Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
On the run for 72 hours
A GROUP of joggers will be running on empty when they take part in a 72-hour charity relay.
The 15 participants will be running between North Inch, Perth, and Broughty Castle to raise money for NHS Tayside.
Organised by Nicky Deuchar, who started the Running Machines group in Dundee, the race will be broken down into 16 trips of 27 miles.
Nicky, from Craigowl, said the group wanted to give back to the NHS after their friend Paul Clark – who has since made a full recovery – was treated for Covid-19 in intensive care.
He said: “Because of the lockdown restrictions we have had to wait a while to be able to do the run.
“The hardest part has been working out the logistics and which runners are doing what parts of the relay.
“We wanted to give back to NHS Tayside and my friend Paul, who was previously in intensive care, will decide which ward he wants the donations to go to.
“There are 15 runners taking part who are all at different levels and can run different distances who have come together through their love of running.
“We have decided to carry out a relay-type race over three full days.
“For a continuous 72 hours, at least one participant within the group will be running the route.
“Everyone is sticking to how many miles we can manage, with the ages of our group ranging from early 20s to one runner who is 64. He will be doing about 50 miles over the three days himself.
“Myself and another runner,
Ross Emslie, will actually be completing more than 100 miles over the weekend with a full marathon each day – but I am trying not to think about that too much at the minute.
“Although I have done one practice length which wasn’t too bad, I think we will be sore afterwards.”
The group has already raised almost £700, with a target of £1,000.
The Running Machines group will be starting the challenge on Thursday.
Donations can be made by searching for “We’re raising £1,000 to NHS Tayside” on JustGiving.