He’s a Murray from Moray with a passion for keeping on the up and up.
And now, Buckie native Murray Clark has completed a remarkable 40-year crusade by ascending the 1000-foot Bin Hill in Cullen for the 1,000th time at the age of 67.
His quest began back in 1978 when the squash aficionado noticed the iconic landmark and chose to test his mettle by racing to the summit.
It was the catalyst for what has subsequently developed into a decades-long pursuit and Mr Murray finally reached the grand total with members of his family to support him.
He said: “I just decided one day when visiting my parents to run up the Bin Hill and I found it provided a good base layer of fitness in preparation for the squash season ahead.
“My original goal was to reach 500 which ended up taking me 23 years. Then I took another another seven years to reach the 600 mark.
“When I got to that point, I realised to reach 1,000, I would have to double up and run it twice on each visit.
“I also had the additional target of completing it within 40 years which I achieved with just two weeks to spare.”
Time hasn’t significantly diminished this redoubtable individual’s energy, ebullience or enthusiasm.
On the contrary, his maiden attempt, when he was 27, was completed in 14min 13 sec, while he reached his goal of 1,000 in 19min 53 sec.
His personal record came in August 1984 when he got to the peak in 11min 55sec, but he has shown consistency throughout his endeavours.
In 2016, for instance, he took part in no less than 72 runs to the summit. And, although he joked that he might “consider switching to bowls or golf”, he has no intention of slipping off quietly into the sunset.
Mr Murray said: “I have run virtually all of the thousand by myself, in all weather conditions at all times of the year.
“Around 15 family and friends came with me on the last run and my wife and three daughters presented me with two ‘trophies’ as mementoes.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it and the message is simple: Find an a sport or activity you like doing, do it to the best of your ability, practice hard and, above all, enjoy it.
“While you will slow down as you get older, if you keep exercising, your enthusiasm and enjoyment will not diminish.”
