‘I conquered my Everest'

One star shy of a Six Star finisher's medal, Ketan Mistry says he ‚"already conquered his Everest" by running his first ever marathon. The 35-year-old who works in finance in the City of London, in the UK, has battled a lifetime of internal battles that went undiagnosed until five years ago. Now armed with the facts and explanations for his symptoms, Ketan has found a new lease on life and has fallen in love with running.

He explains: ‚"In 2015, I was diagnosed with a pituitary adenoma that was causing internal havoc. In my case this presented itself as a ludicrously-high human growth hormone level, almost zero testosterone production and a large tumor pressing on my optic nerve reducing my field of vision. The medical specialists suspected I probably had this tumour from my teenage years, at a time when I was still growing both physically and mentally.

‚"Symptoms included excess size and weight (very obvious when you compare me with my family members), chronic tiredness, constant migraines, an inability to sleep and joint pain. These were just explained away at the time as growing up and lifestyle choices."

A few years after his diagnosis, Ketan was able to get his health back on track and rise out of some dark and challenging times. He threw himself into a new challenge and headed across the English Channel to take on his first marathon in Paris, 2017.

‚"I enjoyed the process so much - the focus and discipline it gave me. It was also inspiring and motivating to others around me. I could share my newfound love of running with them and it was then that I decided that the six majors would be next," he explains.

Berlin and New York City marathons kicked off Ketan's Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star journey and rounded off a busy 2017. Stars three and four followed in 2018. He earned number five in 2019, and now he has just one to go - Boston.

Ketan fondly reminisces on the race experiences he's had along the way. ‚"Running through the Branderberg Gate was so awe inspiring and humbling. New York City was so much 'razzamataz'and exuberance in a good way! London was my home race and party marathon, I couldn't take the smile off my face. Only in London can you [be] overtaken by a fireman, ballerina and a rhino!

‚"Chicago was amazing to run through a city I knew very little about, and the day was topped off by fellow Brit Sir Mo Farah winning! Next for me was Tokyo -- what a lifetime experience! The people are so friendly and so excited about running that despite the terrible weather, it was a really great day.

‚"The six star journey was part of my physical and mental rehabilitation after diagnosis. It has given me so much. I now use running more as an important tool for my mental well-being -- I find it keeps me centered, gives me time to think and a moment to reflect."

Ketan feels that being able to open up about an illness and share yourexperience with people who support you is an important step in moving forward. Not letting it define you is liberating. He feels that his friends and family now see him as an enthusiastic marathon runner instead of a tumor patient.

‚"To think of everything that has happened in the last five years, the moment I cross the finishing line in Boston will be an uncontrollable release of emotion. It has become my life. I have seen some incredible sights, met even more incredible people and have never felt better both in body and mind."

* Note: Always consult a physician and get a full health evaluation prior to marathon training. Even if athletes appear healthy, underlying medical conditions could exist.