Family illness has forced a 63-year-old former cancer patient from Orkney to pull out of his bid to run an incredible 3,100 miles in the world’s longest certified footrace, which begins this week.
Three years ago William Sichel became the first British runner of any age – and the first person over 60 on the planet – to complete the gruelling event, which is the equivalent of running more than the distance across the USA.
Competitors have to run at least almost two-and-a-half marathons-a-day for 52 days. Only seven men and four women have been invited to tackle this year’s event.
Mr Sichel was due to leave his home on Sanday today to return to New York, for a second time, to contest the Sri Chinmoy 3100 Mile Race beginning on Sunday.
However Mr Sichel said today that his wife Elizabeth’s medical condition he had decided to remain at home.
Currently Mr Sichel holds all the overall (any age) British records from 2000km to 5000km and all the World Age-Group records for the same distances. Mr Sichell is one of Britain’s most remarkable athletes – having run around the world the equivalent of three times, survived cancer and set hundreds of records in the process. He clocked-up his 100th ultra marathon last year.
He was treated for testicular cancer in 1997 but came back to win the World Masters 100km Championships the following year.
The runner has also represented Great Britain on 12 occasions and Scotland on six.
In a project he is calling “Journey to 750,” Mr Sichel is aiming to set a career-total of 750 records.
He has already set a previous goal of 165 world, UK and Scottish records for various distances and ages – which he achieved in November 2015.