Life is a marathon, not a sprint, for Steve Hickman – 109 of them to be precise.

The endurance running enthusiast is preparing for his next challenge – the 24-hour ultra-marathon at Reculver near Herne Bay this weekend, described as a supreme test of both physical and mental abilities.

Hickman, a 55-year-old cost lawyer in the family firm based at Greatstone, clocked up his century in his native Isle of Wight in October and has a big personal reason to reach 150 as soon as possible.

The Ashford and District Road Running Club chairman said: “My wife Janet suffers from motor neurone disease.

“It’s in the early stages at the moment but she comes to support me and cheer everyone on. I want to get there as soon as I can before her condition worsens.

“I ran at school but gave up due to family reasons, then became fat and 40 and needed to do something.

“I do it to keep active and fit. I enjoy the single-minded approach needed, especially in the smaller races, when you are running on your own for so long.”

Hickman’s first marathon was in Snowdonia, north Wales, in 2001. Since then, he has raced in Europe, America and even across the Himalayas, five years ago.

He said: “It was 100 miles in five days. Running at altitude was fine but you do breathe
more.”

He has run the London Marathon six times with a best of three hours 45 minutes and Brighton on five occasions.

Hickman’s target of 150 includes running five marathons in five days around the Kent coast in November.