Leeds Rhinos' Kevin Sinfield gets quicker in Rob Burrow marathon challenge

The club’s director of rugby is bidding to run seven marathons in seven days - each in under four hours - to raise £77,777 for former Rhinos team-mate Burrow who was diagnosed with the debilitating and fatal condition this time last year.

Sinfield completed his first 26.2 mile trek on Tuesday in three hours 40 minutes but, remarkably, returned yesterday to run in a quicker time of three hours 38 minutes.

Incredibly, more than £240,000 has already been raised with another five days of marathons still to come in the Herculean challenge

Asked if he was looking forward to the third this morning, the ex-England captain said: “I am.

“I’ll have an ice bath now and rest up.

“It is actually my wedding anniversary today. Unfortunately we can't go out as everywhere is shut.

“But hopefully we’ll have a nice meal later on.”

Yesterday’s mammoth effort was completed in drizzle rather than Tuesday’s bright winter sunshine.

Sinfield, 40, added; “It was a bit grim actually; typical Oldham weather.

“I think we got lucky yesterday but I’m delighted to get it finished and once again a big shout out and thank you to everybody; the support has been unbelievable.

“I swapped texts with Rob last night and he’s absolutely bowled over by the amount of money that’s been raised, the well-wishes and just the kind comments.

“We do have a great team here. I know I mentioned that a lot yesterday but it was a miserable one.

“It was very, very different to yesterday when we were all excited to get going and there were a lot of camera crews here to see us off.

“Today was very grey, wet, miserable but it’s job done.”

Sinfield insisted he had not faced any “dark moments” on day one and revealed: “There weren’t any today either.

“When I did the ‘three in three’ in my practice run, day two was horrendous.

“But perhaps I was ready for it today. I know it could have been a bit of a lull but it wasn’t. It was good.

“It is a long way and you do realise that at times; you could have been running a couple of hours and think I’ve still got 15 or 17Ks to go and that’s ‘wow’.

“But as soon as you hit that last 10k and you know you’re not far from home it’s really good to get back. Especially when a hot cup of coffee is waiting and a bacon butty!”

On the amount of money raised, Sinfield admitted: “It is just unbelievable.

“What a really difficult year it’s been for everybody. Rob’s a really big driver in this and (Burrow’s wife) Lyndsey and the kids.

“He’s a wonderful family and he’s absolutely at the forefront of it.

“But the work with the MND Association and how far reaching these funds will go…

“That’s not only for research and awareness, but to help families very, very similar to Rob’s but who are less fortunate who do not have that rugby family behind them.

“If we can make their life a little bit better and a little bit more comfortable then it’s a really good thing to do. I just want to salute everybody.”

People can donate here: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sinfield-7-in-7