Rory Coleman: Running the world’s ‘deepest marathon’ at 63

What next for Coleman after conquering his latest challenge?

“I’ve done some interesting things,” Coleman told BBC Sport Wales.

“I’ve done all of the Premier League grounds, I started in Southampton finished in Newcastle, that was good, I ran to Lisbon in Portugal for Euro 2004 and I did a lot of treadmill world records in 1998.

“I looked for things where I would stand out from other people and where I could make my mark as a runner.

“You have to play to your strengths, I’m not particularly quick, my marathon PB is three hours and 24 minutes so I’ve had to find somewhere where I could shine.

“Being able to run a marathon every day for 40 days, that’s my kind of thing.”

Coleman says for him running is all about mental resilience.

“I’ve set off 1229 times to run a marathon and I’ve never not finished, I’ve always somehow got to the finish line, sometimes really well, sometimes a struggle.

“My thing is about completing, not necessarily competing, but completing. I think that’s helped me through the dark times of life as well.”

Coleman is hopeful that his son can continue the family’s running journey.

“I’m running Marathon des Sables again with my son in April. He said he’d only ever do it once but he very quickly signed up, so maybe he’s going to follow in my footsteps a bit.

“I want to keep doing this as long as I possible can, I’m 64 next year, and as long as I can go and do the big multiway races and finish and still enjoy it, I want to do this for as long as possible.

“I’m sure there’s going to be a deeper underground marathon and hopefully I’ll be invited to go do that.

“Running really is part of life now and I can’t remember it not being part of it.”