TRAVELLING endurance runners Russell Brooks and Louise Leatherbarrow continued their adventures of experiencing races in far-flung parts of the world when they took on a mountain challenge in India.

And they not only completed the first ever Kodaikanal mountain ultra 135km, they both finished on the podium.

Russell, who is one of the founder members of Team Deane athletics club in Bolton, was second to cross the line, with Louise one place behind him.

The charity race – set in the town of Kodaikanal in the Tamil Nadu state of South India was a fundraiser to help build sanitation facilities and a school.

The race started at 3am and featured 10,500 feet of climbing and temperatures which fluctuated from three degrees in the mountains at night and 30 degrees in the day.

Their times of 19hrs 34mins and 21:30, respectively, were both well inside the 28 hours allowed.