A PERSONAL trainer from Tadcaster is part of the 25-man British team that will take on the world's toughest road ultramarathon this autumn.

Jon Steele, 41, will compete in the Spartathlon, a 153-mile, 36-hour race from Athens to Sparta on September 25.

A former army officer in the parachute regiment, Mr Steele has been running ultras - beyond 26.2-mile marathon length races - since 2004.

Having been 'timed out' after 70 miles last year, he is keen to complete the Greek course this time.

"At the moment, I am running about 70 miles a week, mainly over the North Yorkshire Moors," said Mr Steele, who is a self-employed fitness trainer.

"Later on I will be doing some acclimitisation for the heat. I will be having daily saunas in the build-up."

Mr Steele, who lives in Kelcbar Close, Tadcaster will be running a 110-mile and a 100-mile race as part of his training this summer.

He will also continue to organise the Hardmoors Series - a collection of endurance races over the North Yorkshire Moors.

The Spartathlon features a 3,900ft mountain pass, which runners take on at night.

There are 75 check points, which runners have to reach inside strict time cut-offs - otherwise they have to join the “death bus” that sweeps up those have to drop out.

Runners must also complete the race within a 36-hour maximum time limit – meaning they have to run the distance almost non-stop at an average pace of no less than 4.25mph.

Mr Steel said completing the Spartathlon would be his toughest challenge yet.

"I have run further distances before, but the thing that makes this hard is that it is on the road and has cut-offs," he said.

"You can't regroup and get going again.

"It's the type of event where you really have to concentrate purely on yourself!"

While the British contingent is not an official UK delegation, its members are keen to fly the flag and present a unified team ethos by wearing the same kit.

For more information and to help with the team's kit sponsorship appeal, visit www.britishspartathlonteam.org