A RUNNER, originally from Tockington, has become the first British woman to complete seven marathons in seven days, on seven continents after crossing the finish line in Sydney on Friday.

Demelza Alderson, 37, who now lives in Sydney with her Australian husband James, placed second in the World Marathon Challenge, completing the week-long event along, with James coming fourth in the men’s event.

“We applied a year ago and have been prepping for it ever since, with the training really stepping up over the past six months,” said Demelza.

“We were trying to run five to six times a week, and clock up to 12 hours of running, but with full-time jobs and a two-and-a-half-year-old son, it has been difficult to manage.

“But there is no glamorous way to train, we just had to put the hours in and keep slogging it out week by week, even setting myself a 9pm curfew.”

A former Marlwood pupil, Demelza picked up running when she moved to London after university.

“I picked up running to try and lose weight, but have found it so much easier to do since moving to Sydney.

“James and I have been doing long distance events together for a few years, and after we raced in the Hong Kong marathon, we found it too hot.

“We searched online for cold marathons and came across the Arctic marathon, supposedly the coldest in the world.

“There we met the World Marathon Challenge organiser Richard Donovan and kept in touch with him. I would have run last year when the event started but I was suffering from a bulged disc.”

The event saw the pair racing in a variety of conditions across Antarctica, Punta Arenas, Miami, Madrid, Marrakesh and Abu Dhabi, before finally ending up in their home town Sydney.

“It was surreal to finish in Sydney, the race was 13 laps of a course that was only eight kilometres from my house where my son was, who I hadn’t seen for two weeks.

“I always had people running with me, I asked them to talk to me to keep me distracted from the discomfort of running in the really humid conditions.

“I had aggravated an old injury by running the Madrid and Marrakesh races in the space of 24 hours.

“After I crossed the finish line, a friend took me home straight away to get something to eat, see my son and put the washing on before returning for the pictures with the group.

“It was quite a crash landing back to reality before I went back to work on Monday.”

Through the event, Demelza has raised almost £3,900 for the charity Musicians Making a Difference, who use music and dance to help disadvantaged young people by getting them off the streets and helping them work towards qualifications.

“Everyone has been so supportive in helping me complete this, I couldn’t have done it without them, but so many people thought I was mad for doing it, my dad even offered to sponsor me not to do it!”

When asked whether she would look to complete the mammoth race again, she replied “I am not sure, I think I am still traumatised from it really.

“Finishing this has given a sense of relief and achievement, it is like no other feeling.

“I love adventure running, but I am looking forward to enjoying my free time at home for the time being.

“But running a marathon is a life goal everyone should look to tick off, it is just so rewarding.”