Just what the doctor ordered
David Knox • Published 29 Nov 2010 09:30
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RUNNERS of all ages turned out to support dedicated doctor, Andrew Murray, as he made his way through the Borders on Friday.
Around 70 athletes of all ages took part in a breakfast fun run between Galashiels and Borders General Hospital with the Melrose-based GP.
Hundreds of children also welcomed the 30-year-old at Melrose, Lillisleaf and Hawick schools as his journey weaved through the region.
Dr Murray, who lives in Melrose, hopes to raise £100,000 for charity by completing 85 ultra marathons in 85 days. The 2650-mile challenge will take him from John O'Groats to Merzouga in the Sahara desert.
His efforts have won praise and encouragement from some of the world's great adventurers such as Sir Ranulph Fiennes and cyclist Mark Beaumont.
Andy told the Border Telegraph: "It's been a brilliant turn out in the Borders and I can't thank people enough.
"I got to share my experiences with the guys at Merlose Rugby Club last night and also meet up with many old friends today. The people of the Borders have been so generous - I've just really enjoyed being back."
During Andy's locum days he worked at Borders General Hospital as well as Galashiels Health Centre and Teviotdale Medical Practice.
And there were quite a few medical mates pulling on their trainers to accompany him for the three miles between ASDA car park and the hospital.
Ian Reilly from Melrose Waverley Tennis Club organised the packed programme of events to coincide with Andy's Borders leg. He told us: "I know Andy through the tennis club and when I found out about him doing the run I wanted to encourage him as much as I could. It's an unbelievable challenge and he's an inspiration for the rest of us."
Pupils at the schools Andy visited donated hampers of energy foods for his journey and also designed posters to promote the S2S Challenge.
And many also boosted his fundraising, including members of Gala Harriers who handed over a cheque ahead of Friday's fun run. Gala Harrier Neil Renton, who is a Scottish ultra marathon coach, said: "This is a really tough journey he's taking.
"It shows how much support Andy has by the turn out in Galashiels."
Andy hopes to raise £100,000 for the Yamaa Trust, which fights poverty and hardship in the Southern Gobi region of Mongolia.
The charity has so far built the country's first deaf school and vulnerable women's hostel. It also helps with palliative care and provides medical equipment to the region's health units.
Many local organisations, including Teviotdale Medical Practice, Mainetti (Jedburgh) UK, Hogg & Thorburn Chartered Accountants, Kelso Races and both Melrose tennis and rugby clubs, as well as a huge public support have helped him so far reach £25,000.
As Andy entered the Borders on Thursday, brother Ian was behind the wheel of the small camper van that acts as a support vehicle. For the next fortnight Ian and their sister, Susie, will share back-up responsibilities as the challenge strides through England towards France.
Andy's father, Scott, along with mother, Mary, are also taking their turns at the wheel as well as many friends. Scott, who like Andy, Ian and Mary, is a doctor, admits the challenge isn't something he would recommend. He said: "This is a thing you do against medical advice. We are all supporting Andy by driving for a few days here and there."
Andy Murray is due to cross the finishing line in Morocco on January 31, which will give him enough time to drive his camper van back to Scotland and get married to fiancee, Jennie Reeves.
To support Dr Andrew Murray's challenge, log onto www.justgiving.com/scotland2sahara
BORDER TELEGRAPH REPORTER JOINS LOCAL GP ON MARATHON FUNDRAISER
SOME would say it was fortunate, but last Thursday I joined Andrew Murray on, what is likely to be, his shortest leg of the world's toughest running challenge.
During his first 10 days - which has seen him gradually work his way down from John O'Groats - the 30-year-old GP has averaged just over 32 miles on each run.
But Thursday wasn't just about progressing from Edinburgh to Galashiels. It was also the date of a crucial medical exam.
For several months, the Melrose-based doctor has tried to juggle revision with running as well as organising a world record attempt for continuous ultra-marathons.
Even in the days leading up to his sports injuries paper, he recovered from daily ultras with his head buried in medical tomes each evening.
When I met up with Andy on Thursday - he had just spent a little over three hours in an exam room.
Ferocious head winds, driving rain and the expectant November chill couldn't dampen his relief. All he had to concentrate on now was running - around 2,330 miles of it in the following 74 days.
Andy Murray is an experienced ultra-marathon runner. He's not only completed epic challenges all over the world - but won many of them. He warmed up for the challenge by winning a six-day slog through the Indonesian jungle.
Joining us for Thursday's run to the Borders was another well-known name from the world of extreme athletics, Donald Campbell. The former Royal Marine from Skye, like so many of us, took up the sport to shed a few pounds after enjoying the excesses of living a little too much. And, like Andy, he's now ranked amongst the best in the country.
Since Andy began his Scotland-2-Sahara challenge he's been accompanied by friends and film crews most of the way. The company helps the miles go by.
But there will be stretches of this run where he takes Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner to new lengths - he expects most of England and Spain to be solitary.
And those will be the days that hurt - both physically and mentally. Running, at times, needs distractions.
On Thursday it was up to Donny and me to add the distractions. And despite the horrendous conditions, the five hours of running were certainly enjoyable.
We swapped injury stories, shared our thoughts on footwear, talked down our running achievements (I didn't have any), tried to imagine the worst foods you can eat, and lots of bloke stuff.
Through Gorebridge and Middleton was tough as we jostled for a narrow lane on the A7 with the continuous traffic. But relief was to be found as we cut off the main road at Heriot.
For the next three or so hours we joked and laughed our way down to Stow then over to Clovenfords. Marriage advice, the joys of being called Andy Murray, and Donny's new Irish girlfriend kept the mood light through the descending darkness. One thing you need for ultra running is a sense of humour and Andy and Donny are both well equipped.
Andy's route has not been mapped out to a precise line - all he wants to do is run more than 27 miles each day and continue south towards the Sahara.
With Andy's brother, Ian, in charge of the GPS system that measures each day's running we reached our goal in the dark just after the Boland junction - but 'just to make sure' we continued down to Clovenfords to clock 30 miles for the day.
For me, it was home for a good soak. For Andy Murray it was off to take part in a Questions and Answers session at Melrose Rugby Club before planning his next day's ultra-marathon adventure.
It was only one small step of what is an unimaginable journey - but it was an honour and a pleasure to be part of Scotland-2-Sahara.
This article appeared in Border Telegraph 30 Nov 10
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