Meant the world, says first-time marathon runner

Ryan O'Shea has a brain tumour and ran the marathon distance for the first time.

Ryan is wearing sunglasses and a bright pink shirt with black straps, holding up a medal. The green race bib reads 559. Other participants and buildings, including one labelled 'The Royal Yacht', are visible behind.
Ryan O'Shea has a brain tumour and was running a marathon distance for the first time [BBC]

A Jersey Marathon runner who has a brain tumour said completing the course meant the world to him because "I don't know when I won't be here".

Ryan O'Shea was diagnosed with a grade one diffuse asstrocytoma in 2022 at the age of 25.

He joined 2,000 other people to race in the Jersey Marathon on Sunday.

The event was the 20th anniversary of one of the biggest mass sports participation events in the Channel Islands.

It was the first time Mr O'Shea had raced the marathon distance and he completed the 26.2 mile (42k) course in three hours and 42 minutes.

He said: "It was magical - I couldn't have asked for more. I wasn't actually planning on doing a marathon this year, but I saw it was the 20th one so I thought why not?"

Mr O'Shea added: "I always think I'm lucky to be here and the marathon was one of the things I want to do but I didn't know how my brain was going to react to the distance."

Two people standing together outdoors at a race event. One wears a pink jacket, and the other wears a white shirt with race bib number 38 and a medal around their neck
Jade Greenwood, left, and Melanie Gouzinis were part of a relay team [BBC]

Other runners took on the challenge to raise money for various causes.

Jade Greenwood and Melanie Gouzinis from Jersey College for Girls (JCG) were part of a relay team which raised money for former student Lily McGarry who lost her limbs to sepsis.

Ms Greenwood said: "I remember teaching Lily a few years ago and she was just an amazingly cheerful happy student and someone who we really wanted to raise money for to try and help her situation."

Ms Gouzinis added: "I ended up doing the glory run by mistake and you have to give it some welly at the end there. All the time I was thinking about Lily."

John is in a dark blue long-sleeve shirt with green race bib number 113, smiling and holding up an orange sports drink bottle. A medal hangs around their neck, with other people and buildings in the background
John De Feu said the finish of a marathon makes the training worthwhile [BBC]

John Du Feu completed his 35th marathon on Sunday in a time of four hours and six minutes.

He said: "I don't enjoy the training but when you finish it's one of the best feelings in the world".

Mr Du Feu was asked what the secret was to being able to compete in so many marathons.

He said: "They often say to get to the start line, that's a success because you haven't got injured along the way, so keep away from injuries."

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Category: General Sports