THE tank's far from empty for Malcolm Knight as he approaches his 60th year.

The Southampton Running Club star says he feels better than ever after notching up his 150th marathon just days before turning 59.

Knight completed the landmark at Luton on December 5 and is already plotting to test himself further in 2005.

He said: "Over the years I might have lost a bit of speed but my stamina has improved.

"I think I'm feeling the benefits of all the training now."

Although only an idea at the moment, Knight hopes to incorporate the 2005 London Marathon into a round trip from his home just outside Marlborough, Wiltshire.

Should it become reality he will complete the five-day, 150-mile journey in aid of one or more children's charities.

Knight, who regularly clocks up 80 miles a week in training, would also love to fulfil another long-standing ambition next year.

"A dream would be to run a 24-hour race - there are a couple done every year on track."

He has rarely missed a training session since taking up serious running in 1974 and has run no fewer than nine London to Brighton races.

In 1982, he recorded his fastest time of 2 hours 55 minutes and still regularly clocks times of under three and a half hours.

The athlete now boasts a phenomenal resting heart rate of 40 beats per minute, nearly half that of the national average for an adult man.