Helen Thorn: From stand-up comedy to marathon running – a journey of laughter and long runs!

Helen Thorn, best known as one half of the comedy duo behind the hit podcast ‘Scummy Mummies’, recently ran her fifth Abbott World Marathon major – the Chicago Marathon with us. Helen is a relatable comedian, known for her hilarious takes on motherhood, body image and the chaos of everyday life. Now, she’s added marathon running to the list of accomplishments, inspiring her community to believe that they can also tackle tough challenges.

We caught up with Helen back in the UK to talk about her running journey. She shared, “I began running 7 years ago at age 39 because I was overweight and knew I had to make a change as I entered my 40s. Fast forward to now, and I’ve ran 8 marathons, in 3 different cities, with two very tired legs!” It all started when her friend Bryony asked her to run a marathon in their pants! “She knew I could do it, so I needed to start believing in myself too.”

Helen’s first marathon was the TCS London Marathon, which she has now run twice, improving a time of 5:56 to 4:15. This year, Chicago was her fifth star. “I was particularly excited for this one because I’m a comedian, and Chicago has been the laughing pad for so many big names in comedy – Tina Fey, Bill Murray, Steve Carell and many more. The city’s comedy scene is legendary, so running there was special to me, and It’s also my fifth star this year!”

Although Chicago proved challenging due to it being a hot day, Helen felt an incredible sense of pride crossing the finish line. “I feel stronger, I have more energy, and now I believe I can take on any new challenges! One thing I’ve learnt is that age doesn’t matter – we’ve redefined what it means to be a runner, it’s not just for the elite, but for anyone wanting to feel stronger, healthier, and more confident.”

As a single parent and stand-up comedian, Helen has to stay organised to fit in her training runs. She shared how she’ll often map out routes on Strava while her son is at rugby practice. “I make sure I stay committed, whether it’s a quick 10K during his game or planning a run around my comedy gigs in different cities.” She said.

Beyond the race, one of Helenes favourite parts of running around the world with Sports Tours is meeting new people and other solo travellers. “I met Una, a runner who has been keeping up with me on Instagram, and she inspired me so much with her positivity for all things running. We’ll definitely stay in touch, which is amazing.”

Helen Thorn’s marathon journey is proof that anyone can take on new challenges, and with a bit of determination (and humour) you can achieve more that you ever thought possible!