Tough Mudder Infinity Challenge - for Neil Mac

Together with my pal Elliott, on the 24th September, I am taking part in the torturous Tough Mudder Infinity event to do endless laps of a Tough Mudder course, doing more distance than a marathon but through obstacles. The course has a 9-hour time limit, during which we will try to do as many 15-mile and 5-mile laps as possible.

I’m doing this in memory of Neil Mackenzie - who was my lifelong friend but tragically died in a mountaineering accident in January 2015. Following his death, Neil’s family set up a brilliant charity called the Neil Mackenzie Trust in his memory, to encourage training and adventure. They have funds available to assist young people and adults to carry out skills training in non-competitive outdoor sports in Scotland and adventures and expeditions anywhere in the world. I am doing this event to raise money for this charity,

It’s hard to describe just how unique, inspiring, loving, enthusiastic and above all kind, Neil was. Here are some words that I wrote immediately after his death, with some others I have included now:

My brother and I knew Neil Mac as ’Neilig.’ This was his nickname from the two of us and several other of our friends because when he wrote us a letter as a wee boy, he signed off with (what looked like) ’Neil MacKenzig.’ It was a convenient name to distinguish because my brother is also called Neil. When we went to Statherrick Primary School the two Neils constituted the entirety of their school year.

I had countless memorable times with Neilig over the years - because he had a life affirming love of adventure and an inexhaustible energy for anything fun.

Together with me, he shared the unusual pairing of ardent passions both for hip hop and Celtic music. In fact, he even loved both scratch DJing and solo bagpipe music as much as I did. I remember times when we would both listen to a recording of Roddy MacLeod playing ‘The Old Men Of The Shells,’ swiftly followed by video performances of QBert, D-Styles, The X-Ecutioners etc…

His profound, deep love for mountains was infectious. His connection to them was so beautiful to see. He always looked like he had just emerged out of the wilderness. I remember going to a club in London with him whilst he was wearing hiking boots and a giant old tattered Barbour jacket, with a couple of bottles of whisky in it that we sneaked past the bouncers.

He was smiling, open and honest at all times, with a heavyweight sense of humour. This made him so lovable to anyone who met him. I don’t know of a single person who did not smile when they talked about Neil Mac. They were so happy that you also knew him and understood how incredible he was - there was an instant recognition; you were part of this ‘club’ because anyone who had Neil in their lives knew that they were truly so fortunate.

Above all, he wasn’t frightened to be a true individual, and he lived life on his own terms. I miss him terribly, but he is always a source of inspiration for me. He showed me to truly bask in both the epic and mundane moments of life, and to be able to appreciate it to the full. I will always be grateful to him for that.

When I’m atop a Highland mountain enjoying a soul-healing view, I always know that he'd appreciate it just as much as I do. I am always connected to him through this, and through how you made me and many others, better people.