Phillip Howells is preparing to run his final marathon next month.

To run one marathon is 26.2 miles too far for many, but remarkably, the 75-year-old Howells will be running his 333^rd.

It’s quite some achievement made all the more impressive by the fact that Howells has been planning this final race for quite some time.

“It will be my 111^th road marathon, I’ve already done 111 trail marathons and 111 ultra marathons,” he said.

“As far as I know I’m the only person to have run 111 of each on exactly 333, so I’m creating my own bit of unique marathon history.”

As it is, Howells, a keen member of Tewkesbury Running Club, is one of only half-a-dozen runners to have completed the Triple Crown of 100 road marathons, 100 trail marathons and 100 ultra marathons.

His final race will be in Shrewsbury on Friday 10^th February and a number of his good friends such as Tewkesbury Running Club chairman Nigel Tillott and Ingrid Harris, of Almost Athletes, will be there to cheer him on.

“I’m running in the Charles Darwin Day Marathon in Shrewsbury,” explained Howells. “It’s run every year to celebrate his birthday. It’s run around a one-kilometre cycle track at the sports centre so it’s quite sociable.

“Lots of people will go past me but I won’t be miles behind on my own.”

Howells is hoping to be given the race number 333 to mark his 333^rd marathon, an honour that has he has received in his previous four marathons.

“I was number 329 at my 10^th and last Snowdon Marathon, 330 at the Sunset to Sunrise 33m ultra, 331 at Hardmoors Roseberry trail marathon and 332 at the End of Year Time Turner trail marathon,” he said.

In his prime, Howells was a sub three hours, 30 minutes marathon man. These days he takes twice as long and more and Howells admitted: “I’m ready to run my last marathon, my mind is still pretty determined but my body has probably been ready to give up for a while.”

But although he’s ready to give up marathons – he ran his first way back in 1982 – he’s most certainly not going to give up running.

“I think it’s important to stay fit,” he said. “I’m looking forward to running some shorter distances.”

Those shorter distances include parkruns, 10Ks and half marathons.

“I’ve already done about 125 parkruns,” he said. “I’m hoping to get to 250. I’ve run 83 half marathons and 71 10Ks so the next objective is to run 100 in both.

“I reckon if I achieve those three targets that will take me up to the age of 80.”

And after that?

“Then we’ll see,” laughed Howells. “If you include my orienteering and cycling, I’ve completed over 1,400 competitive events in my life, so by the age of 80 I should be up to 1,600.”

So how does he feel as he approaches his final marathon?

“Very proud, satisfied and fulfilled,” he said. “It’s been a huge mental effort but it’s more fulfilling now than when I was a decent runner, it’s all definitely been worthwhile.

“I’m looking forward to the shorter races, I think I’ve earned that!

“And I’m looking forward to running cross-country. Cross-country has always been my favourite, the muddier and the more hilly the better.”

And he’s still creating records.

“In five of my most recent events, I’ve been first and last,” he said, adding with a laugh, “I’ve been last in the race but the first person over the age of 70.”