Last weekend provided final proof, if any were needed, that Ray Smith has finally taken leave of his senses.  Ray has been an enthusiastic and hard working stalwart for Goole Viking Striders ever since the club formed in 1985, and he used to be such a sensible lad.  On Saturday however, at Costello stadium in Hull, his last remaining brain cells took flight and switched off the light.
How else could you explain his participation in this endurance event where you run round a track for 24 hours, unless you drop from exhaustion earlier?  How else could he ignore his legs screaming for mercy?  And how else could he cope with the mental demands of such an event, including crushing boredom only alleviated by the occasional change in direction? 

In all seriousness, Ray has form for this sort of thing before.  He has completed 40 and 50 miles in similar ultra distance events, but this one took him to a new level.  Taking into account sustenance breaks and the odd wink or two of sleep, Ray’s total track time was 19 hours, during which he covered a staggering 77 miles, or in other words, nearly three back to back marathons.  And then he drove home as though nothing had happened. 

It takes a very special type of person to contemplate, let alone complete, a gruelling challenge like this, and Ray is that man.  But I still think he’s crazy!