TAVISTOCK's world-record breaking marathon man is this week living the life of a professional athlete, as he begins a specialised seven-day training camp in Lanzarote.

The trip has been made possible thanks to the support of several local organisations, who have sponsored Adam Holland's place on the Canary Island camp.

Adam, who last October became the youngest person in the world to complete 100 marathons, flew out from Gatwick yesterday, one of 30 athletes taking part in the week-long coaching and training camp.

He said: 'I'm definitely looking forward to it. I've been trying to do something like this for ages, It's something I really wanted to do — basically, I will be living like a professional athlete for a week.

'There are three world record holders going — I suppose I am one of them — and a gold medallist.

'I'm not sure what to expect, I've never done anything like this before, but I know I will be doing a half-marathon and a night run while I am there, and we will be doing lots of fitness stuff.'

Adam, who will celebrate his 24th birthday on Saturday, said he was hoping to learn a lot from the week, about himself as an athlete, and how to move forward in athletics.

He said that at the moment, he actually did not have a favourite running distance.

'I enjoy doing the marathon because it's a nice long run, but I like to mix it up a bit, I quite like doing shorter races as well,' he said.

Taking part in the training camp at Club La Santa will be triathletes, marathon runners, trail runners, swimmers and cyclists, who will be coached by Olympic marathon runner and Commonwealth bronze medallist Liz Yelling, the former training partner of Paula Radcliffe, and Liz's husband, steeplechaser and ironman competitor Martin Yelling.

Tavistock Rotary Club, Tavistock Business Association and town businessman Nigel Eadie have made the trip possible for Adam by granting him funds to secure his place on the camp.

Mr Eadie said: 'Adam is such a terrific young guy. He's a brilliant role model for young people.

'He's done so much for youngsters in the town, setting up a junior running group and helping them, and he's raised literally thousands of pounds for children's charities by doing sponsored events.

'And physiologically he is an absolute talent — he's doing no mean times for the marathon now, yet so far he's done it with hardly any formal coaching or training. We are hoping this camp will really be the next step for him and will help him an awful lot.'

l Just before Adam left for Lanzarote, he had an extra appointment to meet — BBC Breakfast sports reporter Mike Bushell came to Tavistock to interview the young athlete and met some of the youngsters who take part in his regular junior running club sessions in the Meadows.

Mike, who is also running in the London Marathon, was keen to talk to Adam about his athletic achievements — he ran six marathons in six days when he was a 15-year-old schoolboy, raising thousands of pounds for charity.

Adam's interview with Mike Bushell should be broadcast on Breakfast News on Saturday, March 26.