The Marathon Man

The Marathon Man

4 May 2016

DOWNPATRICK’S Mr Athletics celebrated a famous milestone on Monday.

At the age of 69 Joe Quinn completed his 69th marathon when he took part in the Belfast City Marathon for the 17th time.

To mark the landmark race organisers gave Joe a special number — 1769 — and to make it a family occasion Joe was joined on the way round by his four daughters, Donna, Karen, Sheena and Paula.

Each of them ran a six-mile leg and encouraged Joe as he finished the 26 miles and 385 yards in a time of five hours and 16 minutes.

That was two hours and 13 minutes outside his personal best for the distance, but the time was irrelevant. Just to get round the course was a major achievement for Joe, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease two years ago.

The driving force behind East Down Athletics Club for many years, Joe was forced to put on hold his ambition to run 100 marathons, but it didn’t curtail his enthusiasm for running.

An inveterate race organiser who brings the popular Jimmy’s 10k to Downpatrick every March, he was determined to get back on the road after a two-year lay-off.

His daily medication enabled him to build up his training and as a result, he felt able to do one last marathon which was to be his 69th in total.

Joe’s wife, Vera, was understandably concerned for her husband and to alleviate her anxiety and to make the occasion all the more significant a plan was hatched to enlist their four daughters to run the route alongside him in the form of a relay team.

They were aptly named The Quinntettes and the girls were delighted to support their dad. As for Joe, he was equally delighted to have them along.

“Every step is difficult for me as the passage of time and Parkinson’s takes its effect, but I received tremendous support from all at East Down AC and other local clubs,” he said afterwards.

“I set my focus on getting over this challenge. I would have loved to have completed 100 marathons before hanging up my racing shoes, but when I was first diagnosed I never dreamt that I would be able to run in another one. “This is probable my last marathon, but you never know. It’s a psychological battle for me all the way. I get a tremendous boost knowing that I can still run, even though my legs were stiff before the race.”

Joe, who was more than a useful goalkeeper in his footballing days with Down Olympic and Drumaness Mills, has no intention of resting on his laurels.

“I had intended to participate in tomorrow night’s Hill & Dale race in the Mournes, but I might just give that a miss and target the Three Lakes Lions Challenge as my next outing.”

Joe had another reason to complete Monday’s marathon. He was running to raise money for the Parkinson’s Trust and so far he has brought in £2,365. 

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank my wife Vera and daughters for all their support and to all who donated so generously,” he added. “There is still money to come in. It has been extremely humbling to realise I have the support of so many people.”