A RECORD breaking runner will go the extra mile by taking on the London marathon while wearing a full snowboarding outfit.

Matthew Harper-Ward, 48, of Western Road, Rayleigh, decided to do something “a bit crazy” to raise funds for WellChild, which supports seriously ill children and young people across the country.

He will take on the 26.2 mile challenge while carrying a snowboard and dressed ready for the slops - including wearing snow boots.

Mr Harper-Ward ran the marathon in the same outfit last year - setting a Guinness World Record. The member of Benfleet Running Club now hopes to break his own record, this year crossing the finish line in less than five hours, 46 minutes and 37 seconds.

He said: “This year will be the eighth consecutive year I have run the London marathon so last year when I did it I wanted to do something a little bit different.

“Because I am a big snowboarding fan - I normally go a few times a year - I thought I would run as a snowboarder as I didn’t think it had ever been done before.

“I thought I would find out for sure and spoke to the Guinness World Records who came back and said I could do it.

“But unfortunately, they said I would have to actually carry a snowboard and would have to wear all of the gear down to the boots. I would also have to finish in less than six hours.

“That should have put me off really but you haver to be a bit mad to consider doing a marathon anyway so it didn’t and I went for it.”

Mr Harper-Ward finished the race in five hours, 46 minutes and 37 seconds - achieving the world record for a runner to complete the marathon dressed as a snowboarder.

Although he found last year’s race incredibly difficult and was limping by the end, Matthew is determined to break his own record.

Matthew - dad to Tom, 20, and Saffron, 18, said: “It was really hard, wearing snow boots was so difficult. They are comfortable to walk in but they are quite big and cumbersome so really hard to run in.

“After 26 miles you just want to detach your feet from your legs, I was in so much pain and limping.

“But each year I set myself a fitness challenge and it seem rights to have another go and try to beat my time.

“I have been training more and am fitter than last year so hope to finish in five hours and 30 minutes this time - and hopefully break my own world record.”

To donate to WellChild and support Matthew in his challenge, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Matt-HW