ATHLETICS: Edwards' marathon quest enters final straight (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Moreton endurance runner ticks off two more marathons

12:31pm Monday 9th July 2012 in Sport

STEVE EDWARDS has entered the finishing straight of his epic journey to become the first person in the world to run 500 official sub-3hr 30min marathon races.

An incredible journey that started in April 1988 has entered the final phase after Moreton-in-Marsh-based Edwards ran back-to-back marathons inside his target time on Saturday (3:15:58) and Sunday (3:18:10) to win both races at the Enigma Summer Series in Milton Keynes.

That took his current tally of sub 3:30s to 491 out of a grand total of 567 marathons completed – and all 22 marathons in 2012 have been inside the target time. He now needs just nine more to achieve an amazing world first.

"With the injuries I've sustained in the past couple of years and subsequent missed events, it would be foolish of me to take anything for granted,” said Edwards.

“I've still got to run the remaining nine events but getting down to single figures is another massive step to achieving this lifetime goal and a huge relief.

“I will sit down this week and make a final decision on the remaining nine events.

“My 50th birthday is on November 29, that was always the deadline.

All being well, I hope the finale will be at the Enigma Winter Series on the weekend of November 11-12."