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For most of us running a marathon would be enough of a challenge. But running close to a marathon a day for more than 30 days is something hardly anyone would even consider.

But that's what Mark Allison did.

On Sunday 12 August 2007 he crossed the finish line at Lands End having set off from John O'Groats in July and having run 874 miles in 37 days.

He took on the challenge to raise money for St Benedict's Hospice, in Sunderland, which cared for his mother when she had cancer in the early 90s.

And his efforts raised more than £34,000 for it.

Mark before setting off from John O'Groats

Surreal feeling

After completing the run Mark, 36, returned home to Shotley Bridge taking a well-earned semi-rest, although he did quite a bit of de-training so his body was not too shocked by not running every day.

He said: "It's all a bit surreal. I am just trying to get used to the fact that I don't have to run a marathon each day.

"I am not missing the burden day in day out that I had to overcome mentally and physically but my body is missing it."

Mark came up with the idea three or four years ago and spent about 18 months planning the challenge.

He had already done plenty of events over the last 12 years, like running the Coast to Coast route and running along Hadrian's Wall dressed as a Roman soldier, to raise money for St Benedict's but wanted to step his fundraising up a notch.

He said he felt a debt of gratitude to them for the care his mother received and the dignified end she had to her life.

He said: "It was the sheer challenge of it. If I wanted to take my sponsorship to the next level it had to be something big."

Mark clocks up some more miles

Messages of support

Mark set out with the initial target of raising £10,000 and said he had been overwhelmed by the support he had been given to more than treble that.

"I had great support from friends and complete strangers. Exiled Geordies up and down the country came out to support me," he said.

"It's things like that that show you it's not a bad old world after all.

"It's unbelievable. I haven't had the chance to sit back and look at it. It hasn't sunk in yet.

"There were so many key things to the success and that was one of them - the support with the e-mails, text messages and phone calls."

He said a massive boost was the support of fellow Toon fans. The website nufc.com featured his story and through it raised the profile of the challenge.

Mark said: "There was no way I could fail with that kind of support. It just shows the support Geordies give to one of their own."

Mental challenge

Mark describes himself as "not a typical athlete" but is a regular runner and goes out with colleagues at Northern Rock, in Gosforth, where he is a self-employed IT contractor.

His preparation for the John O'Groats to Lands End run included stepping up the miles, including some tough sessions in the North Pennines.

He ran an average of 24 miles a day over the 37 days and kept a blog throughout.

A good feeling - crossing the finishing line

He said at the beginning, the split was about 95% physical challenge and 5% mental, but by the end that had switched to about 40% physical and 60% mental because of the determination needed to do the same thing every day.

Although he never had any doubts that he would finish.

Early on he suffered from excruciating pain in his shins and a hamstring injury but the last two weeks were pain-free.

Great honour

He said the high point had to be crossing the finish line and being able to celebrate with his wife and son.

He said: "It was amazing. It was everything I imagined it would be.

"I was celebrating like a Newcastle goal - jumping up and down and screaming."

On Saturday 18 August, Newcastle United invited Mark to do a lap of honour at St James' Park when the Magpies took on Aston Villa in their first home game of the season.

Mark was welcomed by a warm reception by his fellow Toon fans, even stopping to sign a few autographs, and described the experience as "unbelievable".

As far as the future goes, you get the feeling that it won't be long before he is pulling on his trainers again for another challenge. He said his ambition is to run across America from east to west...

Mark handed over his money to St Benedict's Hospice at a cheque presentation evening on Thursday 27 September.