Mark Morrelle was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was nine years old, but has never let it prevent him from living an active lifestyle.
After several 10Ks, half marathons, and running the London Marathon twice, he has just completed his biggest challenge to date: the iconic New York City Marathon!
Mark, 46, completed the iconic 26.2 mile course around the Big Apple on Sunday 3 November in an impressive time of five hours and 50 minutes.
“The atmosphere was fantastic”
Mark said, “I had an amazing time in New York. The atmosphere was fantastic and I was chuffed to beat my London Marathon time by 30 minutes.
“I was feeling pretty tired by mile 19 so I walked for a mile and then ran for two. Once I got to mile 25 I just went for it. The toughest part was Queens Bridge; it seemed never-ending! But the support from the crowd really carried me through.”
“Diabetes doesn’t stop me”
“I’ve never let diabetes stop me from doing anything, especially when it comes to staying active. I’m really used to managing my condition when I’m running and know what works for me. I checked my blood sugars at every mile and acted accordingly.
“I hope my story shows others with Type 1 that it should not stop you from achieving amazing things. I’m already back in training for the Conwy Half Marathon later this month!”
As Mark’s story shows, there is no reason why anyone with Type 1 diabetes should not be able to enjoy an active life. We look forward to hearing all about his next challenge!
Feeling inspired? You don’t need to run a marathon to make a difference. Find out about all the ways you can fundraise for Diabetes UK Cymru here.
