MORETON'S own King of the Road, Steve Edwards, has smashed yet another marathon record and become the first person on the planet to run 600 official marathons in under three-and-a-half hours.

Fifty-two-year-old Edwards, a member of Bourton Roadrunners, battled against gale force winds and driving rain during the Port of Dover marathon festival on Sunday which was raising money for the Brathay Trust, to claim his milestone record.

Edwards, who works in IT at Campden BRI, in Chipping Campden, said the gusts gradually got stronger eventually reaching in excess of 60 mph. Amazingly, he finished the 12-lap course in second place with a finishing time of 3:28:55 being one of only two runners that broke the three-and-a-half hour barrier such were the brutal conditions on the South East coast.

His achievement at the weekend means he has run around 18,000 competitive miles since he started running seriously at the age of 18.

He's also raise around £25,000 for charity during those miles.

By 28 he already had the record for being the youngest to complete 100 marathons. Two years later he became the youngest person to complete 200 marathons.

Several more records came and went, one of which was completing 87 marathons in one year.

From then on he had his 500th marathon in his sights which he achieved in 2012 and declared he would continue and try to reach 1,000 all within the magical finishing time of less than three-and-a-half hours.

Speaking after Sunday's race he said: "That was so very close. I was never sure until the final 800 yards that I was going to do it today, that's got to be one of the toughest races I've ever ran in terms of the conditions. It was a challenge to stay on my feet at times never mind run, the wind was ridiculous, when it gusted it either blew you sidewards or backwards.

"The support I had in the closing mile from other runners on the return loop was fantastic and made me determined to make sure I didn't let the weather win, once the finishing clock was in sight I put the hammer down and gave it everything. You could see the grimace etched on everyone's faces as they battled in those conditions and I'm sure I looked no different, but I used that to help inspire me to keep pushing and I'm glad I did as it not only made the achievement that little bit more sweeter but extremely memorable, I'll never forget that race in a hurry that's for sure."

With 677 marathons under his belt, in terms of statistics, not only does he become the first person to run 600 sub 3hr 30min marathons in official races but also beats his own world record for running 600 marathons in the fastest average finish time which now stands at 3hrs 15min 35sec.

"All being well I'm hoping that I can reach 700 marathons in total later this year and would also like to run a 300th sub 3:15 if I can. I need eight more to reach that landmark and hope I can do it before I get too old, therefore the show must go on."

As well as his sponsors Mannatech, Team Nutrition and Sub Sports, backing him and providing continued support, Edwards recognises the support of his wife, Teresa, who accompanies him to all his races, as being all important.

She said after the gruelling Port Dover race: "I felt really sorry for Steve watching him run in those conditions today, I don't know how he does it but I'm extremely proud of what he's achieved."