Salt Rock’s Mike Pengelly claims his 47th Midmar Mile

The aQuellé Midmar Mile, which attracted just over 13 000 people – including international swimmers and Olympic medallists – this year saw many swimmers brave the conditions of the world’s largest open water swimming event.

Septuagenarian Salt Rock local, Mike Pengelly has swam the aQuelle Midmar Mile for the 47th time in a row – with one of these having been swam unofficially – last weekend at the Midmar Dam.

Of the 325 swimmers who have completed and had their names entered into the aQuellé Midmar Mile’s 20 Year Club, the name Mike Pengelly towers tall alongside 87-year-old Mike ‘Buthie’ Arbuthnot, one of the founders of the Midmar Mile race – and this year’s oldest competitor – which Pengelly said serves as an inspiration to him.

“Swimming is a part of life. And I am really, really lucky to have experienced this way of life. Mike Arbuthnot, who has also completed every Midmar Mile has battled cancer and last year had a stroke. He serves as an inspiration for his continued swimming of the Midmar Mile. I count myself lucky that I get to do the same despite the odds he has had to overcome,” said Pengelly.

The Midmar Mile has always been a regular routine and way of life for Pengelly, who says that it served as a three-part qualifying event along with the Dusi and Comrades.

“If you didn’t complete the trio, you couldn’t do the Seal’s Ironman back in the day,” said Pengelly.

Pengelly shared that he’s only been able to compete in the Midmar Mile thanks to the level of fitness, owing to his strict training routine.

He paddles three times a week, goes mountain-biking, gyms often and joins a few friends for a Sunday swimming and paddling session.

“If you’re a swimmer, you do the Midmar Mile,” said Pengelly.

And the level of effort shows. Comparing his finishing time at the 40th aQuellé Midmar Mile to his most recent over the weekend, Pengelly noted his finishing time only had an eight second difference.

Pengelly finished this year’s event in 45 minutes and 33 seconds, eight seconds slower than the 40th.

“It was an epic, fantastic event,” said Pengelly.

Already looking to future races he said a lot of planning and effort had been put into the 50th aQuellé Midmar Mile and, even though it was still three years away, promised to be a great event.

Download The North Coast Courier mobile app, now available free from the Apple iStore and on Google Play, for IOS and Android phones.