The Spartathlon takes place in Greece every September and its 246km route follows in the footsteps of Pheidippides, an Athenian messenger sent to Sparta in 490 BC to seek help against the Persians in the Battle of Marathon.

According to records, Pheidippides completed the journey in a day and a half – a feat which modern day Spartathlon competitors hope to match.

53 year old Mr Chownsmith has been an avid runner for more than 30 years, and completed the challenge in 35 hours. In a race which is often described as the world’s most gruelling, he faced rough tracks, muddy paths and steep hill sides and even had to run up and down Mount Parthenio in the dead of night.

Mr Chownsmith, who works at the Rehau offices in Slough, was one of 25 British runners to take part in Spartathlon 2017, and his friends, family and colleagues back home could track his progress during the race thanks to special GPS technology.

He commented: “It was quite a challenge to complete this ultra marathon but I am really happy that I was able to push through and get to the finish line. I have been training diligently and have been running at least three times a week with a long Saturday and Sunday run in the Windsor Great Park.

“This year for the Spartathlon I concentrated on speed over a 3 hour course. I am very grateful for the support extended from all my colleagues at Rehau and my family and friends that followed my progress through the race, and am looking forward to the next challenge.”

Mr Chownsmith has been an active part of the Rehau team for almost 20 years and has been instrumental in the growth and development of the company’s Building Solutions sector.

For more information on the British Spartathlon Team, visit https://britishspartathlonteam.org/