SUPER marathon man Shawn Leek is set to run seven marathons in seven days in seven counties.

The dad-of-two kicks off the first of the 26.2-mile runs from St Helena Hospice's Peartree Road shop in Stanway on April 20.

He will then take on routes in Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, in aid of the hospice.

Shawn’s epic week will finish outside Buckingham Palace when he completes the London Marathon, on April 26.

During that time he could burn up to 49,000 calories and will need ice baths and sports massages so his body is as best recovered as it can be.

Mr Leek, 40, of Rebow Street, Colchester, said: “I have been running for ten years now and the main thing was to try to find a challenge that would push me to the limit and to find something that not many people have done before.

“My wife, Debbie, thinks I’m having a mid-life crisis, but it’s something I really want to do.”

To ensure he can keep going, Mr Leek is going to have to eat a snack such as a cereal bar or flapjack about every hour of each run and then a wholemeal roll at the halfway points.

He said: “I have got to keep my body processing food, otherwise your body can shut down taking on food.”

But it is the mental side of the challenge that Mr Leek admitted had him the most nervous.

“I did a 75-mile race in October over two days.

“That was a key point in training, to get my body ready and mentally strong.

“I will take every mile as it comes, walking, running, crawling, I will get there.”

Apart from London’s famous marathon, Mr Leek, who is a member of Great Bentley Running Club, has had to devise the routes himself. His route in Colchester will take him through High Street in the hope he gets a boost from shoppers.

In Bungay, Norfolk, the route will see him running its usual half marathon course twice.

Mr Leek, who is dad to Harrison, eight, and Yasmin, two, has already completed ultra marathons, including one 24-hour event. You can view details of his marathon routes on the Facebook page “Shawn Leek’s Challenge 7 marathons in 7 days in 7 counties”.

You can also sponsor Mr Leek at justgiving.com/ shawn-leek1