Edinburgh man proves medics wrong after being told 'you'll never run again'

An Edinburgh man who fractured his hip in the midst of a marathon has 'defied the odds' and is back running.

Mark Baxter, 33, was left in excruciating pain after he experienced a stress fracture during the London Marathon in April 2024. He was wheel-chaired off the track and rushed to hospital where surgeons inserted four pins and a titanium plate into his hip.

The fitness enthusiast previously shared with Edinburgh Live how he was told recovery could up to 12 months. But just seven months later, he completed the prestigious New York Marathon.

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After being told by doctors 'he wouldn't be able to run marathons again' Mark set a challenge for himself to prove the medics wrong. He underwent intense rehab and physiotherapy to build his strength to prepare him for the famous 42km run.

Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Mark, who has not long returned from the States, said: "In my recovery, I was only able to run 10km. A marathon is 42km but with rehab for my hip, I was told to keep the running to a limit. But I was going strong. I knew I had the strength and resilience in me to keep going.

"Since my operation, I dedicated every day to my recovery and building my strength back up. During the first four weeks, I could barely move but the final X-ray was in August and the doctor said it was 'miraculous' at how well it had healed. Then I did as much training as possible in September and October.

"Leading up the New York run, I was so excited. There was a little bit of nervousness but I think that's normal for anyone. My family tracked me from back home online."

Over the last couple of years, the 33-year-old has been aiming to complete the 'Big Six' marathons - which now included a seventh run in Sydney. Ticking off New York was a dream of Mark's, one he was told it may never happen.

"It was amazing," Mark said, "The atmosphere was incredible, and the whole event was so well organised. Police were controlling the crowd and helicopters were hovering over us playing Frank Sinatra's New York New York when we were running over the bridges."

As he ran across the finish line on November 3, he said all of the memories from the year 'came flooding back'.

He said: "It was euphoric. I had goosebumps. All of the memories from the last six months came flooding back. The pain I felt when the fracture happened, not being able to move for four weeks, using a zimmer frame, two crutches, one crutch... It all just came back.

"And new memories have been made now. It is a reminder to anyone who has faced or is facing the highest or hardest hurdles in life they can and they will overcome them with the right support and mindset."

Having already completed Berlin, London and Chicago marathons in 2023, and now New York, Mark has entered into the draw for Tokyo and Boston.

"They announced they were adding Sydney into the 'big six' races, so now it's the big seven. As soon as I finished the race, I got an email advising me to enter the draw for Sydney next year. I've already entered for Boston and Tokyo, so we will see what happens but I'm going to keep running."

The 33-year-old from Portobello has been involved in sports for most of his life and has developed a passion for running and boxing. He regularly competed in marathons and raised over £6,000 for charity.

Mark also has his own running club at Meadowbank Stadium where he encourages people from all walks of life to get into the sport.

"There are two ways people can deal with obstacles in their lives, he added. "One is to let it overwhelm you, burden you and put a limit on your potential. The other is to use it as fuel, fuel to feed the burning fire inside to be the best version of who you are as a human. To defy the odds and show yourself and the world what you are capable of achieving using your mindset and mental resilience."