DISABLED marathon man Chris Moon has told how he beat the odds in one of the hottest places on earth to complete his toughest-ever running challenge.

The former soldier - who has an artificial right leg and arm - returned to the Basingstoke area at the weekend after reaching a new landmark in his incredible life.

Chris, 39, was one of 55 competitors to complete the 135 miles of the Badwater Ultra event - known as the toughest, hottest and most prestigious foot race on earth. Runners allow themselves only momentary catnaps to come home in the 60 hours allowed.

The punishing event in Death Valley, California, started at Badwater - the lowest point in America.

To stay alive in Death Valley, Chris had to drink up to two litres of fluid an hour to replace the amount of salt lost in sweat.

Chris finished 47th in the race in 53hr 47min 7sec. During the event, he endured inhospitable territory and temperatures that ranged from 49deg F to 130deg F sufficient to cook a chicken in an oven.

When he returned to Badwater at 3.30am last Wednesday, the temperature was 101deg F.

But not content with just finishing this gruelling course, Chris went on to trek to the top of Mount Whitney - the highest point in mainland USA - and then retraced his tracks back to Badwater.

This brought his miles in seven days on the road to 300 and completed what is known as the Badwater Out and Back.

Chris said: "It's the most remarkable event I've ever done. You are there with your crew and they play a vital role. Without them you can dehydrate after running half a mile in Death Valley, so it's definitely a team event."

The toughest period for Chris came after he had been running for 40 hours. He recalled: "The worst moment was going uphill. You are telling your body to go on but it was just like moving in treacle."

He fulfilled his goal despite suffering painful blisters on his foot and swelling to his stump. He put part of his success down to his ability to override pain.

He said: "You have to develop your instincts to overcome your natural desire to stop.

"The best way to describe it is mind over matter you don't mind, and it doesn't matter."

Chris - who lost his right arm and leg when he was the victim of a landmine clearance accident - is only the twelfth person who has ever completed the gruelling Out and Back challenge. Only one other athlete completed the trek at the latest event.

Not only was Chris taking part in the world's toughest race, but he was also testing out a prototype of an artificial leg being developed and produced by Basingstoke-based Blatchford's. The artificial limb manufacturer provided Chris's four-man support crew.

Chris said: "The leg did really well and the support crew were all fantastic." He hopes Blatchford's will be able to use information gleaned on the challenge to benefit more people who use artificial limbs.

Chris, who survived capture by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, was running to aid three charities - Concern, which helps landmine victims in Cambodia, Motivation, which provides wheelchair technology in developing nations, and BLESMA, the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association.