Inverness man hoping to run postponed London Marathon in his garden in aid of Highland Hospice
Rather than miss out on this weekend's postponed London Marathon, one Culduthel runner is planning to cover the distance in his garden.
Iain McGilvray has christened the event The Great Balmore of Leys Marathon 2020 and is hoping to raise as much cash as he can for Highland Hospice.
He is hoping to cover the 26 miles and 385 yards on Sunday – when he hoped to complete his fifth and final London Marathon.
Unfortunately the event was postponed until October due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"The knock on effect of so many events being postponed or cancelled is that many charities are missing out on so much of the urgently needed funds that are raised at these events," Mr McGilvray said.
He added that, as usual, he has done little or no training for this and he was not expecting to be breaking any course records.
"So I'll be setting off early on Sunday morning with a slow and steady pace in mind and my trusty Garmin on my wrist to make sure I don't stop until I reach the finish line at 26.219 miles," he said.
Members of his family, including his wife Morag, will be manning the drinks stations as well as trying their best to replicate the noise of the millions of cheering fans that usually line the London route.
Mr McGilvray said: "Stay Home Stay Safe is of course the order of the day, but if you do pass my garden on Sunday on your way to collect essential supplies or as part of your daily exercise please give me a shout or a toot of the horn. You won't miss me – fat guy, yellow lycra, red face, running round in circles.
"I know that times are hard at home, but imagine how hard they are in the hospice."
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