Edward Norton - Norton 'Phenomenal' After Finishing New York City Marathon

Actor EDWARD NORTON is celebrating after crossing the finish line at the New York City marathon on Sunday (01Nov09) - insisting completing his first ever 26.2 mile (42.2 kilometre) run was "phenomenal".

The 40-year-old Fight Club star completed the sporting challenge in three hours, 48 minutes and one second, according to the race's unofficial athlete tracker.

However, the actor - who battled shin and Achilles pain while training for the event - admits he had doubts his legs would hold up halfway through the race.

In a post-marathon interview, Norton explained, "You know you are going to hit tough spots, in a weird way mine came early in the race, but then I got my second wind around mile 18 (kilometre 28.9) and felt great the rest of the way."

Norton ran the event to raise money and awareness for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, which aims to protect the east African grasslands which the Maasai tribe calls home.

According to his official fundraising page, he has raised almost $300,000 (£187,500).