Raymond’s Double Loch Ness Marathon Run

While thousands of runners were being bussed to the start of the Baxters Loch Ness marathon on a remote stretch of road, 26 miles south west of Inverness, one man was making the journey under his own steam.

Raymond Ayonote,39, decided that taking part in the marathon wasn’t enough, so he chose to jog from the Highland capital to the start line before joining everyone else for the race back to Inverness.

But it didn’t quite go to plan. Raymond began his epic journey at 4am and promptly set off in the wrong direction. By the time he realised his mistake he had covered an extra few miles which meant it took him longer than expected – 6hr 30min to be precise -to get there, by which time the race was well underway.

He said: “As I was heading out I met everyone coming the other way and I missed the start by 30min.”

Raymond, wearing a distinctive English kilt, white with the red cross of St. George, even had a marathon journey to get to Inverness, having arrived the day before after a 12 hour coach journey from his home in Manchester where he works as an IT security specialist.

So, what prompted him to undertake such a gruelling double marathon? He said: “I knew people were getting a bus to the start but I just thought it would add to the occasion if I made my own way.

“Running is an addiction for me. I started three years ago and I love it. The longest run I have done is 100km, which I did in Belgium and I have completed 16 marathons.

“I was running here for the Cancer Focus Northern Ireland charity. I had been over there for the Belfast marathon and saw the charity’s mascot and when I heard about the work they were doing I decided I had to do something for them.”

It took Raymond another 6hr 50min to get back to Inverness by which time he had caught and overtaken 45 runners.

But the Nigeria-born man’s busy day wasn’t over as he then had to rush off to catch the bus for another 12 hour trip back to Manchester. Despite the exhausting schedule he thoroughly enjoyed his experience and vowed to return.

He said:”I have been to Scotland before but only to Glasgow and Edinburgh. This is my first visit to the Highlands and I’ve been blown away by it. I will definitely be back.

Before that he has one other major running project in mind. He said: “My big dream is to run 10000 miles. I might start it next year on my 40th birthday. I will run before and after work and record how far I go everyday until I do 10,000 miles.”