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Had to be fast to catch up with comedian Eddie Izzard on his latest outing in Edinburgh.

The actor and comedian is currently 614 miles into a thousand mile run around the UK - that's the equivalent of a marathon a day, six days a week, all in the aid of Sport Relief.

Even on his day off, he can't resist a run. A press conference at the Pleasance to promote the project is followed by a short sharp run up Arthur's Seat - accompanied by some fellow comedians and the fittest local journalists.

He admitted his feet are suffering - "even the blisters have blisters" - and he's pulled muscles he didn't even know he had - but having entered the world of the ultra marathon runner, he's not going to let go in a hurry.

"The great thing about acting and comedy is that you can fit running round it," he said.

"Even in outer mongolia, you can say I'm off for a run. You don't need equipment. You don't need to take anything with you. It's perfect."

Not that he's giving up the day job. As soon as the running is over, he's back to filming in Los Angeles, a new stage show and the starring role in a new children's drama for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ this Christmas.

In The Lost Christmas, commissioned by ´óÏó´«Ã½ One and C´óÏó´«Ã½, he'll play an enigmatic character with the power to find the lost, who appears on the snowy streets of Manchester one Christmas Eve.

Before then - he has another street in his sights. Buchanan Street in Glasgow is where he'll pick up his marathon relay tomorrow.

"I used to perform there as a street entertainer so it's as good a place as any to start," he said.

"From there, it's Stirling, then Edinburgh."

Fans can keep up with his journey via Twitter.