Mr Hodgson has run the London marathon every year since 2000

Tony Hodgson is to run the equivalent of ten marathons in ten days from his Llanelltyd home to raise �3,500 for the deaf blind charity Sense.

The 57-year-old said he would take it "fairly gently" to London and enjoy visits to tea shops and the "odd pint".

"However, I'm really going to push myself on marathon day," he added.

Beginning at 0930 BST on Wednesday, Mr Hodgson will head across Wales to Shropshire, before going south to Birmingham.

From there, he will join the Grand Union Canal, which will lead him to the Thames and onto London.

I've never done that amount of mileage before, but I'll be going fairly gently Tony Hodgson

Mr Hodgson is undertaking the challenge on his own, carrying just a small rucksack on his back, and washing out his running kit every night.

He said: "This is my eighth London marathon in a row. I've done all the ones starting in 2000 so this year I thought I'd do something a little bit different."

Despite the extra mileage Mr Hodgson, who trains for 40-50 miles a week, is confident he will complete the race.

"I've never done that amount of mileage before, but I'll be going fairly gently," he explained.

"There'll be teashops to visit en route and the odd pint in the evenings, I'm sure. "However, I'm really going to push myself on marathon day as I currently hold the club marathon record and I don't want to lose it."

Positive outlook

Mr Hodgson said he had chosen to support Sense after it helped a Dolgellau family whose son was born blind and deaf.

"The care offered to the family by Sense has changed their lives, and they now have a positive outlook for the future of their son, knowing that with the correct support, anything is possible," he explained.

London Marathon project manager, Alison Rulton, said: "It's fantastic to work with someone with so much energy and relentless commitment to Sense.

"We wish Tony the very best of luck and will be behind him all the way."

And although he is pulling out all the stops to run 10 marathons before the London marathon on 22 April, Mr Hodgson is planning to take the train home to north Wales.