MARATHON Man! That's Radcliffe Athletic Club's Steve Hamer who has completed the big three of London, Manchester and New York.

Now he is already in training for more punishing exploits next year.

The 44-year-old father-of-two is planning to run the London and Paris Marathons in 2003 which are held within three months of each other.

Steve, who lives in Bury Road, Tottington, said: "After completing the New York Marathon, I thought I just wanted to 'lie down and die'. That was a real challenge.

"But now I have decided to do both London and Paris. Marathon running is like a drug, it's the adrenaline which makes me want to do more."

Steve completed the 26-mile trips in London and Manchester within three and half hours. The New York run took him 3hrs 31mins.

And he has set himself a target to complete the Paris and London runs in 3hrs 30mins.

"If I fail, then I won't claim the money promised to me through sponsorship I will donate the sum to charity myself," said Steve. "This is another incentive to spur me on."