/START(?:(?!START|END).)*END/

[download]
/START(?:(?!START).)*?END/

[download]
I wonder if the following is faster 
/
   START
   (?>
      [^SE]*
      (?:S+(?!TART))?
      (?:E+(?!ND))?
   )*
   END
/x

[download]

In reply to Re: really non greedy match by ikegami
in thread really non greedy match by Allasso

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