A British fundraiser has completed the world’s greatest-ever feat of endurance running – completing 100 marathons in 100 days.
Former Army training instructor Mike Buss, 36, has run a marathon on a treadmill every day for more than three months.
He smashed the previous record of 50 marathons in 50 days just seven weeks into his challenge.
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Mike racked up 2,600 miles on treadmills around the country before completing his last marathon at the NEC in Birmingham on Thursday (23/09).
Amazingly, he is now planning to repeat the feat next year – but this time at Death Valley in Nevada, USA.
Mike said: ”I reached my lowest point during the first third of the challenge – with 70 marathons still to go.
”Physically I was fine, but mentally I was tired of running on a treadmill. I have been indoors from 7am to 8pm every day for three months.
”It was mentally very tough and I was unprepared for the solitude of travelling around the country for 100 days, living alone in hotel rooms without much conversation.
”But I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the last three months and can’t quite believe it’s all over.”
Mike, of Swindon, Wilts., was discharged from the army ten years ago because of ear damage following an IRA bomb blast.
He now dedicated himself to raising money for Help for Heroes and plans to raise #100,000 for the charity this year and #1m by 2014.
Mike began his challenge on June 16 by running a marathon on a treadmill at the Brunel Shopping Centre in Swindon.
He then visited 19 different towns across the country, running on treadmills in shopping centre or gyms in the morning and fundraised during the afternoons.
Mike – who completed each marathon in around four-and-a-half hours – burned 6,000 calories a day but only took in 4,000 and lost a stone-and-a-half during his challenge.
The 2,600 miles he covered is the equivalent of running from London to Egypt.
Along the way, Mike also set the record for the greatest distance covered on a treadmill in seven days after completing 517.25 miles in one week.
Mike already hold the records for the furthest distance travelled in 24 and 48 hours on a treadmill with a 40lb backpack, which he set last October.
He has vowed to carry on with his fundraising and will next be carrying a 40lb pack up and down Snowdon for 48 hours.
He said: ”I am going to wind down and do about 40 miles over the next six or seven days,” he said. “Then it will be back into training for the next challenge.”
Before Mike the previous record for running the most marathons was 50 in 50 days, set by American Dean Karnazes in 2006.
