But Bankie Mark Barrow recently went one step further and set off on the gruelling 26.2 mile race through the streets of London dressed in a full ice hockey kit while most of those around him wore breathable tops and shorts.

The 39-year-old community police officer for Drumchapel is a keen runner and has raised nearly £15,000 for charity over the past few years by undertaking a long list of arduous lung-busting endurance contests.

However, speaking ahead of his latest challenge Mark said he would have to draw on all his experience in order to cope with the extra weight and heat caused by him wearing the additional clothing and pads which are designed to protect hockey players from high speed pucks and crunching body checks on the ice.

Mark told the Post: “The kit itself is really heavy. Even little things like trying to cool down in the race are hard. Normally you can pour water over your head but if I do that the jersey will get heavy.

“A lot of people will say I’m mad but having experienced it, I know how to run in fancy dress. You have to take your foot off the gas a bit and run it in a different way.

“Because you’re layered up you need to be careful with hydration and making sure you’re taking on the right nutrients and drink on board.

“If you run off too quick or misjudge the distance or speed you’ll get into trouble. I’ve got my own plan and I know what I’d like to achieve if I could get in five hours, fifty-nine minutes and fifty nine seconds I’d be delighted.

“If you have got the basic level of fitness you require to run the marathon it’s really a mental thing, getting your mind ready and happy with the fact you can do it.

“You need to forget about other people and forget about what’s happening around you and just stick to your own race plan.” The weekend’s race was the fifth time Mark has taken part in the capital’s celebrated event but the idea to do it in full Braehead Clan Ice Hockey gear was only decided on in recent weeks.

An ankle injury had prevented him from training as much as he would have liked and after striking up a friendship with Clan star Chris Franks through their charity work he decided to pull on his pal’s top for the race.

A former campus officer at Drumchapel High School, Mark is no stranger to making the headlines for his runs.

Back in 2012 he made history as one of the first people to cross the finish line at London’s Olympic Stadium and even managed to record a personal best 100m sprint finish at the £500 million stadium before the likes of Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay had stepped foot on the track.

And despite having a number of endurance events already behind him and a collection of medals which would rival many of the world’s footballing greats, Mark said completing the weekend’s race in front of his wife Debbie and 11-year-old daughter Jennifer would be one of his most special achievements to date.

He said: “Hopefully on the course I should see them twice which is very emotional experience. Regardless of how you feel it’s always a very, very nice thing to see them.” For more information or support Mark on his fundraising efforts for Children with Cancer UK go to www.justgiving.com/mark-barrow2 or www.thehpassemble.org/projects/mark-barrow/