Woman with MS runs into marathon record history

A woman from Larne, County Antrim, has made history by setting a new Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon completed by a woman with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Juliane Keane, a primary school teacher, has lived with MS for two decades and completed the 2025 London Marathon on Sunday in a time of three hours, 53 minutes and two seconds.

Ms Keane said she has relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and said she hopes her achievement will help raise awareness of the condition, particularly the "invisible" symptoms that many people living with MS endure daily.

MS is a neurological condition affecting the brain and spinal cord and can cause severe pain, fatigue, cognitive issues, and vision problems.

"I got into running about 10 years ago," she told BBC's Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme.

"I didn't think a marathon was something I would ever be able to do," she said.

After watching her husband participate in previous London marathons, Ms Keane finally secured a place and completed the London marathon for the first time last year.

After surprising herself with her performance, she began researching whether any official records existed for marathon runners with MS.

"I couldn't get over how well I did last year, I really surprised myself, so I decided to look up what is the fastest time for a runner with MS to complete a marathon, but I couldn't find any record for any females," she said.

"I could only find a male record, which was actually set last year.

"I contacted Guinness World Records and they set up this category for women for the race this year.

"I didn't know what time I needed to set the record so when I finished I was just delighted to cross the line."

Despite facing soaring temperatures, blistered feet, and waves of exhaustion during the 26.2 miles (42km), Ms Keane pushed through, in large thanks to the backing of the huge crowds cheering her and everyone else on.

"It is crazy the mental battle that goes on during a marathon, I was going through periods of disappointment during the 16 or 17-mile mark as I was just so hot and my feet were blistering," she said.

"I realised I had to drop the pace and slow down or else I just wouldn't finish."

Ms Keane said the London marathon is incredibly special and the crowds helped spur the runners on every mile toward that finish line.

"The crowds are just unbelievable, the spectators are just so encouraging and the support is fantastic.

"It's just an unreal experience and I would encourage anyone to try it."

Upon crossing the finish line, Ms Keane was unable to find out if she had indeed clinched the record.

She was told by officials that she must wait until all the runners had finished and had their times recorded before she would be notified.

Ms Keane subsequently received word that she had indeed made history and was now in the Guinness World Records.

Ms Keane said RRMS means she goes through stages where, if she has a relapse, she is unable to any exercise at all.

"Everyone is different, but what happens to me is whenever I have a relapse, I am basically in bed for maybe about three months and then it would take me another month to build up my fitness again," she said.

"Thankfully the last few years, I haven't had any relapses, I have been suffering from mainly MS fatigue.

"MS fatigue can come on at any moment, totally out of the blue and you could be wiped out.

"Trying to manage that is probably the hardest part when training for a marathon."

She hopes her story will raise awareness of MS and encourage others not to be defined by their diagnosis.

"There's a lack of understanding about the invisible symptoms of MS but I'm lucky I can still run," she said.

"You can have numbness, pain and sometimes I feel like my spine is just on fire, but that's not visible and can come and go.

Her condition is "unpredictable", she explained. "I don't know when my next relapse will be or if I will recover from it in the same way as I have done in the past."

Ms Keane said she considers herself very fortunate that she can still run and compete in marathons with her condition.

"I'm still able to run and I really wanted to complete the London marathon in case I can't in the future," she said.