Andrew Thornton will complete the run in Virginia. Picture: Tony Gay.

A committed shop owner is preparing to go the extra mile for this year’s Crouch End fun run by tackling the 10km challenge at night during a trip to the USA.

Andrew Thornton, 48, owner of Budgens, in The Broadway, will begin the race in the early hours of the morning in Virginia, in order to coincide with the race’s 9:30am start in Crouch End, on May 20.

He said: “This year I’m on a training programme in the USA so rather than miss it I made a commitment that I’d run the 10km in Virginia. Then it got a bit out of hand and it was suggested I do it simultaneously.

“I’m going to set off at 4:30am local time in Virginia to coincide with the race starting time in Crouch End.”

The fun run, now in its 22nd year, takes places in Priory Park and will be followed by a festival of music and entertainment.

Competitors in the race are raising money through sponsorship for Hornsey YMCA.

Mr Thornton, of Barrington Road, will be competing in his sixth consecutive fun run after finishing last year’s race in a personal best time of 43 minutes.

He said: “It will obviously be dark so I have a head torch. I’ll have been there for a week already so I will have had time to get used to the conditions.

“I’m not expecting to beat my time last year running in the dark, in the woods, compared with running beside thousands of people in Crouch End!”