Mike Lynch organised this but was crooked and could not run for this annual trip around the Pentland reservoirs.
Based on the half marathon route, but cutting several corners, the route swims across the widths of Torduff, Clubiedean, Harlaw, Threipmuir, Loganlea, Glencorse and Bonaly reservoirs with short runs of up to 4km between them. The total route is about 19km with 1300-1600m of swimming. It took us up to 3.5hrs with some of the group faster.
There are a few variants of the route now with more swimming – like doing lengths of the reservoirs (5km swim, 16km run, 4hrs) or a much more challenging route swimming the circumference or the 7 reservoirs, recently completed by Rob EJ and Rebecca Gentek (14km swim, 21km run, 9hrs 30mins). We are yet to do hill between each swim….
It was a cracking night with great weather and calm flat, 18c water. I think we had 8 people, Rob took the photos but broke his camera sadly, Jasmin and Ellie joined us for four swims, we met the local farmer near Harlaw…oops, Neil Burnett and Rebecca swam extra distances while us slower runners caught up, Barra swam 4 widths totalling 500m and surprising swimmers as he swam past them, Sandra and I ticked Torduff again at the end by moonlight and had chips in Oxgangs to warm up.
A great way to run, or swim, or both. If you do this as an organised event it will cost you about £300. It is free with Carnethy.
Mark Hartree