Australia's marathon queen thought she might never walk again

Kaz Thorburn, an Australian woman once told she would never play sports or have children, has defied all odds to become a record-breaking marathon runner. She recently crossed the finish line of the Sydney marathon with her three children cheering her on, marking a triumphant moment in her extraordinary journey.

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They told me as a kid: 'You're going to have this major surgery, and you're not allowed to play sport, ever. And you won't have children, and you won't work a job,'

At the age of 12, Thorburn was diagnosed with scoliosis and underwent major spinal surgery, which included fusing a steel rod to her spine. Doctors informed her that she would be unable to play sports, have children, or hold down a job. This prognosis deeply affected her, leading her to believe she was incapable of achieving much.

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I thought I couldn't do anything.

However, Thorburn's life took an unexpected turn when she married and, to her surprise, became pregnant. This challenged her perception of what was possible. If she could have children, she reasoned, she could likely pursue other goals. She began by running around the block with her infant son in a pram, testing her limits.

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Well, if I can have children, surely I can do other things,

Her running journey escalated from there. After completing the City2Surf in Sydney for three consecutive years, she was encouraged to try a marathon. Her first marathon in 1999 on the Gold Coast was a daunting experience, but she persevered, learning valuable lessons about running and herself. She has since completed the "six star marathons" in Tokyo, Chicago, London, Paris, Berlin, and Boston. In 2024, she achieved an Australian record by running 70 official marathons in a single year, averaging one marathon every five days. Thorburn manages this demanding schedule alongside her full-time work, demonstrating remarkable resilience and determination.

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I thought, 'If I get through this today, it will be a miracle, and if I don't break something or dehydrate myself or fall over. If I just make it to the finish, it will be amazing',