Kev Goodwill is on a journey and it’s one he’s thoroughly enjoying.

The 39-year-old started running properly three years ago and it’s been full speed ahead ever since.

“I run as often as I can,” he said. “I used to play football, but I broke my leg in 2023 and I haven’t kicked a ball since.”

Goodwill was a goalkeeper for Winchcombe Town, Bourton Rovers and Moreton Rangers and while he enjoyed playing the beautiful game, running is his thing now.

He joined Cheltenham Harriers two years ago and is one of those runners who is happy to compete over any distance pretty much anywhere and at any time.

When he spoke to The Local Answer he was looking forward to this year’s Bourton Mile – he clocked a PB of five minutes, 13 seconds – but such is his readiness to take on a challenge that last year he completed a 47-mile trail race in the Lake District. It took him about 15 hours and he said: “That was fun, mad!”

Goodwill is an enthusiast and someone who is easy to interview. He was a member of the Great Britain bobsleigh squad for four years but a lack of funding meant he never got to train on ice!

His running career is a lot more productive. He runs 5Ks, 10Ks, half-marathons and marathons and he said: “My favourite distance is probably the marathon although I can’t do as many as I would like.”

That didn’t stop him doing three last year, though, and he recorded a PB of three hours, nine minutes at Newport in April.

That race was just a couple of weeks before the London Marathon, which he completed in 3.24, but more importantly he raised £7,500 for Headspace, a charity based in the North Cotswolds.

At the moment his focus is more on 13.1 miles and he said: “This is the year of the half-marathon, I’m really enjoying my half-marathons.

“My best time is 1.28 something, but I’m targeting 1.26 at Cardiff in October.”

Goodwill, who lives in Bourton-on-the-Water, has a best of 19.03 for the 5K and 39.06 for the 10K, and those times are certain to come down in the months and years ahead.

Goodwill is part of a running family.

His dad Tony, who will be 70 in a few days’ time, still runs 30 miles a week and Goodwill, who runs his own printing and embroidery business, said: “He’s been a member of Bourton Roadrunners for 40 years, he was almost one of the founder members.”

Goodwill Snr is a good runner and Kev said: “He’s got faster times than me over every distance – 5K, 10K, the half-marathon, even the marathon. His best marathon time is two hours, 58.”

Goodwill, a former Cotswold School pupil, admits his aim is to one day beat his dad’s times, but he says he is in no hurry to do so.

“I don’t need to do it this year or next year,” he said. “It’s my journey. I’m quite confident I will beat his times and he seems to think I will too.”

And Cheltenham Harriers will certainly help him to achieve his goals.

He joined the club because he wanted to train on the track at the Prince of Wales Stadium and he said: “My brother Robin is a former member of the club.

“They are a great club, so welcoming, there are so many knowledgeable people there.”

Goodwill’s partner Becca Townsend is also a Cheltenham Harrier and he continued: “What I like about running is that you can see the progress you are making, you know if you’re getting better.

“It’s up to you, if you put in the hard work and keep plugging away you will reap the rewards.”