Running the Distance: Eline Laurent

This article is part of a series. Read the rest of the articles.

Today, we are happy to spotlight Eline Laurent, who is running for the Brigham Stepping Strong Marathon Team.

Eline works as a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Psychiatry department at Massachusetts General Hospital with Joshua Roffman, MD in the Early Brain Development Initiative.

Her work is aimed at developing and implementing prenatal and early life interventions to prevent neuropsychiatric illnesses, particularly in children at increased risk for these disorders.

Q: What inspired you to start running marathons?

My first race was in kindergarten, where I showed up in sandals and a summer dress. Since then, I have never stopped running. Since middle school, my dream has been to one day run the Boston Marathon.

The energy in Boston on race day is like no other—the crowd and runners are electric, filled with positivity, support and excitement. Watching the marathon the year of the bombing, I was inspired by how the city bounced back and united.

That moment solidified my desire to run Boston. To be able to do so with Stepping Strong, a charity formed in the wake of the bombing that is dedicated to trauma research and recovery, makes it very special.

Q: How do you balance your research/work with marathon training?

Balancing my research work and marathon training requires careful planning and flexibility due to frequent evening and weekend research study visits. I prioritize early morning runs and late-night runs, often missing the sun.

On busy days, I fit in shorter training sessions or cross-training to be able to still make time for rest and recovery, which are as important as training.

It’s all about finding a routine that works and staying disciplined, so I can give my best in both my work and my running.

Q: What lessons from marathon training apply to your work in research?

Both marathon training and research are long-term endeavors that require patience, discipline and focus.

As the saying goes, it is a marathon, not a sprint. Success in both fields comes from consistently putting in the work and trusting that over time, everything will fall into place—whether that’s publishing a paper or crossing the marathon finish line.

Both pursuits require a clear goal, dedication, and the understanding that progress is often gradual and not at all linear.

Both also rely heavily on having a supportive team to lean on during challenging moments.

Personally, I believe my work in research has made me a better runner, and marathon training has enhanced my focus and resilience in the lab. The skills of perseverance and discipline I’ve gained from each help fuel my success in the other.