A RUNNER from Elmers End is taking it easy after completing a 52.4 mile race in just over nine hours.

Steve Smith, of Langley Road, decided he needed a challenge after reaching his 50th birthday so took on the gruelling race through the Kent countryside.

The lifelong Crystal Palace fan started training for the event in January and in June alone he ran 245 miles including 98 miles in the last week.

He came 19th out of 118 starters and has raised around £690 for the Geoff Thomas Foundation, a leukaemia charity run by the former Palace captain.

The father-of-two said: “I was aiming for a sub-10 hour finish and I was pretty happy at the end of it all.

“I’m just taking it easy at the moment rather than thinking of my next race.”

Go to justgiving.com/steveatkent50 to sponsor Steve.