NOT CONTENT to have become the first person in the world to run 500 sub-3hour 30min marathons, Steve Edwards has set himself another extraordinary task - he wants to make it to 1,000.

Fresh marathon targets are hard to come by for Edwards, from Moreton-in-Marsh, who collects world records as others would stamps. But he has already broken new ground twice in 2013.

Of the 14 marathons he has run this year, he tackled his first night marathon in Luxembourg and he ticked another box on Saturday when completing back-to-back marathons on the same day.

That took the Bourton Roadrunner to 593 in total at a mighty impressive average of 3hr 18min.

The Enigma Back To Front Double Marathon at Caldecotte Lake in Milton Keynes is, as the name suggests, two marathons run in opposite directions, the first starting at 9am and the second at 3.30pm.

Thirty competitors began the quest but only 15 managed to do the double. Edwards was not only the oldest competitor to finish at 50 but he also won the event, showing admirable pacing to post 3:26.26 in the morning and 3:26.19 in the afternoon for an overall time of 6:52.45, four minutes clear of the runner-up.

"John Errington beat me with a 3:21 in the morning but he failed to line up in the afternoon, so I started the second marathon in first place with a three-minute advantage over the second-placed guy, Rick Vercoe," said Steve.

"In my three-hour break, I had an ice bath, a lie down, a warm shower, and plenty of refuelling and rehydration.

"Rick went off quickly in race two and started to pull away from me.

"With my stomach starting to feel a little delicate and my legs getting heavier as each mile went by, I decided to let him go and stick to my own race plan.

"This was becoming a massive mental battle of mind over matter, especially as it was getting more of a lonely race with other competitors in the field starting to pull out. To my surprise, Rick was back in sight at the 21-mile point having himself suffered with leg cramps.

"With two miles to go, I managed to catch him up and pass by. I'd now got the bit between my teeth and wanted to win in style.

"I finished in seven seconds faster than in the morning and over four minutes ahead of Rick for both marathons overall."

Edwards expects to pass the 600 marathon mark in September but, he is tempted by an even more outrageous target.

"In theory, it would be amazing to think I could reach 1,000, but only if I can maintain a certain standard of finish times, which I know is easier said than done," he said. "Although the hunger and desire to continue training twice daily, six days a week has waned slightly, I enjoy the camaraderie, being on the circuit and the general buzz of marathon running.

"When I get my body to respond, it re-ignites the passion and enthusiasm to continue chasing new targets that have yet to be achieved by anyone. This keeps me hungry and dedicated to see just how far I can take it.

"It will rely on whether I can maintain a disciplined training regime and, of course, being dedicated.

"As hard as it is, I also have to accept the ageing process and the fact I'll gradually get slower, so it's an interesting question.

"I guess if I can stay healthy and hungry enough, if I could go on to run 1,000 marathons and average under 3hr 30min for each one, that's got to be the ultimate. Then I will perhaps retire."