TROWBRIDGE runner Danny Kay will be putting his best foot forward this weekend as the 73-year-old looks to compete in his 600th marathon.

Mr Kay, who has run the equivalent of two-thirds around the world during his 599 marathons, will complete the remarkable milestone in Malaga on Sunday (December 6).

“I just love doing them it’s as simple as that, I love the buzz and the comradery of all the different people you meet,” said Mr Kay, who has lived in Trowbridge with his wife, Marion, for 48 years.

“I ran my first marathon in 1982 at Gosport and Fareham and I felt like death after it and said never again, never will I put my body through that again.

“But after a couple of weeks I thought I can do better than that after running it in three hours and 49 minutes and it went from there.

“People say to me you're mad when I tell them how many I’ve run and they can’t understand why I don’t have any problems with my knees or joints.

“I ran in Malaga last year, it’s a good course and a lot of the 100 Running Club are going to be there, but I don’t run for time anymore I run as I feel and if I feel good I run faster.”

The former mould injector at Avon Rubber, who holds a personal best time of three hours and two minutes, currently runs every day and has already competed in 52 marathons so far this year.

And Mr Kay has plans to compete in more on his return from Spain.

“I think if I packed it in I wouldn’t be around for long, you get people who retire at the age of 65 and they don’t do anything for a couple of months and then they go.

“As long as I stay fit and as I am now I’ll carry on running.”

And Mr Kay’s running has inspired other members of his family to run 26.2 miles.

“My daughter, Sarah, is taking part in the London Marathon next year and when we go visit her I go out running with her,” added Mr Kay.

“I’m very proud of her, she’s doing well and I’m sure she’ll get around the course.”