Randy McClelland participates in 24-hour Ultraskate events.

WARRENTON — When Randy McClelland was given a skateboard as a birthday gift at 3, he couldn’t have known that it would prepare him for a unique — and exhausting — hobby.

McClelland, 47, of Warrenton, was forced to quit long-distance running in 2015 because of a lung condition. Instead, he picked up a skateboard.

For the third year, McClelland will combine his passion for endurance and skating in a grueling challenge. In January, he will ride in the 24-Hour Ultraskate at a racetrack in Miami, where he will attempt to skate 200 miles.

“When I go down there, I believe it’s an opportunity to recycle my own energy,” he said.

Dozens of people, with various skill sets, typically ride in the event, which will start on a Friday at 8 a.m. Competitors will race on the Homestead-Miami Speedway, a NASCAR track.

In his first year competing in the challenge, McClelland skated 120 miles and was forced to stop near the 14-hour mark due to a hairline fracture in his foot. Last year, he skated 160 miles in 20 hours.

Event organizers recognize personal-record plateaus, including the 200-mile mark.

“That’s turned out to be a big deal to me,” McClelland said.

McClelland, director of strategic initiatives at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria, has also used the event to raise funds for local causes. Last year, he raised $5,000 for the hospital’s Friendship Fund, which helps caregivers after crises such as house fires, critical illnesses, deaths in the family and other traumatic events.

This year, McClelland will support the Assistance League of the Columbia Pacific, which promotes child wellness and self-esteem.

“There’s nothing formal about it, you know. I’m just asking people I know if they could make a $1 pledge,” he said.

So, how does one train for such an event? McClelland spends a lot of time on a rowing machine and, at least once a week, tries to skate 25 to 40 miles in one push.

“I mean, the short answer is, ‘I never do enough,’” he said.

When he enters the track in January, McClelland’s focus is to limit breaks or, at least, not sit during rest times.

“Your brain’s always telling you you should stop, you’re tired, your knees are hurting. It’s just so easy to quit,” he said. “The best strategy is to just, kind of, stay motivated and not get off the track.”

Once the race is over, McClelland plans to rest Saturday, fly home Sunday and go to work Monday. Right around the time of the flight is when the searing soreness should start to kick in, he said.

“On Monday when I go in, I’m hurting,” McClelland said.

If he hits the 200-mile mark, McClelland may decide not to enter the event next year. But three years after picking up the sport seriously, long-distance skating will remain a primary hobby.

“I’m in good health, but I’ve found my niche here,” he said.