Sir Ranulph completes UK marathon trek

Sir Ranulph Fiennes has completed the fifth leg of his seven marathons in seven continents in seven days challenge.

The great British explorer swapped the searing heat in Singapore for the autumn drizzle in London.

Sir Ranulph, 59, who suffered a heart attack four-and-a-half months ago, crossed the finish line at BBC Television Centre, west London, in four hours and 41 minutes - scarcely out of breath.

The polar explorer said he felt more comfortable pounding the streets of London on the 26-mile UK leg than in the tropical heat of the Far East.

"It was hard going yesterday, really tough," he said.

"But today was fantastic, much cooler and even the traffic pollution here is less than over there. And it was a real honour running with Hugh Jones, who won the London Marathon."

Sir Ranulph took on the challenge in aid of charity with his adventuring partner Dr Michael Stroud. The 49-year-old medic found the going tougher and finished around one hour behind his running mate.

Sir Ranulph added: "Mike got really, really sick yesterday. He was urinating blood and had diarrhoea so I couldn't use him as a pacemaker today. But Mike is a doctor, so what's good for him is good for me."

A small group of runners turned out to join Sir Ranulph and Dr Stroud as they followed the route of the 1908 London Olympic marathon.

They set off from the gates of Windsor Castle in Berkshire at 7.30am and followed the route through historic Eton - where Sir Ranulph went to school. The route took them to Uxbridge Common after nine miles, Northwick Park Hospital - 18-miles - Sudbury and Harrow Road Station at the 20-mile mark and Old Oak Common, where the route crossed the Grand Union Canal after 24 miles.

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