48-year-old runs 3:04 marathon with Parkinson’s

Of the 42 new Guinness World Records set at the London Marathon on Sunday, one performance stood out as the most inspiring and remarkable achievement. Four years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Ben Karthauser of Backwell, U.K., finished the 42.2K race in a blistering 3:04:49–setting a new record for fastest marathon with Parkinson’s.

 

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The 48-year-old ran for the U.K. charity Cure Parkinson’s.

According to BBC News, Karthauser went into the run with a goal time of three hours 15 minutes. There was no Guinness World Record for fastest marathon with Parkinson’s, so a new category was created.

In 2021, Karthauser was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s at just 44; the diagnosis followed years of muscle spams that had impacted his runs. 

What is Parkinson’s?

Per NINDS, Parkinson’s disease is a progression disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. It causes neurons in the brain to become damaged and die, which affects movement and balance and can result in tremor and stiffness. Symptoms progress at various rates and can lead to difficulties with walking, talking and eating.

There is currently no cure, although some medications or surgeries can improve symptoms.

 

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Physical activity can help

Individuals with Parkinson’s can continue to improve their balance, strength, flexibility and overall mobility by continuing to stay active. “The one thing that is clinically recognized to slow progression is physical exercise,” Karthauser told BBC. My motivation is really to try and stave it off as long as possible and retain my health as it is for as long as I can.”

“I’m immensely grateful my symptoms are still quite mild, and I just want to keep going for as long as he can,” he said.