pass.

Season Pass holders receive:

• Unlimited access to #SummerSundays2026 open water practices
• Complimentary race registration for The Huntington Mile (one distance)
• Priority course familiarity and safety briefings throughout the season

👉 Season Pass: Summer Sundays - purchase pass by clicking on the "Season Pass: Summer Sundays" button on this page. Once you have purchased the season pass, you will be emailed a code to use for the Summer Sundays you wish to sign up for. 
👉 Individual Sunday / Daily Practice Registration (this will take you to L4L Community Studios website sign up link for individual Summer Sundays OWS Practices)

👉 It is ABSOLUTELY necessary for all swimmers to sign up when planning to attend Sunday practice. The L4L Aquatics Safety Team takes this very seriously. Ratios of swimmers to safety members are crucial to ensuring everyone's enjoyment and safety. In addition to ratios, weather plays a very big part in how many safety members, size of course, and communications are needed. Please help the L4L Aquatics Safety Team by signing up for the Sundays you are attending. Although walks in are welcomed, sign ups take priority in the determining who is in or on the water. 

👉Private Practice Registration

 
ABOUT THE VENUE — LAKE CLARE

Lake Clare is a 65+ acre natural recreational area located on Huntington Township’s west line. The property offers year-round outdoor amenities including hiking trails, pavilions, fitness park, playground, picnic areas, fishing waters, and kayak/SUP rentals.

Lake Clare is also historically significant as the home training waters of legendary coach Glen Hummer, Olympians, USAT professional triathletes, and Masters endurance swimmers. The venue provides exceptional spectator viewing from shoreline vantage points above the swim course.

 
RACE DISTANCES
(USMS Sanctioning ID: PENDING)

September 13, 2026

• Two-Mile Open Water Swim
• Huntington Mile (Olympic Mile)

*All races begin and finish on the beach using a running beach start and finish.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Courses are configured as out-and-back triangular loops, marked with:

• Large yellow corner buoys
• Orange sighting buoys
• Distance-specific buoy colors and cap colors

 

REGISTRATION & PACKET PICKUP

Race Day Packet Pickup:
🕖 7:00–7:45 AM

Race Day In-Person Registration:
🕡 6:45–7:45 AM

Please bring:

• Photo ID
• USMS License (if applicable)
• USMS One-Event (OEVT): Available race day if applicable
• 2026 OEVT Fee: $20
• USA Membership Card
• USA One-Event (OEVT): Available race day if applicable
• 2026 OEVT Fee: PENDING

Accepted Payments:
Cash, check, credit/debit (3% processing fee)

Alternate payment methods (CashApp, Venmo, cryptocurrency):
📧 graystongrace@gmail.com

 
ENTRY FEES

Entry fees support:

• Safety & rescue operations (lifeguards, watercraft, EMTs)
• Course equipment & buoys
• USMS/USA Swimming sanctioning & insurance
• Officials & referees
• Swim caps, awards, timing, and select pre/post-race food & drink
• T-shirts are optional and not guaranteed after August 31, 2026.

Pricing:

Two-Mile Swim

$40 until May 18
$45 until September 6
$55 race week

Huntington Mile

$35 until May 18
$40 until September 6
$50 race week

👉 Register Now (button at the top of the page)

 
TIMING & NUMBERING

• Chip timing provided when participation exceeds 20 swimmers (RaceMaker Productions)
• Under 20 swimmers: hand timing
• Timing chips provided in race packets
• Mandatory body marking and provided swim cap must be worn

 

SAFETY & CUT-OFFS

Safety support includes professional emergency services and trained volunteers on:

• Kayaks
• Paddleboards
• John Boats

*Swimmers must attend the mandatory safety briefing prior to racing.

⏱ 2-Mile Cut-Off:
Swimmers unable to complete the course in 2 hours 30 minutes will be listed as DNF. Those swimmers are encouraged to participate in shorter distances or train with L4L Aquatics Summer Sundays.

 
RULES & EQUIPMENT

• Governed by 2026 USMS Open Water & Long Distance Rules
• Swim caps and body numbers are mandatory
• Wetsuits permitted per USMS/USA Swimming temperature guidelines
  📎 Full USMS Rules: www.usms.org
• Rules will be reviewed at the pre-race meeting.

 
CHECK-IN & PRE-RACE MEETING

• Check-in required 45 minutes before race start
• Mandatory pre-race briefing 30 minutes before first start
• Failure to attend may result in disqualification

 
REFUND POLICY

There are no refunds or deferrals for this event.
In the event of cancellation, shortened race, or inclement weather, no refunds will be issued.

 

RESULTS & AWARDS

• Results posted on this website and on-site
• Awards for Top 3 Male & Female in each distance and age division
• No relays

 
FACILITIES & AMENITIES

• Restrooms on site
• Concession stand open 8:00–11:30 AM
• Limited water available on course — plan accordingly
• Spectator-friendly shoreline viewing
   

FOR NON-SWIMMERS & FAMILIES

Lake Clare offers activities on both land and water. Browse the L4L Journey Event Schedule (link coming soon) for family-friendly programming.

Bring a chair, pack a snack, and enjoy one of Huntington’s most beautiful natural spaces.