A legal secretary will put her body to the test later this year when she runs 10 marathons in 10 days for charity.

Romford Recorder: Karen Hurrell during a previous marathonKaren Hurrell during a previous marathon (Image: Archant)

Karen Hurrell is set to take part in one of the most daunting endurance runs in the world when she runs in the Brathay Windermere 10in10.

And before the May event, the Rainham resident is set to take part in her 100th marathon over Easter.

She explained: “I speak to quite a lot of other runners and see them at the events, it’s a social thing as well.

“I don’t really think of it as anything unsuaul, some people I know have run 850 marathons, some are into four figures.

“It’s known as the darkside: - once you start you can’t escape.”

The 49-year-old member of the Dagenham 88 Runners club started running marathons in 2001 and last year took part in “32 or 33” of the events.

Karen has also raised well over £10,000 for charity along the way.

She said: “In 1998 my dad died, and I comfort ate a lot and put on a bit of weight. I then started going to the gym and then some people I worked with suggested I go running, and it turned out to be quite fun.”

Last year she took part the 10in10 challenge, in the Lake District, but was ill and believes she can do better than her aggregate time of 54 hours and 58 minutes – and she’s also hoping to raise more money for charity.

“I had a cold I couldn’t shake but was lucky that I didn’t have any bad injuries. But it’s psychologically very difficult and tiring,” she said.

“You get a bit irrational, one morning before a race I couldn’t find my lucky mug and got very upset.

“You get aches and strains and you are on your own a lot of the time.”

The challenge raises money for schemes to help disadvantaged and vulnerable children.

To sponsor Karen visit www.justgiving.com/ultrakazzaaaaah-10in10.