Lorn’s Swim and Run Challenge

In 2024 I’ve booked myself in to do three swim events and a run event from August through to October - a good swim run challenge for me to complete. 

I’m raising money for the Moira Fund - a charity that supports people who have found themselves bereaved through violent death at the hands of another, and in memory of Moira Jones who had her life tragically cut short in Queens Park Glasgow, in 2008 (when she was just 40 / 4 years younger than I am now). 

The events I’ve entered are:

17 Aug: Loch Tay - 1,500m swim - done!

31 Aug: Loch Lomond - 5,000m swim - done!

14 Sep: Loch Morlich - 3,000m swim - done!

6 Oct: Glasgow Half Marathon Run - 21.1km - done! 1:51!

27 Oct: Moira Jones 5k, Queens Park - done - 27 mins 

10 Nov: Jimmy Irvine 10k, Bellahouston - 10km

(That’s just over 44.5km for anyone counting, and it should take me over 6 hours in total in the events - with many more hours of training).

The charity always struck a chord with me as I use the park regularly and her death seemed so needless and shocking at the time. I run through or around the park often and I’m keen to raise funds in her name and for people who are supported by the charity.

The run swim challenge will most definitely be a challenge for me as I’ll need to balance swim training for three different distances as well as building up my long runs to half marathon distance over three months. Wish me luck! 

That’s me done two of my runs… with just one left… I’ve done the Glasgow Half Marathon at the start of October (1:51) and I did the Moira 5km on 27 October (27 mins).  I’m so grateful for everyone who has sponsored me - we’re getting close to £1,000 raised.  Thank you everyone. Next event is the Jimmy Irvine / Bellahouston 10km on 10th November. I plan to hopefully not beast it and enjoy the run instead.  

On 14th September I swam in the Loch Morlich Go Swim 3km and got 3rd female vet (again).  I’ve taken a couple of weeks off work, and had a bit of an easier time off training… but I’m back to it now… with the Glasgow Half Marathon coming up on the 6th October. This is the first of my three run events after I’ve done my three swim events. Wish me luck for Sunday! I will need it. Thanks for all the donations so far. 

I’m not sure if this picture will go on the right way up! But anyway - that’s me completed my second event - the Go Swim 5km swim in Loch Lomond! 🏊‍♀️ I finished 3rd veteran 🥉 female once again, about a minute faster than I swam the same distance last year. ✅ (although this years course may have been a bit short… I’ll take it and I was glad to finish!)  It was perfect conditions - the sun was a bit bright coming back one way, but you could put up with it. Next event is in 2 weeks - 3km swim at Loch Morlich.  Thanks for all the donations so far! 

That’s the first of my three swim events completed - 1,500m in Loch Tay. It was a little bit choppy, but I managed it in 31:37 (one second behind my good friend Katie!) 🏊‍♀️ 🏊‍♀️ I felt nice and calm for this one, and was fuelled by breakfast and a double espresso! 

 It was a good day out, including two laps of a 750m course and I ended up doing just over 1,550m all together.  Fish and Chips for after was well appreciated by me.  Thanks for all the donations so far. 

My next event is in 2 weeks - Loch Lomond 5km swim.  Let’s hope for a nice calm day. ✅ 

That’s me at the end of one of my longest runs for a while - 15km before work on a Wednesday! I ran nice and steady and enjoyed my music, through Pollok Park, Maxwell Park and Festival Park on the Southside of Glasgow. I’m going to aim to do my long runs mid week, although my legs were a little tired after strength on Monday. I’ll likely have a rest day tomorrow then swim on Friday and Saturday, run on Sunday again. 

My training was going oh so well, running and swimming and I enjoyed a swim trek holiday at the end of June.  Then I got covid! And took about a week to recover! Now I’ll get back into my training for the six events.