SOUTAR TAKES ON HUGE CHALLENGE AHEAD OF WORLD CHAMPS
05/12/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
ALAN SOUTAR is preparing for his World Championship return while also taking on a major challenge away from darts by training for the 2026 London Marathon.
World No54 Soutar has signed up for the 26.2 mile race with his wife Amanda and immediately chose to run for Guide Dogs Scotland.
‘Soots’ and his partner have spent more than eight years raising and training guide dog puppies, helping them progress to the national training centre where they go on to support blind and partially sighted people.
The Scot is also a full-time firefighter but admits long distance running is completely new territory.
He said: “As a 47-year-old, it’s a bit of a leap of faith into the unknown after 20 years of not doing any running.
“We’re going to do it for Guide Dogs Scotland. We’ve both got in via the ballot, and both got a place in the London Marathon next year.
“To do it for guide dogs is important to my family and everyone that supports us in Scotland, so it’s a cool charity.
“Also, it’s a kick up the bum to get fitter and do something for somebody else – that’s the main thing.”
Soutar detailed the huge role the guide dog work plays in his and Amanda’s lives, saying the impact it has on others is what drives them to keep doing it.
He added: “Amanda and I can change people’s lives by doing that.
“You’re giving someone that’s lost their sight a bit of freedom and their independence back. Any life we can affect in a positive way, I’m going to do everything I can to do it.
“We’re on guide dog number eight now, we got him in mid-November and he’s 16-weeks-old. He’s lots of fun, but the training has only just started!
“I’ve always been someone that wants to give something back. I live a nice life, I’ve been around the world, so it’s now time to give back to somebody else.”
The 47-year-old made three quarter-finals on the Players Championship circuit and the fifth round of the UK Open earlier this year.
Soutar begins his World Championship campaign against Teemu Harju on December 16.
Arbroath thrower Soutar has reached the fourth round at Ally Pally in his first two appearances at the major.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
