What began as a path to recovery has turned into a world record.

Edward Molineaux, a 34-year-old personal trainer from Willenhall, has achieved a staggering feat: running 465 half-marathons in just 12 months. That’s more than 6,000 miles logged between April 6, 2023, and April 7, 2024.

Edward Molineaux / Credit: Express And Star

Molineaux began running seriously during the COVID-19 lockdown after a hernia sidelined him from his usual high-impact sports, like boxing.

“It took me about two years after my operation to get my body back,” he said. “All I could do was run.”

Running quickly turned from necessity to passion. With determination and grit, he surpassed his own previous record of 282 half-marathons in a year. On June 1, he was officially awarded a world record certificate from Record Breakers, presented by fellow record-setter Kevin Brown in Walsall.

His weekly schedule is nothing short of intense. He structures his runs into 13 half-marathons every week, often completing multiple in a single day—sometimes as many as six.

“Some days I did not feel like doing it, but you need to do it,” he said. “It’s one of the hardest parts for me, but I pushed myself.”

Even while battling trench foot, blisters, and exhaustion, Molineaux pressed on with a mindset rooted in belief and mental toughness.

“It all comes from belief.”

“What I would do is do one half-marathon in about two hours, have five minutes rest and then get onto the next one,” he shared. “You don’t know how the body will react or get a second wind. It all comes from belief.”

His nutrition is as disciplined as his training. He often runs on an empty stomach, occasionally fueled only by a banana, saving heavier meals like meat and fish for the evenings.

Beyond the physical accomplishments, Molineaux is driven by the desire to inspire others.

“I love giving inspiration to other people, and that warrior feeling,” he said. “Even being around people doing well – I like seeing people getting better and going higher.”

Next up for this endurance athlete? A 24-hour ultra-marathon on July 26, where he hopes to complete 100 miles.

“I like showing people that you can do it through everything, and through anything,” Molineaux said. And with each mile, he’s doing just that.