Brora ultra runner aiming for UK challenge after setting NC500 record
Luke Ivory wants to run from Lands End to John O' Groats after setting the new fastest time for the Highland route
A Sutherland ultra marathon runner is aiming to set the record for running the length of the UK - after just setting a new fastest time for the NC500.
Luke Ivory, from Brora, completed a new record yesterday by running the Highland route in just under six days.
His attention is now on the 100 - mile 'Ultra-trail Snowdonia' challenge which is less than two months away.
Following this, the 38-year-old eventually wants to run from Lands End to John O' Groats.
Luke's hoping to give the challenge a shot in either 2022 or 2023.
He said: "The distances I managed to cover on the NC500 were kind of on a par with the distances required to run Lands End to John O’ Groats.
"That’s an ambition I’d like to fulfil over the next year or two, when I can make sure to get the time off work and get the training done for it.
"I just need to decide whether I want to prioritise that or do more 100 mile mountain races because I see myself as more of a mountain runner.
"It’s difficult trying to organise a schedule around work, which one to prioritise and what time of year to do it all in.
"If I’m a bit busy with work and other things it might have to be put off until the year after, but at some point I’d like to fit in Lands End to John O’Groats.
"See if I can get the record for that."
Next challenge "all up and down"
Luke also explained what's involved with the Snowdonia challenge, which is due to begin on September 10th.
He added: "It’s 103 mile ultra-marathon with 10,000 metres of elevation gain.
"It’s all up and down, there’s no flat whatsoever.
"Hopefully I’m recovered for that because sometimes it can take a couple of months to recover weeklong effort like I’ve just had."
"Big boost" running through home village
The previous record-holder for running the NC500 was pensioner William Sichel from Orkney, when he ran the route in eight days, 19 hours, seven minutes and seven seconds in 2019.
Luke says he had seen the record and wanted to give it a shot since his home village is on the NC500.
He said: "I fancied doing a multi day run myself because I thought it would be something I’d be quite good at and the course that sprung to mind was the North Coast 500.
"It was a route that meant something to me, it was a record that I wanted to have.
"I looked at it and I thought ‘yeah, that’s something I’d quite like to do’
"Definitely gave me a big boost running through Brora.
"Both my sisters and niece ran with me and quite a few people came out."