Morag Hughes’ Marathon Swim Story
In this episode of marathon swim stories we had a delightful conversation with an ice and marathon swimmer from the West Highlands of Scotland. Morag Hughes schools us in how to say loch correctly and shares tales of spending the last two decades swimming the tarns and loches of Scotland. In 2010 she became the oldest female to swim across the English Channel, a record that she held for 8 years. We chat about an intense love of water, the Ye Amphibious Bathing Association, being stubborn, recovering from a broken arm to swim the English Channel, ghostly encounters, and so much more!
In her own words: I have been enjoying open water swimming for 42 years. Initially swimming breaststroke as I couldn’t swim front crawl for any distance. Worked on this and began entering BLDSA, YAABA and SASA events increasing my distance. I am a slow steady swimmer who gets there in the end. I seem to have the ability to make Lochs boil when I go into them for long swims. Swims I have done are English Channel solo and relay Loch Lomond 21 miles overnight solo Loch Lomond relay Loch Shiel 18 miles Loch Maree 13 miles Loch Morar 11 Loch Rannoch 10 Two way St Mary’s Loch 6 miles Loch Oich Half Loch Lochy Loch Lubnaig Loch Ore Lough Erne Windermere Conniston Champion of Champions Sea swims Rhu point to the Island of Eigg Mallaig to Inverie (which has the remotest pub on the British Mainland) Loch Eil, 3k in Holland. Canal swim at Sluis in Holland where you swam into Belgium and back. II also swim throughout the Winter and have completed the Polar Bear Challenges the last two years. Gold Challenge 2018/2019 swimming 250m twice per month from November to March and a total minimum distance of 5000m Jedi Challenge 2019/2020 swimming 250 twice per month November to March and a total of 3000m each month plus 2000m and 1500m at 9 degrees or under 1750m and 1250m at 8 degrees or under 1500m and 1000m at 7 degrees or under 1250m and 7t50 at 6 degrees and under 1000m and 450m at 5 degrees and under The above swims could be included in the 3000m per month. I completed just over 65,000m during the Jedi Challenge.
I am the first person to swim the lengths of Loch Shiel, Loch Maree, and Loch Morar.
When I swam the channel in 2010 I became the oldest female to complete it with the Channel Swim Association a record I held for 8 years.
I have also used my swims to raise money for Local and National charities, a local Community Council and a restoration project.