AN OPTICIAN from Wallyford is focusing on an endurance challenge covering the entire Fife Coastal Path to inspire his young daughter and make her proud.

Dylan Russell, who was born in North Berwick and grew up in Haddington, will also raise funds for charity with his gruelling 187km run over three days from September 6 to 8.

He said that a “big driving force” behind his challenge was to give his daughter Lyra, who will soon be two, something that she could look back on when she was older and say: “My daddy did that.”

He said: “After becoming a father, my focus shifted from personal competition to inspiring my daughter and making her proud.

“I want her to look back at my sporting challenges and think: ‘Daddy, that’s amazing!’”

A multi-site manager and dispensing optician for Boots Opticians, managing a number of practices in Lothian and Fife, Dylan is also running in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

He said: “Macmillan Cancer Support was an easy decision to make when it came to thinking of a charity to raise awareness and money for.

“The unfortunate reality is you don’t need to search very far to find someone that’s been impacted by cancer.

“It’s great to have charities like Macmillan doing everything they can to provide those that need it the support.”

Two years ago, Dylan ran and raised funds for Hearts+Balls, which aids former rugby players with rehabilitation, home conversions, wheelchairs or putting them through study.

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Dylan said: “It was actually back in 2022, when I did 14 consecutive half marathons, one in each Scottish health board, that the idea came to mind.

“When I did my half marathon in Fife, I ran a small section of the coastal path.

“This piqued my interest to consider what it would take to run the entire path.”

He added: “I also wanted to do it the year I turned 30.

“I’m a few weeks out from the challenge and incredibly nervous for it.

“It is easily the biggest thing I’ve ever attempted.

“While it typically takes the average person seven to 10 days to complete this journey on foot, I am determined to run it in just three days.

“As someone who has previously completed only three marathons, this will be my most ambitious endeavour yet – attempting three days of ultra marathons back-to-back.”

He has been busy training with his coach Andrew Hodge, adding: “I have been clocking in some serious mileage in training.

“At the moment, this training includes a marathon most weekends.

“It’s a lot of time out of the house and means running at some very unsociable times so it doesn’t impact my time with family or my work.”

He added: “The body is holding up relatively well so far but a lot of this is down to my physio, Steven Cockburn, working out of Therap-Ease Morningside, who has been regularly looking after me.

“New running shop Interval in Edinburgh are also supporting me on my journey. I’m also fortunate to have Joe Paolella documenting the event itself so I’m certain there will be some great content to catch up on.”

Dylan will be using a friend’s house in Crail as base camp for the weekend.

He said: “I’m happy to welcome any runners across the weekend, whether it be 1km or an entire day. The company will be needed and welcome.”

Supporters can follow Dylan’s training and journey on Instagram @dylruss94

Go to justgiving.com/page/drussell-fifeultrarun to donate.