TWENTY years after Arthur Toomer first started running marathons, the 72-year-old has just reached his century.

And the superfit grandad from Southampton shows no sign of slowing up.

The milestone 26-mile event was held in Vannes in Britanny and the veteran completed the distance in four hours and 49 minutes.

"It was a beautiful course with perfect conditions and it was very well organised," he said.

Mr Toomer, who ran his own sports shop in London Road prior to retirement, admitted he felt a special buzz when he crossed the finish line.

"I am always pleased when I complete the 26 miles but it was even better knowing this was my 100th," he said. Arthur went with fellow Lordshill Road Runners Mike Smith, Derek Goodchild, John McGarry, Roger Bradley and Geoff Dawes. They all celebrated his success after the race and presented him with a specially iced cake.

Arthur's passion for running has taken him all over the world and despite being diagnosed with prostate cancer in his mid-60s, he has never tired of the 26-mile challenge.

He used his 100th race to raise money for the Prostate Cancer Research Fund and he hopes to boost their funds by hundreds of pounds.

Living first featured Arthur's story as he prepared for the important race.

He revealed his best time for the event had seen him crossing the line in two hours and 54 minutes.

"When I was competitive all I could think about was catching up with somebody ahead of me and I wanted to do it in a certain time.

"Now I just think to myself, I am lucky to be running at all at 72 and having been through a major operation.

"I'm not religious but I sometimes say to myself 'Thank you, God' for making me able to still run."

Arthur's cancer diagnosis did slow him down and has meant it took longer to reach the 100 mark than he first hoped.

"I was due to have a cataract operation and I happened to mention when I visited the GP that I had to get up in the night a lot to go to the loo."

"They did some tests and I couldn't believe it when they came back to me and said I had prostate cancer.

"I had been feeling fine and running OK but a few months later I had an operation," he said.

Arthur was soon on the road to recovery and pounding the streets once more. And these days he loves nothing more than combining his love of running with his passion for travel.

"I have run in some beautiful places. I did one in Austria recently and ran all the way along the banks of the Danube

"And the Snowdonia marathon is beautiful too. Physically it is the most demanding because you are climbing for 20 miles and it's all run on tracks.

"In any marathon the mental side of it is really important.

"When you complete the first six miles you realise you are only a quarter of the way through and that's tough. But when you get to 20 miles you start to think you can make it to the end.

Arthur runs every day and clearly enjoys the natural high he gets from exercising.

"I wish more people would get into running - I think it's such a pity when you see overweight children who struggle to run just a few hundred metres," he said.

When asked if he intends to carry on doing marathons Arthur is reluctant to name events but admitted he wanted to keep on running.

"My only fear is injury because it takes so much longer to heal the older you get.

"I do hope to run a few more marathons - and I am pleased I have reached my 100th," he said.

If you would still like to sponsor Arthur, contact Kim Harris at Southampton General Hospital on (023) 8079 4031.