 I first met Steve in a lift at the Strand Palace Hotel on the eve of the 1992 London Marathon. He had just acheived his first marathon running feat of 87 marathons in a 12 month period or something like that...but I am sure Steve will correct me on that fact...!! Quite recently Steve contacted me via the website prior to the 2005 Flora London marathon to point out that this would be his 400th marathon and how his aim would be to complete his 500 marathon in 2012 the same year we all hope the Olympics come to London.....Incidently it would Steves' 50th birthday that year too...So what a goal...!!
Follow the progress of Steve's Marathon Challenge
Marathon Challenge race reports 400 to 422
Marathon Challenge race reports 423 to 446
Steve Progress 2008
Let me introduce myself, my name is Steve Edwards, I am a 42 year old runner
from Gloucestershire and if all goes to plan I will be completing my 400th
Marathon at the 2005 London Marathon..
I am not what you would call an elite athlete, I'm just an ordinary family man
with a 9 till 5 job, but I love running, especially marathons. My small claim to
fame came in 1992 when I ran 87 official marathon races in a 12 month period to
become the Guinness World Record holder for running the most marathons in a
year. Since then, I have gone on to complete a total of 398 marathons and in the 2005 London event will be my 400th . I have competed in marathons all over the
world since 1988 to amass this total and my personal best time is 2 hours 51
minutes. My overall average finishing time for all marathons is a respectable 3
hours 15 minutes which I am proud of given that on average, I have run a
marathon every fortnight for the last 17 years.
 Running has taken me to over 21 countries not to mention the length and breadth of the British Isles, from the Isles Of Scilly to the Outer Hebrides, over 50 counties all told . On many occasions, I have run marathons on consecutive days sometimes a thousand miles apart and once ran 8 marathons in 10 days. Marathon running is a major part of my life, I enjoy the challenge and the camaraderie the event provides, it keeps me fit and has taken me to some lovely places, some of which I would never have otherwise visited. As well as supporting the marathon event itself, it has also proved a useful means of raising money for various charities including Great Ormand Street, the NSPCC and various cancer related charities. My ultimate goal has always been to complete 500 marathons in my 50th year and it has just dawned on me that I will be 50 in the year London could be hosting the Olympic Games, 2012. So I have about 7 years to complete another 100 marathons and hopefully time my 500th perfectly for the London Marathon in 2012.
My philosophy has always been that old cliché 'competition is all about the taking part', not everyone can win, but without the other participants, you would never have winners or losers. This couldn't be any more truer for running marathons, especially the big city marathons. What other sport could I rub shoulders and compete with the worlds best athletes, I know I'll never win, but then for most marathon runners, the competition is against oneself, either just to complete it or to chase that elusive PB!
Regards
Steve Edwards
Follow the progress of Steve's Marathon Challenge HERE
For more information on Steve's challenge or messages of support email nigeruns@tiscali.co.uk ......
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