Runner completes 58th consecutive marathon in Inverness

MARATHON runner Andy McMenemy has completed his 58th consecutive ultra-marathon in Inverness.

Ultra marathon runner Andy McMenemy

The 49-year-old is running 66 marathons, in 66 days, in 66 cities in an attempt to set a new Guinness World Record and raise £1 million for ABF, The Soldiers’ Charity, which helps soldiers, former soldiers and their families.

Mr McMenemy was seen off the starting line at Bught Park by Inverness Provost Jimmy Gray at 9am on Thursday.

An ultra-marathon is 31.07 miles (50 kilometres) and Mr McMenemy ran 25 laps of a 2km route around the park to reach his distance in a time of 6 hours and 36 minutes.

"I was inspired by an American runner called Dean Karnazes, who ran 50 marathons, in 50 states on 50 days, and had read his book," he explained. "I started to think, how would you plan that."

Mr McMenemy, who mentors individuals and business teams in striving for success, is no stranger to extreme running.

In 2007, he ran the Marathon des Sables, five-and-a-half marathons back-to-back across the Sahara Desert in six days, followed by the Namibian Desert Ultra Marathon — 78 miles in 24 hours — in 2008.

However, he admits this is his biggest challenge yet. He started in Leeds on 16th March and will finish in York next Friday — his 50th birthday.

"It has been tough," he said. "I have had some pretty horrendous injuries, but I have just had to cope, there is no chance to rest," he said.

"Some mornings I have been physically sick in the car on my way to the next start line. It is tough. We have all got dreams and ambitions in life and if you focus on what you want to achieve you can, through all the pain, get to where you want to go."

His injures have included a tear to his achilles tendons and tendonitis in his left shin, which required hospital treatment.

His fastest time has been 5 hours, 28 minutes, with the longest, 10 hours and 57 minutes.

"It gives you an understanding of how bad the injuries were," he said.

To enable him to complete the challenge, his evening routine consists of a 10-minute hot bath, followed by a 10-minute cold bath and then treatment from a sports therapist.

However, Mr McMenemy, who lives in Harrogate, says it is all worthwhile and the soldiers are a constant inspiration when it gets tough.

His father was a serving soldier and was supported by The Soldiers’ Charity through cancer.

"It is excellent what they do," he said.

The current Guinness World Record stands at 52 marathons.

Anyone wishing to donate can visit the website — www.challenge66.org — or text the word ARMY to 70700.