NATHAN Montague has taken a huge stride towards securing an early 2018 wish after making a startling debut in a brand new event.

The Swindon Harriers international long-distance runner, who is fast becoming one of the leading members of the global elite ultra-distance community, switched from his desert and mountain exploits to line up for his debut in a 24-hour track race in Barcelona last weekend.

If not a gamble it was a huge change in direction and one that paid off handsomely as Montague finished second overall and ran inside the Great Britain qualifying standard for the European Championships in Romania next May.

“The qualifying standard to be considered for selection for the British team was 230 kilometres and I ran 234.6k, or 145.7 miles, in the 24 hours,” said Montague, who lives in The Parks area of the town.

“The qualifying period was the end of the year so that is okay and now it is a question of whether they decide to pick me for Romania.

“It would be amazing to run the event for Britain and I would love to do but that is now not in my control so we will have to wait and see what they decide.”

In the meantime Montague will be taking a rest – with some light running just to tick over – to recover from the ordeal of racing non-stop for 24 hours solid and covering roughly 600 laps around a tartan track.

“I am not sure I could say I loved it apart from in a masochistic sense but it was an amazing experience,” added Montague.

“It was such a different experience from my ultra-stage races in the desert and through the mountains, which is a much more stimulating environment both physically and mentally.

“Running purely around a track you feel like you are in a bubble, almost in some sort of Zen-like mode, and your mind plays funny tricks on you.

“People say if you can run for hundreds of miles through mountains then it should be no problem to run for 24 hours on the track but it would be like asking a track sprinter to go out and run the 3,000m steeplechase. They are such different events.

“It was very tough mentally and physically and my body felt pretty battered afterwards.”

Not surprisingly really as Montague didn’t take any time out to rest or sleep, ate and drank or the run and only stopped for essential bathroom breaks.

“I am so pleased to have finally completed a 24-hour race because it has always been an ambition of mine,” he added.

“It was a good debut but I know I can do better as I learned so much and there are many areas in which I can improve in the future.”

If his New Year wish comes true Montague’s next chance to shine will be wearing the GB vest in Romania next spring.