Orkney-based ultra marathon runner, William Sichel (62) ended the year on a high by running 315.565km/196.083 miles to claim 3rd overall in the men’s race, from 37 starters and first in the over 60 age category with a new World Age-Group Record in the Bislett International Endurance Indoor Festival 48 Hour race in Oslo, Norway.
As is often the case William worked his way gradually to the top positions from much lower down the field in the early hours.
“As always happens, people start too fast, eat too much and get sick. I just stick to my plan and used my experience to run a more even pace throughout the race. Sometimes it’s important to see the whole race as a whole and not be too myopic.”
William set a life time best time for 100-miles indoors of 19 hours 56 minutes, 28 seconds and covered 184.791km/114.82 miles for the first 24 hour period. This was only 3 miles less than he ran when coming 3rd overall in September’s Tooting 24 Hour track race in London.
“I then went on to do just over 81 miles in the second day, when the track was less crowded and added a substantial 25 miles to the current World Age-Group record for indoor 48 hours which was set last year in Alaska. To be honest over-crowding wasn’t too bad most of the time but I did find it far too noisy a lot of the time and had to run with ear plugs. The high noise level also interfered with my system of having quick 20 minute naps as I couldn’t get to sleep.”
William would like to thank his crewman Alan Young from Dundee who travelled to Oslo to assist him as well as all sponsors who helped to make the trip possible.
William will now check all the records set at intermediate distances and times to see how many records were set all together.
Read all articles about William Sichel HERE
IAN CORLESS 