BEIJING -- China's first international ultra-marathon champion Chen Penbin faces a big challenge starting on Thursday -- running 100 marathons in 100 consecutive days.

Chen, 37, will embark on his journey from Guangzhou, Guangdong province in south China, go all the way through Fujian province, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Shandong, Hebei, Tianjin until he arrives at the final stop of Beijing on July 10.

"Persistence is what carries me this far. I believe I can reach Beijing on July 10 successfully no matter what," said the former fisherman.

Chen discovered his stunning stamina at 22 when he did 438 push-ups without a break in a county competition.

"I won 600 yuan from that competition, that was the biggest sum of money I ever held in my hand," recalled Chen.

Since then Chen was eager to take part in all kinds of running events for prize money for a few years before he decided to take some quality challenges.

In 2014, he ran 100km in south pole, becoming the first runner to compete in ultra-marathon in all seven continents.