Backwell man aims to be fastest Parkinson’s marathon runner

A man is aiming to become the fastest person with Parkinson’s disease to run a marathon.

Ben Karthauser from Backwell, North Somerset, is entering the London Marathon and has set himself a goal time of three hours and 15 minutes.

While preparing for the marathon, the 48 year old’s wife asked the Guinness World Records about the category of fastest runner with Parkinson’s, only to find one did not exist, so a category was created for him to enter.

“When I was diagnosed I was told exercise helps, and I thought ‘thank God for that’ as I enjoy running and want to keep going,” he said.

Mr Karthauser was diagnosed in 2021 at the age of 44 after feeling unwell, though he had been experiencing muscle spasms which affected his running three years before that.

He is running the race for Cure Parkinson’s, a charity which researches possible cures for the condition.

“If you’re unfortunate enough to have it then it’s a given it will get worse.

“The one thing that is clinically recognised to slow progression is physical exercise.

“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,” Mr Karthauser said.

When he was diagnosed, Mr Karthauser said it was “a bit of a blow.”

“Over the next year I tried to get my head around what that would mean for me and my three kids.

According to the NHS, the main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are involuntary shaking, slow movement and stiff, inflexible muscles.

It can also cause depression, balance and memory problems.

“I’m just trying to make sense of a condition which can be so heavy and depressing,” Mr Karthauser said.

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