Thanks for sharing such a terrific story!

To "run" through the swamps, make like a frog and jump from firm ground to rock, to branch, to a bit of weeds indicating shallow water, etc. Two or three jumps, a spot of running along a branch and and a bit of rest in a hiding place keeps you ahead of anything but a wraith.

Navigating through the swamps turned into huge fun for me once I figured this out.