Alva man Ewan Cadger has taken on Glen Ogle 33-mile Ultramarathon for charity

With a Herculean effort, the 34-year-old ran the Glen Ogle Ultra Marathon in just over six hours on Saturday.

Though an arduous task, the race was for Ewan a perfect opportunity to raise money for charity while testing his own abilities.

And as a result, he was able to donate about £415 to the Airthrey Care Home in honour of his gran who stayed there while suffering from dementia.

Ewan, who is also a member of the Wee County Harriers, told the Advertiser: “I was quite nervous at first but it soon settled down when I was out there.

“The conditions weren’t the best though; it was absolutely pelting down in rain for some parts.

“It all started with a light drizzle for the first 10 miles and that was actually really good and helped cool you down. But then the heavens just opened up and fog closed in.

“And it was quite a hilly run as well – we’re talking about a total ascent of around 2,800ft.

“But the marshals and the organisers were excellent. They really looked after us.”

Ewan, a warehouseman at Diageo in Menstrie, only took to running back in January 2013 when he pledged to raise money in honour of the Beatson, where his dad Robin had been treated.

However, since then he has now become heavily involved in both local and national events, running the Strathearn Marathon, as well as a handful of 13-mile events.

He said: “The whole basis for running came about only a few years ago. My dad battled cancer for about 10 years and so I thought I would run and raise some money for the Beatson.

“Unfortunately, he died before I could run the race but I’ve really just kept it up since then because I have enjoyed it so much.

“I love to run and maybe once a year or so, I’ll do a race for charity. This time I chose the Airthrey Care Home because my gran had spent time there.”

He added: “I’ve signed up to run the D33 Ultramarathon in Aberdeen in March and I’m maybe going to enter the Liverpool marathon in May.”

Ewan was not the only local runner to tackle Saturday’s 33-miler, with around 30 Wee County Harriers taking on the challenge.

Club chairman Gordon McNeil said: “It was just a fantastic feeling at the end of the race, there was such a team spirit.

“There were a lot first timers taking part but for those who ran an ultra before there were a number of personal bests.

“I personally think that Ultramarathons are easier than regular marathons because there’s less pressure.

ost runners will be desperate to get a good time in a marathon but for an ultra the focus is just to finish.

“A few others were speaking at the finish line saying: ‘never again’. But that’s just exhaustion talking; after speaking to them again they are already planning another ultra.”

The Wee County Harriers have been going from strength to strength with no more than 150 members, along with a thriving youth section.

They are currently in training for a number of upcoming events such as the Alloa half marathon next March.

For more information, visit www.weecountyharriers.co.uk

 A handful of Wee County runners showing off their Ultramarathon completion badges

Full results from the Wee County runners at the Glen Ogle 33 Ultramarathon on Saturday, November 7.

Name                                                        Time                           Position
Gordon McNeil                                           4.40.41                            46
Tony Brown                                              4.42.31                            48
Billy Turnbull                                             5.00.13                            66
Iona MacKay                                             5.01.56                            70
Derek Fish                                                5.01.57                             71
Sandy Dunn                                             5.07.26                             81
Stewart McDiarmid                                5.07.26                             82
Graeme Reid                                             5.09.00                             88
Alastair Outred                                          5.17.15                            103
James Michie                                             5.19.48                            111
Sue Woods                                                5.36.50                            134
Elinor Coombs                                           5.36.50                            135
Christine Caldwell                                      5.41.18                         143
Andy Rankin                                             5.43.38                             147
Stephan Dombrowski                           5.46.48                             153
George Furmage                                       5.51.21                             165
Scott Wilson                                              5.53.05                            167
Susan McDiarmid                                      5.54.02                           169
Kirsty McKay                                             6.01.15                             185
Euan Cadger                                             6.09.23                             197
Alan Doig                                                  6.12.30                             210
Claire Watson                                            6.23.21                             237
Paul Evans                                                6.40.49                             269
Jane Binnie                                                6.58.21                            288
Susan Westland                                         7.40.14                            314
Lee McKemmie                                          7.40.14                             315