Brora manager Steven Mackay sets off from Wick to Inverness in bid to run four marathons in 24 hours
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Football boss Steven Mackay is off and running in his bid to complete a quadruple marathon in time for his 40th birthday tomorrow.
The manager of Highland League champions Brora Rangers is aiming to raise £20,000 for MFR Cash for Kids by going from Wick to Inverness – a distance of 104.8 miles.
Last year Steven completed an 80-mile run from Inverness to Brora in around 18.5 hours, raising more than £17,000 for the same cause.
This time the former Ross County player is tackling the equivalent of four consecutive marathons and admits he is "going into the unknown".
Steven set off at 3pm today from Wick Academy’s Harmsworth Park, in light rain and with a cool northerly wind at his back. He was accompanied on the first stage of the journey by former team-mates David Hind and Neil MacDonald, ex-Wick players Sam Mackay and Nigel Mackenzie and fellow runner Seana Forbes.
Others will join him on different sections of the route. He plans to finish at Bught Park.
Brora committee member Donald Grant is following behind in a car topped by a sign warning of runners on the road.
"I'm going into the unknown in terms of distance," Steven admitted just before leaving Wick. "I did the event last year which was 80 miles. This is effectively just under a marathon extra, so there's that element where you don't really know how your body will react.
“So from that aspect there's a little bit of apprehension, but I'm more excited than anything. I just want to get going and see how we get on. I've got lots of people supporting me along the way, which is great.
“In the 24 hours I've broken it down so we've got four stages. Wick to the top of the Berriedale Braes is stage one. We've given ourselves five-and-a-half hours for each of the first two marathons and then between six and six-and-a-half in the last two, which would mean we'd get to Inverness between two and three o'clock tomorrow.
“So we've got it mapped out. We want to try and do five miles each hour if we can, with a little bit of walking integrated at times just to give the legs a bit of a rest.
“You get the odd five-minute pit-stop but I don't really want to stop for too long – we'll keep on the move as much as possible.
“Tesco very kindly donated a lot of fluids to us. We've all got snacks and treats and food to give us energy the whole way through.
“Donald Grant, a good Brora fan, has very kindly offered to support us the whole way in his car. He's got a sign on the car just to make people aware that there are runners on the road.
"It's important we've got that car there, first and foremost to keep us safe but to reduce any frustration that we'll get because we will be going quite slow – so I apologise in advance to anyone driving the A9 in the next 24 hours.”
Asked how he will keep himself mentally focused when the going gets tough, Steven said: “I will draw on the experience from last year, and why we're doing this in the first place – to raise money for MFR Cash for Kids.
“I've seen at first hand where the money has gone last year – a young Brora fan, Max Ainsworth, received a new wheelchair, which was fantastic. I know the good work that the charity does, so that will keep me motivated during the dark times – and also I've got people with me. We'll have people joining us throughout the event. I feel relatively confident.”
Those wishing to support Steven can make a donation at www.cashforkidsgive.co.uk/campaign/steven-mackay-2021-challenge/fundraisers/steven-mackay
Related story:
