A WEST Linton runner is putting his best foot forward hoping to race his way into the record books by taking on a complete set of marathon majors.

Andy Kerr has already run the races in London, New York, Berlin, Chicago and Tokyo and now he is hoping to conquer Boston.
And there are only around 150 Brits who have managed to achieve the feat so far.

The 45-year-old told the Peeblesshire News: “I found myself fall into running accidentally a couple of years ago.

“In February 2009 I quit smoking and thought I want to keep fit. I went out to do a run in Berlin and I got talking to Colin Robertson, who is a Scotsman who has run all the majors.

“I got encouraged to apply for Chicago and got in, then amazingly got into the Tokyo marathon in February, which has around 320,000 applicants, so I have found myself another two down.

“I’ve never been a natural runner by any stretch, and some of my good pals are good runners and get respectable times, but they just laugh at the number of miles I am doing.

“It is a really good challenge, because when you look at it, around 4,000 people have climbed Everest, yet I am quite a mediocre runner trying to be in an exclusive club.”

And the dad of two is now hoping to complete his challenge by adding the final medal to his collection after completing London in 2012, New York in 2014, Berlin in 2015, Chicago in 2016 and Tokyo just over a week ago.

He added: “All of my times have been under five hours apart from when I did London and I pulled up halfway through.

“I’m trying to get in to the Boston race next and I could take a charity place in London too.

“I have also done 80 and 90-mile bike rides in the past, and I would say that is a big personal achievement for me.”

Records show that just 1,280 people have completed all six major marathons and Andy is hoping to join this ever-growing group.

This year’s Boston race is set to take place on April 17.