STEVE EDWARDS from Moreton-in-Marsh is just three races away from becoming the first person on the planet to run 600 official marathon races all under 3hr 30min.

Back in November 2012, Steve realised his lifetime ambition by becoming the first (and still the only) athlete in the world to run 500 official marathon races all under 3:30 – his average finishing time for 500 marathons of 3:13.16 is also a world best.

Just over two years on, Steve is on the cusp of setting a similar record for 600 marathons.

If all goes to plan, Steve hopes he can run his 600th sub-3:30 at the end of this month.

Six hundred marathons equates to 15,720 miles and to complete the astounding record Steve has a run a marathon every 14 days for the last 27 years.

Steve said: "I can't believe the number of marathons I've run since that memorable day in 2012, certainly a lot more than I'd originally intended.

"If anyone had said back then that I would go on to run 600 sub 3:30s just over two years later I'd have just laughed."

For the record Steve ran 51 marathons in a 50-week period during 2014, averaging just over 3hr 17min for each one.

Having run a lifetime total of 674 marathons, his 700th marathon landmark is also on the horizon, perhaps in the autumn.

Steve, 52, said: "I'm so focused on training hard and trying to keep my finish times respectable that I sometimes forget I'm not getting any younger.

"My overall average finish time for 674 marathons is still hovering around 3:17 so if I can reach 700 without letting that slip it makes another record that will be difficult for someone to break in the future."

Longer term, the dream for the ultimate world record – 1,000 marathons – lives on.