‘Nutter’ runs 32 ultra-marathons in 32 days across every council in Scotland

A KILT-CLAD ex-salesman has become the first person to run back-to-back ultra-marathons in every part of the country.

Chris Thomson, 34, crossed the finish line in the national attire at Edinburgh Castle after the gruelling challenge which saw him raise money for seven charities close to his heart.

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As he finished his epic challenge, he said: “I was obviously looking forward to crossing the line, but to be honest, I’m already a bit sad about finishing it.

“I mean, it’s been such an adventure and such a journey of ups and downs, but the opportunity to run with friends and strangers across the country who’ve had their own struggles has been really important to me.

“Obviously it’s been tough, but I have absolutely loved it, and, you know if I can change someone’s life or have a positive impact then it’s class.”

Chris, a 34-year-old farmer’s son from New Galloway, Dumfries-shire, was a London-based tech salesman before quitting his job to become a self-proclaimed “nutter” who’s now sporting a bright pink moustache and traded in sales meetings for sweat-soaked runs.

He was inspired to re-evaluate his life and take on the challenge after the death of his close friend, Hamish, who took his own life two years ago.

His death took its toll on Chris and sent him ‘into a spiral’ – speaking about that time, he said: “It was just horrendous, if I’m honest, and sort of put me in a bit of a spiral, bit of depression, bit of anxiety.

“But more importantly just made me wake up and go ‘I’m in my 30s now, what I’m doing, am I actually enjoying it, yeah the money’s good, and the lifestyle‘s pretty good in that sense, but is that that important to me’.

“The taking of the life was sort of the trigger point for me to go, ‘come on man, you’ve only got one life, you’ve only got one shot, there’s no reruns here’, and that’s kind of the message that I’m trying to get out there, is that I know it’s tough, but I got myself out of what I was doing and I’m now following my passion and all of the depression and anxiety and stuff like that has completely gone.”

He originally decided to tackle the challenge in June and July due to better weather but has been forced to deal with driving rain and wind during what has become a summer washout.

Chris’s mum has been his support team, following him with the car and providing vital water and nutrition.

And he was met at the finish line by friends, family and representatives from some of the charities.

He added: “One of the charities I’m doing it for treated my mum, it was Maggie’s Cancer Centre, and my auntie, who unfortunately didn’t survive, so to have them here at the finish line is brilliant and makes it all the more poignant.”

Chris ran the final leg of his run in his kilt and has amassed a substantial following on social media, he hopes to raise £100,000 for charity from the challenge.

As someone who ‘enjoys the extreme side of life’ and has taken on other physically demanding challenges in the past, he does not plan on stopping here.

TOUR DE THOMO DETAILS:

Chris Thomson has completed his challenge and become the first person to run 32 ultramarathons across all 32 councils in Scotland in 32 days

He said: ” I don’t know 100 per cent what’s next. There are a few different ideas flying around in the head – there’s maybe something on a bit more of a global level that I’m thinking.

“This weekend I’ll have plenty of pints to celebrate then have a serious think once the dust settles from this.”

Chris’s positive attitude is infectious and the joy he has found in his life and through the challenge is the parting words he wanted to end on.

He added: “You’ve got one shot at life, there’s no reruns here, you’ve got to try and find something that makes you happy and go for it, no matter how hard it is really. Happiness and joy is the meaning of life in my view, so that’s really it.”

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