100th marathon for blind runner

Paul Jenkins and guide dog Ozzy, who stayed at home in Cardiff

Runner Paul Jenkins completed his 100th marathon in London on Sunday - his first since going blind.

The 48-year-old, from Cardiff, was a regular competitor in marthons and ultramarathons before an eye condition took his sight in 1989.

Mr Jenkins, who ran with a guide, said he was "elated" after finishing the 26-mile course in just over six hours in aid of Guide Dogs for the Blind.

He said: "It's good to say I was there and I did what I set out to do."

Mr Jenkins ran his first marathon in 1981 and had chalked up 99 across the world - including nine London marathons.

There was a lot of cheering for me and I couldn't see who they were Paul Jenkins

He had also competed in 30 ultra marathons of between 30 miles (48km) and 1,000 miles (1,610km).

He had not attempted the distance since losing his sight to a condition called Leber's Optic Atrophy, which causes partial or total blindness because optic nerves stop working.

'Anxiety'

Mr Jenkins and running partner Josh Kingston had put in about 14 hours' training a week to prepare for the run on Sunday.

The pair, who stayed side by side with the help of a wrist strap, finished in a slower time than Mr Jenkins did in his previous marathon days, but he said he had other things on his mind than a quick time.

"I finished, which was the main thing. It was my big anxiety," he added.

"It was a bit unnerving being among so many people. I kept thinking I was going to trip over someone or bump into someone."

Mr Jenkins said his experience of the London marathon without his sight was "totally different" to his previous races.

'Elated'

"There was a lot of cheering for me and I couldn't see who they were, and my partner was describing the sites to me," he said.

"When I was superfit, I was only interested in the runner in front and my time."

And although the overall experience was different, Mr Jenkins said the agony during the run and the feeling of achievement afterwards were the same.

"The last six miles we were in aches and pains. It was a matter of gritting our teeth and walking and jogging," he added.

"My feet are sore, which is to be expected, and my back is sunburned, but other than that I'm ok.

"I'm a bit stiff walking about but I'm elated to think it's done."