A PENSIONER from Kilmacrennan who was unable to walk two years ago after being struck down with rare nerve damage which affected his feet successfully completed the Donegal Half-Marathon on Sunday.
James Doherty (76) had to learn how to walk again after an operation had a devastating affect on his motor skills. But the retired fishery protection officer with the Northern Regional Fisheries Board has managed to get his running shoes on again and reached the finish line in Letterkenny inside two hours.
“I had a bit of trouble two years ago when I got nerve damage in both feet and I wasn’t able to walk. I was on a zimmer frame for a while before moving on to crutches and then on to sticks before I broke my ankle,” he said.
It’s been a long journey back to fitness for a man who only started running after he retired from work, joining the local Milford Running Club, who he described as being very supportive and motivational on his journey.
“When I retired I didn’t know what to do so I went out for a jog one day and soon got the bug,” he said.
Over the past decade he has completed five marathons – Dublin (3), Letterkenny and Derry – as well as numerous half-marathons.
“I was determined to get back running again. I could have sat back and accepted my fate but I decided to fight back and get back on my feet,” he said.
That determination, self belief and faith, saw James run the 13.1 mile distance in 1:58:36 last Sunday.
He was accompanied by Annette Sheehy and Deirdre Gormley for most of the run.
“They were brilliant. They paced me and made sure that I kept going,” he said.
While James hopes to continue running 10Ks ‘two to three’ times a week, his wife Ann is content to walk with the Swilly Ramblers.
“It (running) gets tougher as they years go on but you have to keep going or you’ll seize up. I had to set myself some kind of goal and prove to myself that I could still do it. The aim was to run the half marathon in under two hours.
“I’ve no intention of running another marathon but you never know you can always change your mind,” he said.
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