A Largs running man is chasing the dream by taking part in extraordinary 100 mile races across extreme terrain in the States.

Colin Thornton has taken part in two of the incredible runs already, reaching heights of up to 12,600 feet, and has raised funds for Chest Heart Stroke Scotland.

His first run was through the Colorado Rockies earier this year - the Leadville 100 trail run - and was Colin’s first 100 miler.

“I will never forget the feeling of excitement as I set of fdown 6th street in leadville with the locals going crazy all round me. The first 50 miles went well and my climb over the highest point at Hope Pass was great. Once I could see the finishing line I broke into a slight jog. There were so many emotions I can’t even begin to describe them. It was over. One of the greatest races I have ever been on!” Colin was placed 185th out of 944 runners. The time taken for the energy sapping run was 26 hours 45 minutes.

As Colin finished within the top 200 of the Leadville Buckle, he received an exclusive personalised jacket for the feat, and raised over £1000 for charity, but time and tide wait for no man, and Colin decided to do it all over again in September!

He returned to Colorado for the ‘Run Rabbit Run’ 100 mile race, taking the route of the National Forest of Northern Colerado with another elevation, but this time only 10,300 feet!

The racing enthusiast built up for his latest challenge but taking part in a series of other evetns including the Leadville Silve Rush 50 miles, Aspen Valley half marathon, and the Leadville 10 miles in August.

Colin’s dad is Willie, a local photographer, and his mum, Linda, is secretary at Fairlie Primary.

Colin writes a regular blog, and summed up his summer of stupendous running.

He said: “The summer was easily the greatest I have ever had. I managed to somehow see so much of Colorado and run in so many spectacular places I am kind of lost as to what was the best. All of my running days were amazing in their own way - Boulder, Steamboat, Aspen, Leadville, Crested Butte, Silverton... and so on. These were all incredible places which I could explore forever.

“I have way too many highlights with Run Rabbit Run being the obvious although I think the run that sticks out the most in my mind is the afternoon I ran Longs Peak. I left late in the day not expecting to summit but felt so strong the whole way and made it to the top all on my own in a good time. I just loved the speed and style that I got up there. Carrying next to nothing and just giving it a good go and it all paid off. I don’t think I have ever been happier on a summit than I was on that one!” However, a new challenge awaits Colin as he intends to take part in the Transvulcania 73k in May 2015 which is a long distance race, considered the hardest mountain-ultramarathon in the Canary Islands and one of the most important in Spain.