By Jack Pitts

A TEENAGER from Stroud had tears in his eyes as he finished the London Marathon, becoming the youngest ever person to run seven marathons in seven days.

Sam Beard, of Slade Brook, started his journey on Monday, April 20, running the first of his 26.2 mile marathons from Stroud, over Minchinhampton Common and into Tetbury.

Over the next five days he ran five more marathons around Stroud before finishing the record-breaking challenge at the London Marathon on Sunday.

“The one mantra I tried to follow the whole week was ‘it’s only running, just enjoy it’,” said the 19-year-old.

He was shocked by the support he received from the people of Stroud through his next few marathons.

“I got to about day three or four and so many people started coming out to see me, giving me money for the charity and taking pictures with me,” he said.

He also praised the help his mother gave him as she took a week off work to follow him around in a car stocked with food and water.

Then, after 157.2 miles, it was time to run the London Marathon.

“The crowds were amazing, I got about two miles to go and I thought ‘this is going to be the toughest I’ll ever have to run.’ But then I realised that actually it was going to be the best two miles I’ll ever run,” he said.

“The feeling of finishing is really hard to explain it but it did bring a tear to my eye,” added Sam, who had been training for the challenge for two years.

As well as being the record holder for the youngest person ever to run seven marathons in seven days, Sam also raised £2,700 for the children’s charity Barnardos. Donate via justgiving.com/sambeard7marathons.