Boy, 14, runs 48 miles in 48 hours to beat Navy Seal challenge

Fourteen-year-old David-John Cathie, known as DJ, took the David Goggins Challenge, running four miles every four hours.

The Burntisland youngster decided to take on the challenge issued by the US fitness guru and former Navy Seal, using the opportunity to raise funds for Time To Tackle.

The football therapy group was set up by his older brother Aaron in Glasgow to reach out to those suffering from poor mental health.

A Justgiving page has already raised £1700, with the hope of using the group to tackle stigma and lonliness.

DJ’s four-mile runs took place even at night, with his dad, David, supervising his midnight and 4:00am bouts.

David said he couldn’t be prouder of his sons for what they’ve acomplished.

He said: “Arron is an ex-footballer who’s had mental health issues himself so he’s set up this group.

“DJ has been running since he was seven years old.

“Arron saw this David Goggins challenge and took it up, asking DJ if he wanted to just do 24 hours’ worth.

“But DJ, not wanting to look unfit to his big brother said ‘if you can do 48 hours, so can I’.

“So they both did it and I’m just totally gobsmacked that they both smashed it.

“For a 14-year-old boy he’s very fit, but even then I thought he would find it hard, but two of his runs averaged just over 10 minutes averaging each mile.”

But to ensure everything went smoothly, with DJ running at some strange times of the night accompanied by his dad in the car, David had to make a few unusual preparations.

He said: “I was sitting in the car just watching and following him at night. Some part of the route were dark so he was using my headlights to see.

“I spoke to the police in advance, as I didn’t want them getting phonecalls at 4:00am about a suspicious car sitting near Pettycur Bay!”

“It’s a challenge that’s not really set up for a 14-year-old boy, but it’s meant to tackle your fitness and your mental health, so that once you’ve done the challenge and if you’re ever feeling down, you remember what you’ve challenged your body to do and achieved it.

“I said to him ‘do you realise what you’ve accomplished?’ He said ‘it’s just a run, dad’.”

Anyone wishing to donate can go to the fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/timetotackle