SUPERFIT Marc McOwens has completed four marathons, in four different countries, in four weeks, in his latest gruelling fundraiser.

He completed his most ambitious fundraising attempt yet as he ran a marathon each week in April.

Marc, a general manager for Southend Mencap, started in Paris on Sunday, April 3, before hitting the streets on Manchester a week later.

He then travelled across the Atlantic to take part in the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 18, before returning to the UK to complete the London Marathon on Sunday, April 24.

Marc, 44, of Victoria Road, Southend, claims he has caught the bug for marathon running in recent years.

He said: “This fundraiser was to both raise some much needed funds for the society but also, with the help of my team who control our social media sites, to spread the word of what we do at Southend Mencap and maybe attract new support as well as new students to our services.

Having run a total of 104.8 miles, Marc has raised £4,100 so far as a result of his incredible feat.

He arrived on the start line in France after a 16-week training programme.

Marc said: "I had run Paris back in 2012 so knew what to expect from the course but what wasn’t expected was soaring temperatures that, at one point, reached 22 degrees Celsius.

Milder weather in Manchester helped him complete the second race in four hours and 43 minutes, before heading to America.

The runner said: “Leg three and my transatlantic trip to Boston was a wonderful experience as, for some strange reason, I didn’t feel like I was abroad but instead still in the UK as I felt right at home throughout my five days in Boston.

“From the very first step of the course people lined the course and the support provided wasn’t just the usual that I’ve experienced before but included some incredibly amazing groups along the way who had their own special way to encourage the runners.”

In London, Marc had plenty of support from friends, family and Mencap supporters on the sidelines.

He added: "The crowds were tremendous, as they always are at London. I was certainly blessed with incredibly helpful and kind spectators providing encouragement along the route.

“Marathon running is second nature to me, something I do as a hobby and have been for a number of years now, but the continued encouragement and feedback I received from everyone was truly humbling and something that will stay with me forever.”