Sichel counting on Orkney support to take on one of the world’s most gruelling endurance tests

The backing of the Orkney public could prove crucial, says William Sichel, as the ultra-marathon runner prepares to take on one of the world’s most gruelling endurance tests. Nine runners, including the Orkney runner, will, at 6am local time (11am BST), on Sunday June, 17, toe the startline of an event recognised as one of the most exhausting and brutal in the running world — the 3,100-mile Sri Chinmoy race in New York. Sichel, who became the oldest ever finisher of the event in 2014, is anticipating being pushed to his breaking point once more, in his bid to complete 5,649 laps of the half-a-mile circuit in Queens inside the 52-day time limit. The 22nd annual event is set to finish on Tuesday, August 7, with competitors clocking up the miles between 6am and 12 midnight each day. He believed the support of the Orkney public could be key in crossing the finishing line, with the runner set to take to social media in a bid to encourage engagement throughout his time in New York. For events such as this, the support of the Orkney public can play a key role. Since I did it four years ago, engagement has become far easier through social media and has become even more important.

posted Saturday June 16th