A SERVICEMAN who ran from Lincoln to Winsford after clocking 1000 miles within the year for charity is finally hanging up his running boots following the most gruelling challenge of his life.

Last year RAF engineer Ricky Houston, from Winsford, vowed to run 1000 miles in memory of his auntie who lost her fight against cancer in 2008.

After departing for the Falklands Islands last November, Ricky, 32, set his sights on the Stanley Marathon, the most southerly marathon in the world and one of the most notoriously difficult on earth.

He said: “The race certainly lived up to the expectations of one of the most difficult marathon courses in the world.

“A few days prior to the event I was really nervous, simply because I felt I had not done enough training in the conditions. At the 15-mile point my legs started to tell me that I had not done enough training.

“I think it was the voices in my head asking me ‘what are you doing? It's raining, windy, cold and your running up and down hills, are you mad?’”

Despite every muscle in his body telling him to call it a day, Ricky found the strength to carry on until the end. He finished the race in four hours and 31 minutes.

“I kept going as I was determined to finish, I never wanted to let anyone down,” Ricky said.

“I was carried to the finish line by all the support I had received prior to the event from friends and family, and with the amazing support received from the people and children of Stanley on the day.

“They lined the route with refreshments and encouragement, they were brilliant.”

Battered and bruised, Ricky is now healing up back home with his family, whom he has been away from for four months.

Ricky has donated £750 to St Luke’s Cheshire Hospice, and while he may well be fundraising for them in the future, it seems his running days are now well and truly over.

He said: “I can honestly say I will never be running that distance ever again. It may be different if I actually enjoyed running but I don't. So future challenges I will have to look for something new.”