Community / Runner returns in full strength for charity run from Fethaland to Sumburgh
AFTER some knee injuries, runner Ryan Calder will be returning to Shetland month to tackle the length of Shetland’s mainland for charity in memory of his father.
A few years ago, Calder had set himself the challenge of running the 70 miles from Fethaland to Sumburgh in one day. Due to an injury, this was put on pause until this year.
Calder, who used to live in Shetland, is now a firefighter living in Elgin.
After his father passed away in 2021, he decided to undertake this run to raise funds for The Survivors Trust and Brainkind.
“I decided that I would raise money for the charities that supported my dad in his memory, and perhaps publicity around the run and charities might prompt people who need help to seek it out”, Calder said.
In 2022, however, he had to postpone the run due to knee issues and had to give up running for a number of months.
“I’ve been really disappointed and upset the last 2 years I have tried to train for this event because just when everything seemed to be going well and I felt fit, I’d end up with an injury.
“I felt like I’d let down people who had donated, and that really spurred me on to do better this time.
“I’ve been training since this time last year and I created a 24 week training plan in December, ending on the 25 May, which I have been following religiously four days a week, training in all weathers and with a lot of alarms starting at 4am to get runs in before work and in the pitch dark”, he continued.
Calder has run almost 600 miles this year alone, including a marathon and two 50km runs within two weeks of each other to prepare for his challenge in Shetland.
The date of the run will be on Saturday 25 May, with the aim of completing the route in 12 hours or under – a timeframe below the initial challenge in 2022.
He said: “I am trained and my flights are booked, and I am really looking forward to it – if anyone can say that about running so far!
“The Just Giving page is still live and I’m hoping to raise over £1,000 and want to thank all those who have donated so far. The total raised so far is £750.”
