A COTSWOLD athlete is the first person in history to run 500 sub-three hour 20 minute official marathons.

North Cotswold Tri and Run's Steve Edwards, 56, did his 841st competitive marathon in 3.18.01 in Hull to claim second in his veteran 55 age category.

He said: “After battling with an ongoing hamstring issue since the the end of last year, words cannot describe how pleased I am to become the first person to achieve this landmark world record which I thought was going to elude me.

"The last three miles were tortuous but I really wanted this and am so glad I was able to achieve it at Hull which is a really great event.

"I also got to meet and chat to Jo Pavey, one of my all-time athletic heroes, who presented my medal at the finish."

Edwards thanked his wife Teresa, club-mates, other runners and sponsors for their support over the years.

He also won the sporting hero category at the Pride of Cotswolds Awards.

Edwards hopes to extend his marathon total to 850 and then push on towards 900 in 2019.

His ultimate ambition is to set a new world record for running 1,000 official marathons averaging under 3.20. Edwards is currently averaging 3.18.35.

Meanwhile, North Cotswold Tri and Run's James Dunn did the Moscow Marathon with an 11-minute personal best over the distance of 4.31.

Laura Williams and Ann Hillary went to Ashbury, Wiltshire, for the Ridgeway Run over 10 miles.

Hillary was eighth woman in 1.29 closely followed by the improving Williams in 11th in 1.30. 

Mike Kelly did a PB at Cheltenham Park Run for first male veteran aged 45 to 49 in 19.59.