Out with the antiseptic and sticking plasters. GP and RNLI Medical Adviser Dr JJ Green talks about how he caught the marathon bug …

‘It’s a disease,’ Dr JJ Green quips as he prepares for the 2010 Virgin London Marathon. ‘And I’ve recently infected my daughter and two nephews!’

JJ crossed his first marathon finish line in Dublin in 1998 but his passion for his favourite charity reaches right back to childhood. ‘My family come from Connemara on the west coast of Ireland. As I was growing up I was always aware of the great respect for the RNLI in the area that led to the foundation of stations at Clifden and Galway.’

After cutting his teeth as a junior doctor in Ireland he moved to north Wales in 1989 to join his current practice. His colleague was approaching retirement as volunteer Medical Adviser to Llandudno Lifeboat Station and JJ jumped at the chance of being his deputy. It wasn’t long before he stepped up to the senior role and later became the RNLI’s Medical Adviser for Wales and the Isle of Man.

Today, his role involves anything from giving first aid to rescued casualties, to advising the charity’s Medical and Survival Sub Committee on resources. ‘It’s varied and interesting work and I really enjoy playing a part,’ he enthuses. ‘Receiving an RNLI statuette for 10 years’ service is one of my proudest moments – aside from marrying my wife and the birth of my children!’

So why such a demanding hobby? ‘It was at the height of the marathon running boom back in the 80s. I always fancied that I would enter one day. But it wasn’t until an afternoon in 1997 that I caught highlights of the Dublin Marathon on TV and thought: “This is it – it’s now or never.” I decided to enter the following year. I told everyone my plans and it took some a little while to stop laughing. I didn’t look like a typical athlete and I still don’t!’

It proved to be a tough first race, as newbie JJ over trained and pulled a hamstring. It didn’t stop him crossing the line though and he honed his technique year on year. In 2009 alone, he ran four marathons: ‘Boston and London were only a few days apart. I was seriously jetlagged and promptly fell asleep in my dinner following the second race. Fortunately the Dublin and New York Marathons were a week apart!’

With 37 marathons now under his belt, would JJ recommend the experience? ‘As a GP, I’d advise everyone to take regular exercise but marathons are not for everybody,’ he warns. ‘You need to be fit and do the right training – but it’s a mental battle as well as physical. During one marathon I heard sobbing behind me. I turned to see a young lady in a great deal of pain so I slowed down to help. It was her first marathon and she’d started too fast. Easily done.’

So this supporter combines profession and passion to help the RNLI. ‘For me, there could only be one charity when it comes to fundraising,’ JJ explains. ’My family and patients are wonderfully supportive. At least five consultations every day end with queries about my next run and whether they can give me the money now. I know I need to step things up when they tell me they haven’t seen me out training!’