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The Bravest Finish Line: Eleanor & Lisa's Extraordinary London Marathon Journey
- May 15
- 4 min read
For most runners, the London Marathon is a huge challenge. Months of training, sore legs, self-doubt, early mornings, and nerves all build toward one unforgettable day. But for Eleanor Thomas, crossing the finish line at the 2026 London Marathon meant overcoming far more than the usual marathon struggles. Living with multiple physical and mental health conditions, including fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, PTSD, ADHD, autism, and a rare condition affecting her kneecaps; Eleanor was told her body should barely tolerate walking, let alone 26.2 miles. Yet, she finished the London Marathon. Not alone, though. Alongside her was Lisa Phee, her support runner through the Richard Whitehead Foundation, who became far more than just a guide on race day. Together, they created a story about resilience, teamwork, and refusing to let limitations define what’s possible.
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How it all started
Eleanor’s marathon journey began the same way many do: watching the London Marathon on television and imagining herself there. “I just wanted to do it,” she explained. “For myself, but also for other people with mental and physical health conditions; to show people that you can do it.”
“I looked at the TV and thought, ‘Yeah, I can do that.’ And I’ve done it.”
After unsuccessful attempts in the standard ballot, Eleanor realised she would need additional support to safely complete the event. That led her to the London Marathon disability team, who connected her with the Richard Whitehead Foundation’s support runner programme. From there, everything changed. The Foundation paired her with Lisa, an experienced marathon and ultra runner with years of involvement in the running community and parkrun volunteering. What began as a support arrangement quickly became a genuine friendship.
Building Trust Before Race Day
Rather than meeting for the first time on marathon morning, Eleanor and Lisa spent months preparing together. They met regularly for training walks, discussed Eleanor’s health conditions openly, and talked through the realities of race day, from pacing and pain management to anxiety and logistics. Lisa knew the marathon itself would be tough.
She also understood that trust would matter just as much as physical preparation. “We wanted to meet beforehand because I think that gave us the best chance of succeeding,” Lisa said. “It gave me a chance to understand Eleanor and what she needed.” The pair even walked the final 10K of the course together before race day so Eleanor could visualise the finish and know what to expect when exhaustion inevitably kicked in.
Race Morning: Straight Into the Unknown
On marathon morning, there was little time to overthink.The pair met in London, made their way to the start, dropped their bags, and within minutes were moving toward the start line.
For Eleanor, emotions hit immediately. “It felt emotional and like a blur,” she said. “Like going on a night out, except I wasn’t drunk. I was drunk on the marathon.” The crowds, noise, and scale of the event were overwhelming at times, particularly early in the race, but the real battle came from within. On race morning, several of Eleanor’s conditions flared badly. Severe pain from fibromyalgia and arthritis combined with endometriosis symptoms that left her physically struggling almost from the beginning. “I felt like I’d been run over,” she admitted. At certain points, she sat on the pavement in tears. Every time, Lisa was there.
“Come on,” she would tell her. “You’ve trained for this. You’ve worked through the cold and rain for this. We’re getting you to that finish line.”
The Longest Miles
For many marathon runners, “hitting the wall” comes somewhere between 15 and 20 miles.
For Eleanor, the wall appeared almost immediately. The pair walked steadily through London, navigating landmarks like Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf while managing pain, fatigue, emotions, and mounting exhaustion. At one stage, the marathon pacer vehicle loomed behind them, a reminder of the race cut-off times. Instead of pressure, the experience became something unexpectedly powerful. The marathon officials, cyclists, volunteers, and crowds stayed with them. Even late into the evening, spectators lined the streets cheering them forward. “That support kept us going,” Lisa said. “People stayed out there clapping every single runner home.” As the race stretched beyond eight hours, the challenge became less about pace and more about persistence. At around mile 25 Eleanor reached breaking point. “I can’t finish,” she told Lisa. Lisa’s response was exactly what Eleanor needed. “I told her Alex from the marathon team said if I leave you, I don’t get my medal either,” she laughed. “So we’re finishing this together.” Step by step. Breath by breath. They kept moving.
“You get the same medal as the world record holder. We do the same course.”
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Crossing the London Marathon Finish Line
When they finally turned onto Birdcage Walk and approached the finish, emotion took over.
“I cried, cheered, and felt so happy,” Eleanor said. “Weirdly, all the pain disappeared for a moment.” After more than nine hours on the course, she had done it. A woman who had never even completed a parkrun before signing up for the London Marathon had crossed one of the world’s most iconic finish lines. While Eleanor was celebrating, Lisa, who had spent the entire day holding everything together, suddenly fell ill. “One minute she was fine,” Eleanor laughed. “The next minute she was outside being sick.” It was the perfect reflection of the emotional and physical effort both women had poured into the day.
More Than a Marathon
Perhaps the most powerful part of Eleanor’s story is that the medal itself almost became secondary. Yes, she completed 26.2 miles. Yes, she proved doubters wrong. But the experience also created something deeper: confidence, community, and connection. “I’ve now got a friend,” Lisa said.“A memory for life,” Eleanor replied. Their story is a reminder that marathon running is not only about times, splits, or personal bests. Sometimes it’s simply about refusing to give up.
“Sometimes, courage is simply continuing to take the next step.”
An incredible finish to an incredible journey
Inspiring Others to Try
Eleanor hopes her story encourages others living with disabilities or health conditions to believe that endurance sport can still belong to them. “If you want to do it, do it,” she said. “Definitely go for the support runner programme because I wouldn’t have done it without them.”
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