The Challenge
The Great Glen Challenge in support of Help for Heroes will be take place over the August Bank Holiday from 28 - 29 August 2010, though the actual start time may shift slightly during that weekend dependent on weather conditions. It will be conducted at this time to capitalize on high mean water temperatures in Loch Ness, a balmy 10 Deg C!
Jonathan and Calum, accompanied at certain stages by former colleagues and friends will run, kayak and swim the length of Scotland’s Great Glen from the mouth of the Caledonian Canal in Inverness to the war memorial in Fort William.
The running portions will be, for the most part, completed along sections of the Great Glen Way all the way to Fort William. Calum and Jonathan will be fully adminsitered by a support team, including medical assistance, throughout.
Total run distance is 46 km.
Calum and Jonathan will kayak the length of Loch Ness from Lochend village to Fort Augustus, a total distance of 34 km and then swim the length of Lochs Oich and Lochy, a total distance of 22 km. Both swims will be completed without stopping and supported by a shore team and a kayak, which will paddle alongside to provide direct support.
Total kayak and swim distance of 59 km.
There will be a six hour period of forced rest prior to the Loch Lochy swim at Laggan Lochs
On the day of the event you can track their progress on this website with real time feeds of The Challenge.
In detail the Legs of the Great Glen Challenge are:
Leg 1
RUN - Caledonian Canal entrance Lock at Clachnaharry, Grid Reference(GR) NH644467 to Lochend, Loch Ness swim entry point at GR NH600378. Distance: 15km, approx time: 1.5 hour . This will be completed the evening prior to the Loch Ness swim to maximize time in the water.
Leg 2
KAYAK - Loch Ness: Lochend to Fort Augustus, exit point at Old Pier, Fort Augustus GR NH385099. Distance: 37 km, approximate time 7 hours.
Leg 3
RUN – Old Pier to Loch Oich swim entry point at GR NH 336034. Distance 9km, approximate time 55min.
Leg 4
SWIM – Loch Oich swim from entry point to exit at headland GR NH305988. Distance 6km, approximate time 2.5 hours
Leg 5
RUN – From parking place at GR NH 304988 to Laggan Locks car park at GR287963. Distance 2.4km, approximate time 25min.
FORCED REST PERIOD – 6 hours at Laggan Locks Car Park
Leg 6
SWIM – Loch Lochy swim from entry point at Laggan Locks car park to exit at Lighthouse GR NH183846. Distance 16km, approximate time 7 hours.
Leg 7
RUN – Lighthouse to Achintee House, Fort William via Spean Bridge Commando Memorial. Distance 24km, approximate time 2.5 hours.
FINISH
Finish in Fort William at the War Memorial.....Guinness and a Pie and then sleep for two days…..
For full planning details of the Challenge please see the synchronisation matrix by following Revised Event Synchronisation Matrix
