Vincent RAN Gogh! Devoted dad drew incredible pictures by plotting running routes on fitness app Strava to delight six-year-old son recovering from coma
A dad who was left in a coma after being hit by a truck has rekindled his love of running by planning and running routes that would provide photos for his son if recorded on his fitness app.
Using Strava, Gordon Andrew, 52, has delighted little Hamish, 6, with pictures of ships, helicopters and even a reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh.
The running app follows the jogger’s path as he trains, which becomes a bright red line mapped onto the surrounding area.
But just five years ago, Gordon fell into a coma after being hit by a flatbed lorry on his way to work at an IT company in Helensburgh, near Loch Lomond.
He broke his neck, suffered a brain injury and ruptured his spleen, leaving him in hospital for two weeks after being put into a coma at the scene.
Using his running app, Gordon Andrew, 52, has reignited his love of running after a horror accident in which he was hit by a truck. Pictured: Gordon (right), with Hamish (centre) and wife Hayley (left)
Using the app, Gordon has delighted little Hamish with photos of ships, helicopters and even a reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh
Gordon has received mixed reactions from his family, with his son Hamish making requests while enjoying his father’s creativity
But just five years ago, Gordon fell into a coma after being hit by a flatbed lorry on his way to work at an IT company in Helensburgh, near Loch Lomond.
But he was an avid runner and just months later he put on his trainers and fought to take up his hobby again: running a marathon the following year.
He told MailOnline: ‘When I started running again I was very slow and found it very boring.
‘I’d seen ‘Strava Art’ and I always thought Helensborough – because it has a grid pattern – would make a great Etch A Sketch board. So I started to give myself some motivation by drawing routes.
“I think I’ve done them all, but there’s probably a few more.
‘This gave me some motivation, because you have to concentrate so hard. I don’t take a map with me, so I’m too busy thinking about whether to go left or right.’
He has received mixed reactions from his family, with his son Hamish making requests as he rejoiced at his father’s creativity.
But his wife Hayley, 42, is less sure – and while she’s happy he’s exercising, she’s less convinced about the forms he follows.
Gordon said, “My six-year-old son is my judge. Sometimes he has to guess several times, but generally we both come to an agreement.
But his wife Hayley, 42, is less sure – and while she’s happy he’s exercising, she’s less convinced about the shapes he’s following
Gordon left some submarine friends baffled when he took them on a confusing route – until they looked at their phones and saw they had been tracking the shape of their boat
The group are keen members of the Helensburgh Athletics Club and now do the ‘Reindeer Run’ every Christmas in honor of their artistic lover. In the photo: last year during the London Marathon
After being hit by the truck, Gordon broke his neck, suffered a brain injury and ruptured his spleen. He remained in hospital for two weeks after being put into a coma at the scene.
“My wife says that if it makes me happy, I can fill my boots with scribbles, but I shouldn’t expect her not to find it boring.”
He continued: ‘Some of them – like the elephant and the Thomas the Tank Engine – Hamish asked me if I could drive them.
My six year old son is my judge – sometimes it takes several guesses, but
‘When I go out, I don’t usually do runs like this. When he looks at it and I’m just going around in circles, he says, “Oh, that’s nothing, Dad. That’s nonsense!”
‘While my wife is happy that I exercise and she is happy that I go running, she just shrugs when I say, “Look at this amazing helicopter!”
‘She doesn’t like running, so she finds it completely boring. She doesn’t understand it at all.
‘Luckily one person in my family is enthusiastic!’
And the idea has now spread to his local community as they marvel at his works.
Gordon posted a selection of his cards on the ‘Dull Men’s Club’ Facebook page to rave reviews – with more than 15,000 people liking the post in less than a day
The group are keen members of the Helensburgh Athletics Club and now do the ‘Reindeer Run’ every Christmas in honor of their artistic lover.
Gordon added: “There’s a naval base nearby and I’ve done the submarine with a few subs – they didn’t know what they were doing until they looked on Strava.
‘They loved it. We were going up and down, back and forth, they thought we had no idea what we were doing.”
Gordon posted a selection of his cards on the ‘Dull Men’s Club’ Facebook page to rave reviews – with more than 15,000 people liking the post in less than a day.
One – Amanda Bowdler – said: ‘This is the coolest thing ever!’
Another, Zoe White, added: “Very smart and I’m scared,” I chuckled. Definitely not boring.’
And Andrew Wheeldon commented: Interesting and boring at the same time – bravo sir!’
But his challenge was not without criticism – with Kenny Giddings joking: ‘Excellent, but also slightly disappointing that you didn’t try to spell naughty words.’
And Pamela MacKay teased: “You should get out more… oh wait!”
A third – Scott Gardiner – referred to the dull nature of the page and laughed: “Close your door on your way out, Mr Creative. Nobody has time for that kind of thing here.’