Derbyshire nurse runs London marathon as a pint of beer
He's raising money after suffering from PTSD for other nurses who worked over the pandemic
Last updated 4th Oct 2021
A Derbyshire-based runner was determined to set a world record in London over the weekend as the fastest runner in the marathon dressed as a pint of beer
It has always been his dream to set a world record, and was given recognition from Guinness World Records of an 'official attempt' after completing the 26.2 mile run yesterday.
It's been a rollercoaster year for Joan Pons Laplana who suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms after working as an ICU nurse during the pandemic. Although he didn't break any world records, he had previously said he felt like he had already won his own battle.
He has been campaigning to get support for nurses experiencing similar symptoms to him. Joan has experienced anxiety and depression symptoms, and wants to raise money so more people can open up and access the help he did. He said:
"I was in denial, I didn't want to seek help because there was a stigma attached and I thought if I asked for help then people would think I'm not a good man."
The road to Joan's recovery started after he spoke about how he was feeling, and received advice from professionals as well as a therapist. He said one of the key things that helped him with his symptoms was running, and has already noticed a positive impact.
The road to recovery
"My mental health has now improved significantly. But the impact of my physical health has also been tremendous. I lost three stone and now I'm faster than I've ever been! Catch me if you can!"
Joan finished the run yesterday and crossed the finish-line with an emotional sigh of relief. He also noted as he was running that taking part in the marathon while dressed as a pint of Guinness was one of the hardest things he had done, but that he was proud of his journey so far. Prior to the marathon, Joan also said:
"I always wanted to have a Guinness World Record. And I couldn't find anyone who had run as a pint of beer before and this year was a bit of faith because I was having a bad moment. I'd just been diagnosed with PTSD and when I got the entry it was a bit of a surprise. I apply every year for the London marathon and had never got in, it's like a lottery!"