AFTER completing his personal Everest in July, Alloa’s Scott MacMichael certainly isn’t one to shy away from a big challenge.

Running 39.4 miles and cycling 114.5 miles across two days, the Clackmannanshire runner completed the City to Summit challenge in July, but keen to keep his fitness on track, Scott is now aiming to complete the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run.

Chosen to represent his county as one of the 32 runners taking on a ‘10 week to 10k’ running challenge, the 37-year-old graphic designer is looking to improve on the time he set three years ago.

“I had been training for a big event essentially for the first six months of this year,” he said.

“I was aware that it would be quite difficult to stop the training that I had been doing, so I was plotting what could be the next event.

“It seemed to be a good event, one that I’ve run previously, with the added chance of being able to represent my area.

“I would like to maybe beat my time from 2015. I am aiming towards that and generally hoping for a good day.”

Bank of Scotland, which sponsors the Great Scottish Run taking place on September 30, launched the Community Challenge to help get Scotland active.

Each runner will embark on their own personal journey in a “10 week to 10k” challenge, receiving a personalised training programme by an expert coach in the weeks leading up to the run, on September 30.

And after completing the gruelling climb up Ben Nevis earlier this year, Scott is hoping he can relish running in a more relaxed environment this time out.

“I did City to Summit and it was the toughest thing I’ve ever done,” he added. “It was hard beyond belief. That event had become my personal Everest. I had to focus this entire year towards that.

“My preparations are going ok. When I started they were going really well and I’ve had five not so great weeks.

“I’m kind of getting into it now. It’s been a mixture of fatigue, life and work that have thrown a fair few curveballs.

“I’m not in the place that I hoped to be, but it works.

“I’m hoping to turn up and give a good account of myself.”

Bank of Scotland is celebrating its 10th year as proud partner of the Great Scottish Run and for the second year running will support runners from communities across Scotland on their 10 weeks to 10k challenge in the Bank of Scotland Community Challenge. For more information, visit greatscottishrun.com/community-challenge