WHEN William Robertson thinks about his life 10 years ago, he does not recognise himself.
The 28-year-old, from Maryhill, Glasgow, has turned his life around after previously being involved in crime, gangs, violence and drugs.
Since taking up running less than two years ago, he has lost 6st, completed his first ultra-marathon and has now been invited to train with some of the world's fastest runners in Kenya.
The Grim Reaper ultramarathon race took place in Lincolnshire between August 1 and 2. It started at 9.30am and it took him more than 24 hours to run the non-stop 100 mile race, watched at various points by his close friends and family.
The turning point in William's life came shortly after he was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, a mental illness similar to schizophrenia and bipolar.
At the age of seven he attempted suicide and said he "just didn't know where to turn".
William said: "I was born in the Hamish Allan Centre because my family was homeless. I was around drugs and people taking drugs, and I was only a kid.
"I tried to end my life at seven, I didn't want to live any more. I didn't know where I belonged.
"I had nobody to talk to then, but I knew something wasn't right.
"That is why I self-medicated with drugs and alcohol from a young age to try and help myself.
"When I was 12, I started smoking hash and then started drinking. I tried cocaine when I was 14 or 15.
"It wasn't me, it was like a face or mask."
During a holiday in Greece, William had a psychotic episode and began ripping up money in his hotel room. His friends found him and he was taken to hospital.
"The Greek hospital took me in," said William. "I was tasered and booked into a psychiatric ward - it was 70°F in there for five weeks.
"I got taken back by the British Embassy and I went into Stobhill Hospital but I ran away.
"Everything was just locked down.
"Now it is like I am free - it has been a long run to freedom."
Two years after he was diagnosed his daughter Ava-Jane was born.
Now 19 months old, she has acted as a major source of inspiration for William, who wants to be a good role model for his daughter, of whom he now has shared custody.
He said: "I had started meditation and used to go up to the hills and would cry by myself, for hours.
"I wasn't getting to see my daughter at that time, things were not good with my family. It was the hardest time of my life.
"A lot of fathers would just go to the pub and sit, but I thought to myself, 'What could I do instead?' so I set myself the challenge of running a marathon."
Weighing 19½st, he managed to complete his first marathon in less than five hours wearing hillwalking boots and a tracksuit.
During the Commonwealth Games in July, he was walking through Kelvingrove Park when he noticed a group of Kenyan athletes and stopped to talk to them.
After explaining he was a keen runner, team coach Nderitu Gikaria offered William the chance of a lifetime - to train with the Kenyan athletes on their home turf.
Now he is planning to save enough money to travel to the country and take part in a marathon.
William is also studying counselling at Glasgow Clyde College, and wants to be a motivation for other young people to show them how sport can help in their lives.
"Running is about dealing with adversity, it's pushing through the hurdles and moving forward.
"It helps you accept life."
Not only is he aiming to help children get involved in sport, he has signed up to help blind runners practise for races.
He also wants to help people with mental illness, and said: "It's not publicised very much, but it's a journey to recovery.
"If you can find the balance you can work with your community psychiatric nurse and psychiatrist. You can get better.
"It is a lot to do with yourself as a person.
"You move forward, it becomes a journey."
hannah.rodger@ eveningtimes.co.uk
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