'Taking on marathons was my midlife crisis'

Mike Jones completed the London Marathon last year - one of his 52 marathons in 52 weeks

Before Mike Jones turned 40, he described himself as "seriously out of shape with a beer belly".

However, he said his "midlife crisis mode fully activated" after his 40th birthday leading him to build up his fitness and ultimately complete 52 marathons in 52 weeks.

"Some people get a sports car in their midlife crisis, I decided to sign up for the Ironman triathlon," he said.

The 43-year-old, from Burton on the Wolds, in Leicestershire, is now regularly setting his own endurance challenges and said he wanted to "push his body to the limit".

He said he had been unfit since his teenage years and preferred to go out partying with friends.

"I was seriously out of shape and wanted to do something about it," he said.

"I decided to sign up for a triathlon to help keep me motivated and committed to a training plan.

"The problem was, I wasn't an experienced runner, swimmer or cyclist."

Mike's 52nd marathon was in Greece running the historic route of the first Olympic marathon

Mike said he spent months training for the gruelling triathlon - which consisted of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run, totalling 140.6 miles - and completed the race in just over 13 hours in 2022.

He said: "I had built a great base of fitness and cardiovascular endurance and really didn't want to lose it."

Mike said he took part in another triathlon the following year to "keep focussed" - completing the race almost two hours quicker than the first.

The business owner, who works with various charities, said he gained a passion for fitness and wanted to "test my body as I'm mainly sat at a desk for my day job".

"So I cleverly decided on a much simpler challenge. I'll just run a marathon every week instead," he said.

The 43-year-old ran the perimeter of the island of Ibiza with friends in April

He completed 52 marathons in 52 weeks last year while raising funds for the Cancer Teenage Trust.

Two of those were the London and Manchester marathons where Mike wore a suit and carried a briefcase.

"Some have been fun, but others were a gruelling test of endurance and determination," he said.

Mike ended the challenge in Greece in December, starting from the town of Marathon in Athens, running the historic route of the first Olympic marathon through to the Panathenaic Stadium - where the first Olympic Games were held in 1896.

The ultramarathon man hopes to inspire people through his challenges

His other challenges have included a charity run from London to Amsterdam in February and a run with friends around the perimeter of Ibiza.

"My wife and daughter think I'm crazy," he said.

"They say I'm stubborn because once I say I'm going to do something I'm determined to finish."

His latest endurance challenge was to complete 10 marathons in five days.

Mike began on Sunday evening but had to call off the challenge after being struck down with a knee injury on day three.

"I had to call it a day. I'm very annoyed," he said.

"But I hope to inspire people to start making positive changes towards a more active, healthier and ultimately happier life.

"No matter how old you are. It's never too late to start."