Gavin Orr
World Record Attempt at Callanish Stones Marathon
Fundraising for Aberlour – Scotland’s children’s charity
Story
Quick update Mon 4th Aug, 2014 - job done! (still to be ratified by Guinness people though, a mountain of paperwork and photos sent off Wed 6th Aug!) 3:46:14, 23rd out of 124, 11th male veteran (over 40), and... 1st person in a kilt! Great race, well organised by Stornoway Running and Athletic Club (SRAC) and a really fun weekend. Thank you so much to everyone who helped out and who has been so generous in support.
Let's keep it going - pics of kids in Aberlour t-shirts to be added, then hopefully a bit more anticipation in a few weeks when Guinness hopefully ratify the World Record... certificate in a frame - oh, yeah!
Official Guinness World Record attempt - fastest marathon in Highland dress (male)! And appropriately, I'm going to try it at the Callanish Stones Marathon, in the Isle of Lewis, the furthest north and west you can go in Scotland's beautiful Highlands and Islands!
About me: I have been running since 2007, after a nasty mountain bike accident in 2006 left me in hospital for 6 days, requiring plastic surgery on my face, which convinced me to get off two wheels and on to two feet, because it should be safer! I did my first marathon, Edinburgh, in 2008 and since then I've done 10 marathons and am now doing ultra marathons (longer than marathon). My longest so far has been The Highland Fling - 53 miles from Milngavie to Tyndrum along the West Highland Way.
I have only raised money for charity twice with my running - the first one, Edinburgh Marathon in 2008 for Cancer Research UK, the year my Dad died of lymphatic cancer and then in 2010 at the London Marathon where I was running as a guide to a blind runner friend, Ken Reid, and we raised money for his sight loss charity, RP-Fighting Blindness. So this is my 3rd time in over 6 years. Not too much to ask?! ;-)
A number of people have asked exactly what I have to wear to satisfy Guinness description of "Full Highland dress". Here goes:
* Kilt (obv!)
* Sporran (had to do some serious negotiating to get them to allow me to wear it on the hip, a la ceildh-style!)
* Full length socks with matching flashes
* Dress shirt with bow tie
* Waistcoat and jacket (both to be fully buttoned at all times!)
* Hat (who wears a hat?!) - Balmoral (i.e. tammy) or Glengarry - I went for Glengarry
Basically their only concessions were: trainers not brogues (that would just be cruel!) and, ahem, doesn't have to be traditional Scottish for the undies. Phew! :-) G
(By the way, all your money goes directly to Aberlour - I have already paid myself for the marathon entry, all the outfit I'm wearing, and all my travel and accommodation. So every penny you give is going to Aberlour, none to me!)
Aberlour is a wonderful charity, providing help to over 6000 of Scotland’s most vulnerable children. It happens to be the village where my late father grew up and I know he'd be very proud that we are supporting them.
Thank you in advance for your support for Aberlour and for your support (or derision or otherwise!) of my World Record Attempt. Och Aye The Noo! :-) G
Let's keep it going - pics of kids in Aberlour t-shirts to be added, then hopefully a bit more anticipation in a few weeks when Guinness hopefully ratify the World Record... certificate in a frame - oh, yeah!
Official Guinness World Record attempt - fastest marathon in Highland dress (male)! And appropriately, I'm going to try it at the Callanish Stones Marathon, in the Isle of Lewis, the furthest north and west you can go in Scotland's beautiful Highlands and Islands!
About me: I have been running since 2007, after a nasty mountain bike accident in 2006 left me in hospital for 6 days, requiring plastic surgery on my face, which convinced me to get off two wheels and on to two feet, because it should be safer! I did my first marathon, Edinburgh, in 2008 and since then I've done 10 marathons and am now doing ultra marathons (longer than marathon). My longest so far has been The Highland Fling - 53 miles from Milngavie to Tyndrum along the West Highland Way.
I have only raised money for charity twice with my running - the first one, Edinburgh Marathon in 2008 for Cancer Research UK, the year my Dad died of lymphatic cancer and then in 2010 at the London Marathon where I was running as a guide to a blind runner friend, Ken Reid, and we raised money for his sight loss charity, RP-Fighting Blindness. So this is my 3rd time in over 6 years. Not too much to ask?! ;-)
A number of people have asked exactly what I have to wear to satisfy Guinness description of "Full Highland dress". Here goes:
* Kilt (obv!)
* Sporran (had to do some serious negotiating to get them to allow me to wear it on the hip, a la ceildh-style!)
* Full length socks with matching flashes
* Dress shirt with bow tie
* Waistcoat and jacket (both to be fully buttoned at all times!)
* Hat (who wears a hat?!) - Balmoral (i.e. tammy) or Glengarry - I went for Glengarry
Basically their only concessions were: trainers not brogues (that would just be cruel!) and, ahem, doesn't have to be traditional Scottish for the undies. Phew! :-) G
(By the way, all your money goes directly to Aberlour - I have already paid myself for the marathon entry, all the outfit I'm wearing, and all my travel and accommodation. So every penny you give is going to Aberlour, none to me!)
Aberlour is a wonderful charity, providing help to over 6000 of Scotland’s most vulnerable children. It happens to be the village where my late father grew up and I know he'd be very proud that we are supporting them.
Thank you in advance for your support for Aberlour and for your support (or derision or otherwise!) of my World Record Attempt. Och Aye The Noo! :-) G