I said never again, but I'll run with the urge

THE countdown has begun for the thousands of runners preparing for the Cork marathon, which takes place on June 4. For John Philip Murray, an artist from Lissardagh, Co Cork, running the marathon is a challenge he set himself on his 60th birthday.

“I decided to set myself some goals,’’ he says. ” The first goal was relatively easy. On the day of my birthday, I cycled a mile for every year. So I cycled 60 miles and had a lovely day.

“Running the Cork marathon is my second goal. I have run three marathons before. But the last one was in 1997, when I was 45, and I limped around and said: ‘Never again.’ But now I feel ready for it.’’