Record-breaking is marathon not a sprint for Doyle

However, throw in a 60lb backpack and a distance of 26 miles and the romance starts to fade.

Not that that will make the moment any less sweet when Paddy Doyle sits down with partner Deborah to enjoy a glass of the fizzy stuff on Monday evening.

For should the Balsall Common athlete be able to coax his weary body through the marathon trek around Kenilworth and down the Grand Union Canal, he will have achieved an unprecedented 200 records in the world of fitness and martial arts.

Doyle’s journey from self-confessed hell-raiser to world fitness endurance champion began one weekend in 1987 when he picked up a dog-eared copy of the Guinness Book of World Records in a flea market in Warwick.

“I was flicking through the pages and came across the press-ups section,” said Doyle, who teaches self-defence in addition to navigational campcraft. “I looked at the records and thought, well I can do better than that.

“Obviously everything went from strength to strength after that, though it has got a lot more professional these days.”

Doyle’s first record saw him complete 4,100 press-ups with a 50lb steel weight on his back in 4hrs 30mins.

Since then, the former paratrooper has broken records in everything from sit-ups to speed marches, while also becoming an inspiration to a whole new generation of endurance athletes.

He admits, though, that 24 years of constantly pushing his body to the brink, which has seen him break countless bones and suffer a herniated disc and countless other bumps, bruises, aches and pains, is starting to take his toll.

However, with Monday’s speed march just one of the 30 records he needs to overhaul Paul Woodland’s mark of 29 in a calendar year, Doyle says he cannot afford to lose his focus.

“I’ll come home, open a bottle of champagne, feed the baby and have a quiet night.” said Doyle, who is father to eight-week-old Tabitha.

In addition to making the pages of Guinness World Records, Doyle’s feats have seen him recognised by the World Record Federation USA, the Registry of Record Holders, the International Record Holders Club, Germany, and the Book of Alternative Records, UK.

But only when he eclipses Woodland’s record will the 45-year-old be able to take a step back and reflect on his achievements.

“Beating Paul Woodland’s record will be the pinnacle,” said Doyle, a black belt third Dan.

“It’s been an intense year, both injury-wise and mentality-wise. It can wear you down and you need a strong mind.

“You live like a monk and constantly have to watch your diet.

“Woodland set a good target, a difficult target.

“But I’ll have had to push my body a lot more than he did to achieve that target.

“When I get to July, I’ll take some time off, reflect and see where to go from there. But it will be hard because I’ve already beaten the best of the records.”