Radio 1 DJ Adele Roberts becomes fastest woman to run London Marathon with stoma bag

'This is absolutely insane. You are unreal'

The Radio 1 DJ crossed the finish line of the 26.2 mile race in a time of 3 hours, 3o minutes and 22 seconds.

The 44-year-old, who began using a stoma bag in 2021 after surgery for bowel cancer, said “up yours, cancer” after her achievement and when told of her time by BBC Sport replied, "Wow, I could retire now."

The official Guinness World Records’ Twitter account shared a picture of Roberts with her certificate after the race and wrote: “Adele Roberts completed the fastest marathon with an ileostomy (female) in 3:30:22. “Congratulations, Adele!”

Roberts had a tiny replica medal made for her stoma, which she named Audrey, and shared a video of the presentation on her Instagram story.

“We got the record. I was like: ‘Oh my gosh did we actually do it?’,” she said.

“For ages I didn’t know my time because my watch broke and I couldn’t tell because I set off quite late … so I was just really hoping that I’d managed to do it.

“Thank you so much to everybody who was actually in the race, there was so many lovely people on the course and also everybody who came out to cheer even though it was raining.

“We did it, up yours cancer.”

On an Instagram post she wrote: “We’ve just set a #GuinnessWorldRecord for the fastest marathon with an ileostomy … less then 12 months since I stopped chemotherapy. Anything is possible.

“For those warriors living with cancer, for all the incredible ostomates around the UK and for the heroes of the NHS. That was for you.”

Her fellow Radio 1 DJ Greg James wrote on her post: “This is absolutely insane. You are unreal xxx”

The radio and television presenter Anita Rani added: “CHAMP! Massive congrats Adele!”

An account called, Doctorsgetcancertoo, wrote: "You are so utterly phenomenal you and Audrey… rockstars. Will never forget today. Thank you for sharing your experience so openly Adele. You will and are helping so many out there. Congratulations."

Another user wrote: "The words courage and bravery are thrown around way too easily, especially when it comes to running, but this is both of those things and more. A truly inspirational incredible woman. Congratulations to you and Audrey."

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour on Friday, two days before the race, Roberts admitted the race was a "big ask".

“Less than 18 months ago I was lying in a hospital bed recovering from bowel cancer surgery and it was a long road ahead of me … 18 months ago, and I couldn’t barely sit up, let alone run a marathon.”

On the eve of the race, Roberts shared a picture on Instagram of all her marathon running equipment, writing "come on little Audrey. We can do this". She has-tagged the post Rebellious Hope – a phrase coined by Dame Deborah James, who died of bowel cancer in June last year.

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