With both training and competing having been severely restricted this year athletes have had to look for different ways to maintain fitness and find a way to test themselves.  During lockdown many took advantage of Zwift and clocked up a lot of miles on their turbos as the virtual landscapes went by whilst others rose, or rather got on the floor, to take in the plank challenge set by Lorna Sloan.  As restrictions eased there was a return to open water swimming and the Booker Pond became a very popular destination.  To put that training to good use several members of the club decided to undertake a big challenge. A marathon swim is defined to be 10 km (6.2 miles) in length and with Loch Doon clocking in at approximately 11.25km (7 miles) it was ideal. Conditions on the day in late August meant the swimmers were working against a headwind and choppy conditions with the cold water making their effort doubly hard but with the help of a support crew both on the shore following them and kayak support for safety and much needed nutrition and fluids Chris Paterson, Stewart Baillie, Ian Mcalindon, Katherine Self, Roddy Dunn, Lorna Todd and Katrina Livingstone all swam the length of Loch Doon as accomplished marathon swimmers and even having a commemorative t-shirt.

Not content with doing it once Chris and Stewart returned two weeks later to do the swim all over again.