I followed this guy’s progress as attempted to run the entire 516 miles of the North Coast 500 (NC500) route in just 10 days. It is incredible to think he was attempting to run the equivalent of two marathons – around 50 miles – every day.

However, by the mid point it was looking doubtful when he injured his Achille’s tendon and his feet were badly affected by blisters through running in the rain.

He switched to a bike, to ease the pressure on his feet and by the end of the trip he was ack on his feet and met his 10-day target and return to Inverness.

My original article appeared in Tuesday’s Courier and this was used in the Caithness Courier yesterday with some added comments.

ULTRA adventurer Steven Mackay managed to get back on track to complete his North Coast 500 challenge within 10 days.

The 40-year-old had intended to run the full distance but switched to cycling for most of the route after being dogged by injury.

It is his third long-distance fundraiser for MFR Cash for Kids and this one has generated more than £45,000.

Pebbles Sawyer, from Spittal – one of the children who have benefited from the charity – was among those greeting Steven when he reached the finishing line at Inverness Cathedral on Sunday. She had also met Steven at John O’Groats on day three of his challenge.

Eight-year-old Pebbles, who has spina bifida, was able to receive a specialist all-terrain wheelchair as a result of Steven’s fundraising for Cash for Kids last year.

The former Ross County and Brora Rangers footballer, who is now assistant manager of Elgin City, had set off from the Highland capital on May 20. Midway through the journey he injured his Achilles tendon and suffered from bad blisters due to running in the rain.

Steven switched to a bicycle to ease the pressure on his feet, and by Sunday he managed to return to Inverness by running again.

He completed 218 miles on foot and 298 miles by cycling.

During the route his progress was hampered when he snapped a bicycle chain and was forced to switch to a mountain bike.

MFR charity manager Lyndsay Rose said: “We are simply in awe of Steven and everything he has managed to achieve. His journey didn’t come without its challenges but he faced them head-on and overcame them all.

“His strength and determination is to be admired.

“We can’t thank him enough for all the money he has raised for MFR Cash for Kids. Our board are meeting next week to go over the latest batch of applications we’ve received so his donations will make an impact immediately.”

Steven’s fundraising page is at the Cash For Kids website.

Pebbles – who has her own fundraising page – completed a short section of the route with Steven at Groats. She has raised more than £680.

Last June, Steven raised more than £20,000 for Cash for Kids after running four marathons within 24 hours from Wick to Inverness. He clocked up 104.8 miles in 23 hours and 39 minutes to complete the challenge on his 40th birthday.

The year before, he did an 80-mile run from Inverness to Brora in around 18.5 hours, raising more than £17,000 for the same cause.

Inverness-based Steven is operations director for an oil and gas-related firm.

From the Caithness Courier on  Wednesday, June 1, 2022.