It was all going swimmingly for Gartcosh’s Gary McKean in the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run – until the last few metres.

McKean, 50, suffers from Crohn’s disease and took on the 10k challenge to raise awareness of the debilitating illness, that forced him to have his bowel removed last year.

Raising awareness of the condition drew him to taking part in the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run Community Challenge, launched to help get Scotland active.

Gary was the North Lanarkshire representative, as the campaign aimed to recruit recruited one runner from each of the 32 local authorities in Scotland to take on a ‘10 week to 10k’ running challenge, with each receiving a personalised training programme by an expert coach in the weeks leading up to the run, which took place on September 30.

His training schedule was blown apart by a calf injury, that meant he stepped onto the start line on St Vincent Street having not ran a single yard in two weeks.

It was only pure adrenaline and the encouragement of South Lanarkshire representative Alistair Garroway that got Gary through – but there would be a late twist.

“I woke up in the morning and hadn’t been feeling too good,” said McKean.

“I really wondered whether I could do it and considered giving the whole thing a miss.

“I still had my injury and my training had been just awful. I hadn’t run in two weeks and that kept coming back to hurt me.

“But Alistair and the adrenaline helped me get through it. I never got up to a good pace and my time of 1 hour 15 minutes wasn’t great but I’m proud I got to the finish line.

“I pushed harder towards the end and with more and more people cheering me on, I got a bit carried away and literally the last step before the line my calf went.

“I let out the biggest scream and a few words I shouldn’t have! I just about managed to keep my composure in the end.”

McKean is a former Elvis impersonator, travelling the world with his act, before retiring recently due to his illness.

Runners on the day were given access to sugar-based treats, helping them prepare for the run and Dame Kelly Holmes met them at the finish line.

The successful run has given McKean confidence and having not participated in aid of a charitable cause this year, would relish the challenge in the future.

“We met Kelly and had a good laugh but I didn’t have a clue who she was until someone pointed her out!” he said.

“I haven’t run for a charity because I’ve never felt I could deal with the pressure. Now it was more about raising awareness of my condition.

“I’d love to do it again but would like to try it in aid of a charity if I feel well enough to cope. I think I might be able to do it now.”

Bank of Scotland is celebrating its 10th year as partner of the Great Scottish Run. For more information, visit greatscottishrun.com/community-challenge.