Teacher completes 105 marathons for charity

A superfit runner completed a record-breaking 105 marathons in 105 days in aid of charity yesterday.

Teacher Neil O’Maonaigh-Lennon, 30, set off from Brighton, East Sussex, on September 10 and has run anti-clockwise around the coast of Britain.

He reached Wales last month and completed the final stages through the West Country, Dorset and Hampshire.

Yesterday afternoon O’Maonaigh-Lennon, who grew up in Harrow, north west London, triumphed by crossing the finishing line at Brighton Pier.

He had already broken the Guinness World Record for the consecutive number of marathons run in one attempt, of 52 marathons in 52 days.

He has been through several pairs of running shoes in his bid to raise £10,000 (€12,000) for Cancer Research UK following the deaths of both his grandfathers from the disease.

He said: “My aim from day one was to run every step of the way. There’s no walking. It’s definitely a question of mind over body.”

O’Maonaigh-Lennon, who teaches English as a foreign language, endured months of cold winds, snow, high mountains and soggy moors.

It took him around seven hours to complete the 26.2-mile distance each day and he wore a satellite tracking device to record his mileage.

When each marathon was completed, a marker was placed on the road from which he started the following day.

Lack of professional monitoring by Guinness could thwart his attempt to formalise the world record but he hopes the technology he is using to record his route on his website will help.

The final leg saw him run yesterday from Bognor Regis, West Sussex, to Brighton, where he was greeted by staff from Cancer Research UK.

After crossing the finishing line at Brighton Pier, O’Maonaigh-Lennon, said: “I feel absolutely elated.”

In front of cheering supporters, a tired O' Maonaigh-Lennon said: "I knew I would find it hard to reach the finish but I'm just so glad I made it and got to the pier.

“The most difficult part was in the Highlands.”