Phil tackles marathon challenge after winning a place in the runners' hall of fame

Phil Scott from our St Leonards-on-Sea store has run 15 half marathons in a year to become the first person from outside the US to earn a place in the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series hall of fame.

Marathon runner Phil Scott with Asda St Leonards-on-Sea colleagues — Phil with supportive colleagues

Phil has run in the US, Mexico, Canada, Spain and UK to earn his accolade – and now he's aiming to run in every English county to raise money for charity after his mum Judith was diagnosed with cancer.

Phil, who's 37, has worked for Asda since 2002 and has been at the St Leonards-on-Sea store, where he's fresh manager, for seven years. He was inspired to take up running as he watched the London Olympics – and says he couldn't have done it without the support and flexibility of his colleagues.

Asda St Leonards-on-Sea colleague and marathon runner Phil Scott — Phil's been able to combine his running with his Asda role

Phil, who's a member of Hastings Athletics Club, said: "I couldn't even run half a mile when I started – now I can run 13 miles fairly comfortably.

"A few years ago, I saw something about the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series hall of fame in America, and I dreamed about getting to it. Now I've become the first runner from outside the US to get into it.

"It required me to run 15 half marathons around the world in one year. I ran in Arizona, New Orleans then joined the Tex Mex Challenge, which was to run a half marathon in Dallas and Mexico on the same day.

"I then ran in Nashville, Madrid, North Carolina, Liverpool, Seattle, Chicago, Montreal, New York and St Louis before running my 15th in Las Vegas.

Asda colleague and marathon runner Phil Scott in Seattle — Phil in Seattle

"It works out at something like 90,000 miles of travelling.

"I was only able to do this with the help of the team at the store who allowed me to plan my shifts around the races, particularly at weekends.

"The team have been great – really flexible – and I'm very grateful to them. I think it shows that you can combine fulfilling your dream with work.

"Now I'm travelling the English counties entering half marathons and 10ks to raise money for Cancer Research.

Asda colleague and marathon runner Phil Scott — Phil at a race in Southampton

"It's an important charity to me as my mum is currently fighting cancer, which unfortunately is terminal.

"She's told me to raise as much money as I can for a great charity, which is what I'm trying to do."

Store manager Phil Read said: "What Phil's done is fantastic, and it shows what he's like as an individual that he's now raising money for a charity which is so important to him.

"To run all these races worldwide has shown massive commitment. It's amazing and we've been very happy to support him in any way we can."

You can visit Phil's fundraising page here.