A London Marathon runner who is raising money for the RNLI says lining up on the start line will be a triumph over adversity.
Lara Bird feared agonising pain from a torn spinal cord would end her dreams of running another marathon.
The 28-year-old from Broughty Ferry, Dundee, was unable to run for 12 months after her diagnosis.
But the barrister, currently working in politics as a Senior Policy Advisor, grew stronger through physio and rehabilitation techniques and she is now ready to take her place with thousands of other runners on 26 April.
She is raising money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution after the charity’s volunteers rescued a family member.
And on Friday 27 March she undertook a marathon practice run involving the lifeboat stations at Montrose, Arbroath and Broughty Ferry.
Lara says: ‘Living in Broughty Ferry I see the incredible crew here out most weeks, and I am constantly inspired by their dedication.
‘There is such a deep historical community connection in Broughty Ferry to the RNLI, and I want to use this opportunity to promote the crew and volunteers who commit so much of their time and energy to us.’
She is a member of Monifieth Triathlon Club and admits that when she first started running several years ago she was ‘incredibly slow and didn't really know what I was doing, but absolutely loved it.’
Lara has run five marathons, with a personal best of 3hrs 20mins, and three ultra-marathons. But her running came to a halt when she injured her spine.
‘In January 2024 I was beginning to ramp up my training for the Boston marathon when I started to feel a pain in my lower calf. I went to the physio thinking that it might be tendonitis, but he had a feeling it was a back problem and sent me for an MRI scan.
‘It turns out that the pain I was feeling in my leg was referred pain from a torn spinal cord. I had ruptured nerves in my lower spine and herniated four discs in my back.
‘I was immediately told to stop most movement, and the doctor told me that I should consider surgery. I really didn't want to have surgery on my back, so I committed to trying to heal it through physio.
‘I spent six months not able to do any movement other than light walking and lots of rehab, before I started being able to swim — but only using my arms.
‘Almost a year to the day of the MRI, I was allowed to try run-walking, and spent a few months running for a minute or so, followed by a few minutes of walking.
‘I had many setbacks over the year or so, and at one point it seemed as though running was always going to be too painful.’
Lara adds: ‘This run is a total celebration — a celebration of the incredible RNLI here in Broughty Ferry and of being able to run again pain free.’
Spencer Harris, the RNLI’s Community Manager for Broughty Ferry, says: ‘Lara is an inspiration to all of us and we thank her for supporting our mission to save lives at sea.’
Lara is also raising money for Reach Across Arbroath, a charity supporting people with mental health difficulties – ‘It also does incredible lifesaving work, in a different way, and means a lot to me.’
Pictures
Lara Bird is pictured at Broughty Ferry and Arbroath RNLI lifeboat stations
RNLI media contacts
Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639,
[email protected]Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929,
[email protected]
