I quit my 9-5 to travel the world:

Lauren in Singapore.

 Running a marathon is something everyone has on their bucket list, as well as travelling the world but most of us never take that leap.  The thought of running 26.2 miles sends most people into a frenzy, however, for 29-year-old Lauren Delday it does quite the opposite. Lauren traded in her corporate career for a once in a lifetime decision – to travel the world whilst training for the London 2025 marathon.

 The 6-month long adventure has seen her travel to Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the list goes on, eventually ending in Australia where she will be in the most intense stage of marathon training, sometimes running up to 35km ‘it felt easier and safer to do this in bigger places like Melbourne and Sydney that have a running culture rather than South East Asia or Indonesia for example’.

The bold decision to quit her job came after climbing the ladder at a company she loves, she managed to buy a lovely house, a car and has an amazing network of friends and family around to support her however, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. Calling this a ‘quarter life crisis’ over on her Fitness page on Instagram, she goes on to explain how she feels like there was more to her life and the routine she was living.

After losing her mum at 21 something someone so young should never had to face, Lauren directed her grief into personal growth and fundraising. Lauren will be running the London marathon in April 2025 in memory of Jane Byford. Lymphoma action is the charity she will be fundraising for, she has amazingly already raised 81% of her £2,500 goal.

Her mother, Jane, was diagnosed with Cancer when Lauren was only fifteen years old ‘I remember getting the train and bus to heartlands hospital most weeks after school and sixth form to see my mum’. This is something no child should have to go through and it’s a true testament to Laurens character that she has shifted something so upsetting into something so inspiring, Lymphoma Action is a charity that helps those diagnosed with Lymphoma and provides much needed support to families and loved ones. ‘Being able to run for a charity that is so close to my heart and where I can make a real difference to people’s lives who have gone through the same thing as me is really special’.

Lauren in Koh Lipe - Thailand

This is an extreme achievement within itself, however, Lauren is training for this whilst solo travelling, she even managed to run a half marathon in Vietnam in November and is momentarily keeping up her strength training at the gym and running a couple times a week, once in her marathon training block this will increase to three runs a week as well as gym sessions three times a week, This takes extreme dedication and discipline, Lauren makes it clear that her motivation for running and bettering herself comes from within.

The most challenging aspect of her journey so far, she says is the routine, ‘you want to spend your time exploring and visiting as many places as possible, but that can be really difficult when you have to fit in both running and strength training each week’. This is something that she has had to stay consistent with even when she’s tired and feels unmotivated. The diet has also been a struggle for her, at home in the UK Lauren sticks to a high protein diet and tracks her calorie consumption however she has said ‘that is virtually impossible out here and to eat within a good budget you must eat the local/street food which is all really high in carbs’.  This is a struggle Lauren has had to combat and overlook, for most of us the food when travelling is the best part however, when training for such an intense event the food becomes more of a hinder.

The most ‘runner friendly’ destination Lauren has visited so far is Hanoi, Vietnam, she ran her half marathon here, the running culture here is quite popular and they hosted a myriad of running clubs. The most fitness-oriented place she said was an island in Thailand called Koh Lanta, ‘I attended a CrossFit gym for the time I was there and I loved it, there was a huge sense of community also’.

When it comes to feeling homesick, being on the other side of the world can make you feel like your completely unreachable and alone however Lauren has combatted this by connecting with as many people as she can whilst travelling, ‘I’ve met a few people in one place and then we have met up in a few different places too, seeing a familiar face is sometimes all you need’.

Although the planning and training has been intense, Lauren stays motivated through ‘remembering her why’ she has also highlighted the importance of staying in private rooms when you can, although hostels are exciting and sociable, we all need to recharge before we burnout, ‘just being able to spread out and sleep in a double bed makes all the difference’. Lauren also stresses how imperative it is to use rest days as rest days, travelling in intense heat and sightseeing can be extremely exhausting on the body therefore, savouring rest days is key.

 This whole experience has been eye opening for Lauren, she has learnt more about herself every day and with every challenge. ‘I’ve learnt that when you have a why and a purpose it gives you the determination and motivation you need, I am raising money for a great charity in memory of a special person that’s taught me that however hard it might feel at times, we are more capable than we think’.

Lauren is so hugely inspiring and has already made such an impact, you can keep up with her story on @laurend.fitness  and donate to her just giving page link which is below. 

https://www.justgiving.com/page/lauren-delday-1720726646336