Albert Johnson ran a marathon every day in December to raise funds for a charity in memory of a friend.
A man who ran the distance of a marathon every day in December to raise money for a charity in memory of one of his friends said he felt "very humbled and very blessed" for all of the support he had received.
Albert Johnson decided to run 26.2 miles every day for 31 days along the path of the old railway line in his home village of Kirk Michael on the Isle of Man.
He said being met by a large group of friends, family and supporters when he crossed the line for the final time was "unbelievable".
Albert said he had taken on the challenge because he had wanted to do something to remember his friend and former workmate, Graham Brew, who took his own life in 2022.
He said Graham was a "really decent lad" with a "massive heart", adding: "He's just done anything for anyone, just what a guy."
Albert's challenge has so far raised more than £6,000 for the charity Autism Initiatives, which offers support to those with the condition and their families.
"Graham was autistic himself," Mr Johnson said, "so I just felt that that was the charity closest to the heart, if you like, I just thought that was the best charity to choose."
He said although he had not met Mr Brew's sisters in person, they had been following his progress and had been in touch with him online, and were "with me here in spirit today".
Although Albert said he had been "a big gym head" in the past, he said he was relatively new to running, having first taken it up during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It was the efforts of athlete Christian Varley - who completed 19 marathons in 19 days in May 2020 to support those affected by the virus – that inspired Albert's 31 in 31 challenge.
He said he had decided to take it on at the end of the year as the cooler weather meant he "wouldn't experience excessive chafing or sweating", which meant he "wouldn't have to take on as much liquids and fuel myself as regularly".
However, he admitted the time of year meant the "elements have been against me with the wind and the rain in the first half of December".
"Around day 22 or 23 I had shin splints, but my friend brought some k-tape for me, I took some ibuprofen and it seemed to solve it," he said.
Albert said he had completed the feat most days in "about three hours", but the final week had seen him run the route in "sub three hours", which he had "been really happy with".
Having worked in gardens from a young age, he "had a really good work ethic" which had "laid the foundations" for the physical exploits of taking on the 31 marathons.
So much so that he had decided to run more than 31 miles (50km), instead of the usual 26-mile (42km) marathon length, to mark the final day.
Having a crowd including friends and family cheering him on as he crossed the finish line at Kirk Michael fire station on Wednesday was "unbelievable" and the feeling of completing the feat was "brilliant", he said.
"For it to come to a big climatic ending like that, it's just insane," he said, "absolutely insane."
"The best thing I've done ever, without a shadow of a doubt, better than any race I've ever done.
"I just hope I've maybe inspired one or two people out there to put on some shoes, even if they go out for a walk, it doesn't have to be a run.
"You know - fresh air, sunlight - it's all those things that are the best things that you can get, really, for your mental health as well as physical health."
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