When Laura Goodbourn lines up at the start of the London Marathon this April, it will be her fifth time taking on 26.2 miles. But this year will feel very different.
Laura, 38, from Plymouth, first ran London in 2018. Since then, she has completed Manchester, Berlin and New York. While she describes New York as incredible, for her, nothing beats London. “It’s the greatest marathon in the world,” she says. “The support from the crowds is incredible. It makes me emotional thinking about it.”
This year, the emotion will be even closer to the surface.
Laura’s London Marathon for Mum
Laura originally signed up for a charity place in 2018 after her dad was diagnosed with carcinoid cancer. Now she is running once again for family. In September 2024, the same year Laura welcomed her son into the world, her mum was diagnosed with stage 4 adenocarcinoma lung cancer.
“It started as a cough that seemed to hang on a little too long,” Laura explains.
Because she was on maternity leave at the time, Laura was able to take her mum to appointments and spend precious time together with her and her baby son. It is something she is deeply grateful for.
Her mum began palliative chemotherapy, but the treatment was tough. “The chemo was really hard on her,” Laura says. “She has very bravely decided that she doesn’t want any more. She wants to feel as well as possible and the chemo made her really poorly.”
Training for a marathon is never easy, but for Laura, it carries an extra layer of meaning. On the difficult days, when the miles feel long, and the sleep deprivation kicks in, she knows exactly why she is doing it.
“I think about my mum and everyone else who is dealing with lung cancer, whether that is the patients or their families. It’s tough,” she says. “I also think about how lucky I am right now, to have lungs that are able to get me through my training runs and how grateful I am for that. You never know what is around the corner.”
Balancing marathon training with family life has been one of her biggest challenges this time around. Laura and her husband have a two-year-old son and a lively springer spaniel, and life is busy. “Lack of sleep!” she laughs. “My toddler likes to wake me a few times in the night, so that has been a struggle.”
Still, she is determined. “It has been tough fitting the training in between family life, something I haven’t had to factor into my previous marathon training. But I am feeling good, and I know I can do it.”
Outside of running, Laura loves spending time with her family and curling up with a good book, often choosing running-related reads to keep her motivated during training blocks. On marathon day, she will have a whole crowd of her own cheering her on, including her husband and son, her sister and her extended family. “I’m very lucky,” she says.
As well as completing the race, Laura has her sights set on a personal goal. She is determined to break the five-hour mark, something she has been chasing for years. Her previous London time was 5 hours 26 minutes, and this time she would love to go sub five. Her simple mantra will carry her through: “One foot in front of the other.” That, and a blast of Lizzo’s Pink from the Barbie soundtrack when she needs an extra boost.
Laura is aiming to raise £2,200 for Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, though she hopes to go even further. Her fundraising efforts so far include a “Name the Bear” competition with a plush teddy prize, with plans for a bake sale and a sweepstake to guess her finish time. “It’s going well so far,” she says.
Her professional life makes the cause even more personal. Laura works in clinical trials and understands first hand how vital research funding is. “I know just how important trials of new medications are for future generations,” she explains. “I hate to see another parent go through this. To know that one in two people get cancer is just frightening. I want to feel like I’m doing something to help my mum, and running the marathon, like I did for my dad, seems only right.”
If she could dedicate each mile, it would not just be to her mum, but to everyone facing a tough time. “Whether that be battling lung cancer, mental illness or family members trying to stay strong and be there for their loved ones.”
And her message to those affected by lung cancer is simple and heartfelt.
“To the patients, you are brave and strong. What you go through, all the blood tests, chemo, radiation, it is by no means a walk in the park. It’s brutal at times, yet you just keep going. I’m with you every step of the way.
“To the families, you are brave and strong. Supporting your loved ones through these dark times is hard, but you keep going because you love them. I’m with you every step of the way.”
This April, as Laura takes on London once again, every mile will be powered by love, gratitude and determination. One foot in front of the other.
You can donate to Laura’s fundraiser here.