A biology teacher is celebrating running her 100th marathon.

Karen Bennett, who works at Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys in Canterbury, ran her first 26.2-mile course just six years ago at the age of 40.

“It was a typical mid-life crisis thing,” she said. “I hated sport at school, but a marathon had always been on my bucket list.

“So in 2013, I did the Brighton Marathon.

“It was shockingly bad. I hated it. I trained so hard, but it took me almost five hours. I cried over the line, I was so disappointed. I thought, ‘I’m rubbish - it’s not for me’.”

But despite her shaky start, Karen kept trying.

“I fell in with some brilliant, supportive runners, and that was it,” she said.

“I went from doing one or two marathons a year to doing 20. This year, I did 30.”

In 2019, Karen ran the UK’s first marathon in a prison, at the decommissioned HMP Shepton Mallet in Somerset.

“I love running events that are little bit different,” she explained.

“There’s no point if you don’t have fun along the way.

“I used to listen to music, but now prefer looking around and chatting to people. There are so many amazing people running. It’s a big social thing.

“I like scenic routes and lapped events, and have done runs where you get 24 hours to go as far as you can. I also recommend ‘cakeathons’, where most of the stops have cake.”

“I’m not very speedy,” added Karen, whose record time is 3hrs 53mins. “I prefer going slightly longer. I’ve done a couple of 100-milers.”

On December 15, aged 46, Karen completed her 100th marathon at Samphire Hoe Country Park near Dover.

“Some colleagues came to run with me, and a pupil joined me on my last lap,” she said. “He’s got cerebral palsy, and has been determined to do it with me. It was absolutely lovely.

“I don’t know how I feel to have finished.

“My initial target was 25 marathons, then I aimed for 50 before turning 50.

“But since realising I could get 100 done, it’s been my main focus for the last few years.

“I don’t know what my next challenge will be, but I like the idea of 100 ultra-marathons.”

Thinking about taking up running this year? Read Karen's advice here.

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