RUNNING Forever chairman Peter Hall is in line to complete a mammoth achievement this Sunday – his 100th marathon.

The 62-year-old from West Buckland is taking part in the Cornish Marathon this weekend, and will be roared home by several of his club-mates.

Hall joined Running Forever in 2008, and is in his second year as chairman.

In the last decade he has seen the club grow from a small off-shoot of a running shop, to an England Athletics-affiliated organisation which boasts 260 members.

Despite other clubs starting up in the area, Hall believes that the expanding market for running in the UK means that their membership has stayed strong.

With track sessions on Mondays, trail running on Tuesdays, and more sessions on Wednesdays and Sundays, Running Forever has expanded what it can offer, and Hall’s own experience reflects that.

Should he complete the century, he will have run 17 traditional road marathons, 34 off-road races and 49 ultra marathons.

His first 26-miler was in 2007, at the London Marathon.

He told the County Gazette: “I had a tough time there, it was very hot and I ended up in the hands of St John Ambulance.

“I wanted to try to do it better, so I entered again in 2008.

“I didn’t run any more marathons until 2010, but then I started doing them seriously in 2011, and have run 10 to 11 every year since.

“I started doing marathons and ultras with other club members, and soon I was up to 30 because I just enjoyed doing them.

“Once I got to 50, I thought I may as well go for the 100!”

Hall is aiming to hit three figures at the road marathon, which starts from Pensilva (near Liskeard) and loops round through Bodmin Moor – ‘Poldark country’.

Runners then head past King Arthur’s Dozmary Pool, Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn at Bolventor and back along the Fowey Valley before a climb at Foredown.

The event has been going since 1984, originally starting out from Saltash, before relocating to Rilla Mill and finally Pensilva.

“I did the race a few years ago, in less than four hours,” Hall added.

“I’m not sure I can manage that time again!

“But 20 Running Forever members are going down with me and I believe someone from the 100 Marathon Club will come to present me with a shirt and medal at the finish.

“I plan to celebrate with a cake, and then head to the pub!”