A Virtually 'Never-ending' Challenge

Thank you to everyone who has entered and supported the Marathon Swims Virtual Challenge 2020. We had an amazing response with over 700 marathon swimmers taking on the challenge of swimming a marathon 10k or an ultra marathon 25k over the month of November. But even though November is now a distant memory, our Marathon Swims Virtual Challenge is still going!

Virtual events have been one bright point of 2020. As so many events had to cancel or postpone due to COVID restrictions, socially distanced virtual events had their moment and we wanted to provide our community with a marathon swimming challenge.

The original plan was to challenge participants to swim their distance over the month of November. However, #Lockdown2 with many pools across the country closing meant we had to extend the deadline to 31 December. Not an ideal time to end a challenge on 'Old year's night' but the challenge was extended. However, soon after, Tier restrictions and then #Lockdown3 then meant a further delay to the end date of the challenge.

The good news is that we FINALLY have an end date. Following the PM's announcement on 22 Feb that outdoor swimming venues could open on 29 March and indoor pools open from 12 April, we decided on 11 May 2021 as the final date for completion and results submission for the Marathon Swims Virtual Challenge 2020! These dates can of course change, but for now we're taking it. Regardless of the end date, you will have definitely earned your medal - for not only distance swimming but also patience!

Around 200 participants have already completed their challenge. Some were able to complete their distance in the short time pools were open in November and December. Others have completed their challenge in open water. Some of our finishers have completed their challenge in other countries where restrictions are different. We've had participants from as far away as New Zealand, USA, Philippines and Malaysia.

So, if you're one of our Virtual Challenge participants and waiting to complete your challenge - hang on in there. We'll be back in the water soon, and when you've completed your distance, there will be a wonderful, gleaming medal arriving in the post.

So with the end date of 11 May 2021, this is NOT a never-ending challenge.

PS - the Marathon Swims Virtual Challenge will be back in 2021, as an open water and pool based challenge.The Ultra Marathon 50k will also be added to the challenge distances on offer.