Moorfoots man Colin takes on 90-mile challenge

Colin Williams, of Innerleithen, is running through the Borders from Edinburgh and crossing into Northumberland as part of the UK leg of Pole to Paris.

This is a 3.000km running relay from the Arctic Circle in Sweden finishing in Paris at the end of the November to raise awareness of the United Nations Climate Change talks being held in Paris at that time. The talks are seen as the ‘last chance’ for reaching international agreement to avert dangerous climate change

Colin is starting the three days in Edinburgh tomorrow (Saturday) and finishing at his home in Innerleithen, before progressing on to Ancrum via Selkirk on Sunday and then on Monday heading into the Cheviots to cross into England and onto the Pennine Way before dropping down to the A68 at the village of Byrness on the other side of Carter Bar.

From there he will hand over the baton to Morgan Donnelly, the 2011 British Hill Running Champion who will take the baton south.

Colin said: When I was approached as secretary of the Moorfoot Runners to take part in the relay I jumped at the opportunity, even though I haven’t run further than a marathon for a decade and I certainly haven’t run three of them day after day.

"I am very motivated. It was a while ago now, but I studied environmental science at Edinburgh University and became very concerned about the impact climate change will have on people and nature around the world unless something is done. Since then I have worked in the renewable energy sector for 15 years.

"The idea of the run is to generate interest and raise awareness so that the politicians realise they need to pull their finger out and get a real agreement sorted for the good of all.”

If anyone wants to show support or wants to find out more then look online www.poletoparis.com and follow the progress on facebook at www.facebook.com/poletoparis . Or contact Colin Williams on email at colin.m.williams@talk21.com