“IT’Sa victory to be at the start line, and a bigger victory to be at the finish line.”
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Sixty-six-year-old Sydney resident Ray James returns to Orange for the third time next weekend to compete in his 217th marathon.
Ray will attempt 25 marathons in 2016, including the Orange Colour City Running Festival, all despite battling cancer for the past three years.
Despite his illness, Ray said he was looking forward to returning to Orange with as much motivation as ever.
“I’m a bit of a tragic, a ran my 216th just last weekend,” he said.
“Orange’s course is challenging, the weather is usually a bit challenging, but not oppressive, it’s a nice town and the event is always well organised.”
Ray has undergone several operations since being diagnosed with cancer and has also received radiotherapy.
When he competes in Orange next weekend it will be in the midst of hormone treatment, which has cause him to put on 10 kilograms and slowed his marathon times by some three hours.
These days however, it’s about simply being there.
“My cancer is inactive, but that could change at any time,” Ray said.
“Without being dramatic, the underlying thing is while I can get to the start and finish I will continue to do so.
“I ran a couple of marathons with tubes still coming out of me, but in the world there are always people better off or worse off than you, you just do what you can and other people feed off that.”
The Orange Colour City Running Festival will be held this weekend.
All registrations must be completed online by 10pm on Friday.
To register visit www.orange colourcityrunningfestival.com.au.
bryson.ferreira@fairfaxmedia.com.au
