AN OPTICIAN from Musselburgh is focused on a marathon running challenge in aid of a charity which supports ex-rugby players who have sustained life-changing injuries.
Keen rugby player Dylan Russell, 28, set himself the 365 Challenge, running 35km every week since June 2021 – the equivalent of 5km a day for 365 days – and is set to finish the yearlong task on June 1 this year, despite injury.
In the final two weeks, starting yesterday (Thursday), he is planning to complete 14 half marathons across all 14 Scottish health boards in just 14 days, supported by a variety of sponsors.
This will take him from Thurso to Edinburgh via Kirkwall, Lerwick, Aberdeen, Perth, Stirling, Glasgow, Stornoway, Ayr, Biggar, Fife coastal path, Dumfries and the Borders.
Dylan, of King Street, who works for Boots Opticians, managing a number of practices in Edinburgh and Fife, is raising funds for Hearts + Balls, which aids former rugby players with rehabilitation, home conversions, wheelchairs or putting them through study. So far he has raised more than £3,000.
He said: “Hearts + Balls are a great charity that help support ex-rugby players who have suffered life-changing injuries through the sport that many love so dearly.
“As a keen rugby player I have had several injuries and setbacks throughout my playing career.
“Thankfully, though, I have always been fortunate enough to bounce back and return.
“However, there are players who aren’t as fortunate and these injuries not only stop them coming back but can be life altering.
“This is why the work Hearts + Balls do is so important.”
And he added: “I have mainly been running local routes around East Lothian and Edinburgh.
“However, as the 365 Challenge requires an unbroken year of 35km every week, I have also had to run in a number of other locations.
“These include Newcastle, Dumfries, Manchester, Dubai, Bournemouth, London and Naples.”
Dylan started playing for Haddington RFC 13 years ago and now turns out for Stewart’s Melville RFC in Edinburgh. He also organises a charity 7s team called Hearts & Balls MB.
He said: “I’ve had tendonitis in my ankle for the last four weeks.
“The physio has said it’s a six-to-eight-week recovery so looks like I’ll be battling through the ‘14 in 14’ with it.
“It’s going to be sore but it was going to be a mind-over-body situation even if I wasn’t injured so I will just need to power through.
“Having been at this for almost a year I’ve faced plenty other struggles.
“An unforeseen loss before Christmas was extremely tough to deal with.
“Throw into the mix the storms we were plagued with as well as the busyness of the day job and it becomes really tough to motivate myself to get out and clock the weekly kilometres.”
He added: “But I’m pleased to announce that the 365 Challenge is currently unbroken. ”
To support Dylan’s challenge go to www.gofundme.com/f/tyzhs-365-challenge
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