Super-fit woman runs 53 marathons in 53 days, sets world record

A super-fit British woman Amy Hughes has run 53 marathons in 53 consecutive days to break the world record in order to raise money for charity after a friend's daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

After crossing the finishing line in Manchester to clinch the astonishing feat, Hughes said that in a strange way it is sad that it's all ending. She had read about Dean Karnazes, who ran 50 marathons in the 50 US states.

After cruising past the women's record of 17, set by American Parvaneh Moayedi in Texas last year, Hughes decided to set her sights on the men's total, more than triple what she had already achieved, The Mirror reported.

Hughes started her feat of endurance in Chester on August 6 and ran 26.2 miles in a different city each day. She has pounded out 1,388 miles and gone through five pairs of trainers. Hughes' toughest challenge reportedly came on day 35 in Taunton, when she contracted a stomach bug and spent all night being sick and suffering from severe cramps. She then ran her slowest marathon of eight hours. Hughes quickest marathon was in Cambridge where she clocked four hours, 50 minutes.

Sports therapist Hughes said that she put so much time and effort in it and enjoyed it so much. She said that it is going to be strange, as she is not really going to know what to do with herself, adding that she has been 100% concentrating on the runs for 53 days.

Hughes said that now it's all going to stop, adding that they are already discussing moving on to Europe because they would miss it so much. Hughes is hoping to raise £53,000 for the Isabelle Lottie Foundation, which raises awareness of the early diagnosis of brain tumors in children and young adults. She said that the charity is close to her heart because a friend's daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor and it helps support families like hers.