Chainmail Dave prepares for crusader battle to break world record in London Marathon by IRONING in his costume

A defeated David Cooke vowed to never run 26.2 miles again after completing the Sussex, Brighton and London races in three consecutive weeks.

However, the 38-year-old, who now goes by the alias Chainmail Dave, is hoping to set a new Guinness World Record in his seventh marathon – by completing Sunday’s run in less than five hours and 49 minutes.

Mr Cooke said: “It’s always a buzz and of course crossing that finish line, hopefully with someone telling me ‘congratulations, you are a Guinness World Record holder’.

“I am quietly confident that I will be close.”

Mr Cooke has been working on his upper body strength, as well as hitting the streets of Dartford in his Medieval get-up to prepare for Sunday.

The dad-of-two, from Coller Crescent, said: “I have done enough of the embarrassing runs now that I am accustomed to people shouting at me.

“I do get the odd weird look. I remember running along Princes Road and there was a family just staring at me, and they must have thought war had broken out or something.

“But the truckers are the best. There is always a beep.”

According to Mr Cooke, the worst part of his outfit is the heavy hood.

He added: “It’s not very breathable, so it’s quite horrible in there and it’s like having two tambourines on the side of your head.

“At first I thought ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this’.

“I permanently feel like it’s Christmas. The current record holder said ‘wear it around the house’.

“I was wearing it every day, doing the ironing in the thing. It’s getting your head muscles used to wearing it.”

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He is fundraising for a second, much-needed London Air Ambulance (LAA). The current one has attended over 30,000 missions since 1989.

Mr Cooke added: “It is a fantastic service.

“Using a helicopter by day, and rapid response cars by night, a senior doctor and paramedic team can be there in minutes, providing life-saving medical interventions.”

Mr Cooke has never attempted the race in fancy dress, and his previous personal best is four hours and 15 minutes – some five years ago.

He has raised over £1,300 for LAA so far. Donate here.

Meanwhile hospice charity ellenor, which has sites in Gravesend and Dartford, has 15 people running to support them this year – many of whom are remembering loved ones who spent their final days under the care of “angels” at the hospice.

Amongst them is Longfield resident Sophie Warren, who has vowed to never run a marathon again after a “mentally and physically exhausting” journey during training.

Sophie Warren (centre) with the Mayor and Mayoress of Dartford

The Fairlight Cross resident is running in memory of her nana, Margaret, who passed away in 2010.

Miss Warren, 26, said: “I underestimated how hard this journey was going to be.

“I am really looking forward to the experience – but I can’t wait for it to be over, so I can get my life back.

“My nana died at ellenor Gravesend in 2010. We were very close and this was my first experience of death.

“The hospice cared for my nana like they had known her for years and gave her the love, support and respect she deserved.

“They are angels and this is my way of thanking them.”

Miss Warren hopes to raise an impressive £8,000 – £10,000 for ellenor.

Bexley resident Alison Bell, 29, is running to thank the hospice for caring for her dad and mum, who were cared for by ellenor 10 years ago and passed away two years ago respectively.

Miss Bell, who lives in Manor Way, said: “They also do bereavement counselling, so they’ve looked after me well.”

She previously completed the Brighton Marathon in four-and-a-half hours, and is hoping to get round London in less than four.

Miss Bell added: “You have to have a reason to run a marathon, long distances are really hard.

“When I ran Brighton last year, I was thinking about my mum.

“She would have said ‘don’t do it, it’s really hard’, but she would have been there.”