Sickbed self-promise leads to marathon effort from Ken | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Masterton barrister Ken Daniels never got to stand on a victory dais at the end of the Harbour Capital half-marathon in Wellington last weekend and, although he was the last home by several hours, he was definitely a winner.

A year ago Mr Daniels had a close brush with death, being struck down with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a hugely debilitating disease that causes sudden paralysis and very often death.

But on Sunday, having long since cast aside his wheelchair, his callipers and even his walking stick, he completed the 21km walk in 6 hours 20 minutes to be the last man left standing in the half-marathon.

He was 5hr, 1m and 49s slower than the winner, Maria Bentley, but his sense of achievement and the reception he got from family and friends as he crossed the finish line was just as meaningful.

Race officials had cleared away most of the paraphernalia that goes with race day but they stayed back to welcome the last man over the line.

"A year ago when I was flat on my back I made it my goal to do this on the first anniversary of the illness," Mr Daniels said.

He admitted his walking style wasn't that pretty to watch - "It was a bit of a waddle" - but that hardly mattered to him, or his support crew.

Probably more daunting than the distance for Mr Daniels was the start of the race, where he lined up with thousands of able-bodied runners and walkers.

"I thought what the hell am I doing here, I was more worried about people pushing me over than the race itself.

"They all passed me in a very short space of time.

"I was on my ownsome for the last four hours, I think."

Apart from lining up in half-marathons Mr Daniels is also back on the road in a work sense.

Most days he can be found in his office and has just recently resumed his court work.

He said falling victim to Guillain-Barre had been a huge learning curve for him, a wake-up call on life and a means of seeing the world through completely different eyes.

"You learn more about yourself with this than through anything else."

Mr Daniels puts his survival and recovery from the disease down to a combination of good neurologists, good doctors and help from family and friends.

And the goal for the second anniversary?

"Something a bit quicker, that's for sure."