'Every part of me hurts' - Marathon man John Reay completes daunting challenge

Racing fan John Reay completed his challenge of running seven marathons in seven days around British racecourses as he rounded off his feat at Stratford on Monday.The 37-year-old, who is secretary of the Six Thix Racing syndicate and was fuelled during the challenge by a diet that included beer, chips and chocolate, ran a total of 183.5 miles in a combined time of 26 hours and 26 minutes in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund and Great North Air Ambulance.Reay, who ran each of his marathons in under four hours, stepped into action after jockey Freddy Tylicki was paralysed following a fall at Kempton last October.He said: "It's been the toughest thing I've ever done in my life and every part of me hurts."There were times that I just wanted to stop running but when I hit the wall, I just thought about the likes of Freddy Tylicki who can never run again and all the other injuries that jockeys can get."I'm glad the money we are raising can help the Injured Jockeys Fund and Great North Air Ambulance continue their amazing work."Reay ran his first marathon at Newcastle last Tuesday before taking in Catterick, Carlisle, Leicester, Hereford and Warwick on his way to the finish line at Stratford.Personal trainer Ian Harkness, who advised Reay along the way, said: "I wouldn't recommend eating and drinking what John's been having over the past few days to anyone who isn't doing a serious endurance event."He has had to consume 6000 calories a day just to keep his energy levels up and you just can't do that on what you would usually call healthy foods. If you exercise enough, you can have those treats like chocolate and chips."