Lifelong runner Thad McLaurin has been helping people accomplish their running goals for 14 years, but his own goals had to change when he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Through his business, RunnerDude’s Fitness, he trains and works with all kinds of runners. From beginners to marathon runners, Thad has helped more than a thousand runners over the last 14 years. Top StoriesNorth Carolina teens found after escaping Holly Hill hospital in Raleigh, officials sayNorth Carolina school systems experiencing over-capacity, here's what they're doing to alleviate the pressureTeen charged for firing gun inside Food Lion grocery store in High PointGet the latest news stories of interest by clicking here“It's just is very enriching and rewarding just to see somebody get their goal," McLaurin said. McLaurin has his own running goals as well, but those had to change when he got shocking news in 2022 that he had stage 4 lung cancer. “I've never smoked, not vape, not even puffed once. I've just never, never been a smoker and so had been healthy all my life and into fitness, so it was, it made no sense to me," McLaurin said.He also doesn't have a history of lung cancer in his family. He says his doctor told him that for 2% of people diagnosed with lung cancer, there's no reason why. "That was quite a gut punch," McLaurin said.For a runner, your lungs play a big part, so adjusting his lifestyle was a change. Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts"My goals have definitely changed. I call it the new normal. So prior to all of this, I would have had like I'm trying to set a PR, I'm trying to break an old time that I had, trying to improve in that way. Now, it's all about being on my feet, just completing a run," McLaurin said. Through treatment, it’s continued to shrink, but he’s still living with stage 4 lung cancer due to it being in both of his lungs. “When I was first diagnosed, getting up the stairs to our second floor at our house, I would be completely exhausted and have to lay down, and now I'm running back to I just did eight miles the other day. So it definitely is an improvement,” McLaurin said.“I'm trying to keep things as normal as I can and move forward," McLaurin said. Moving forward means continuing to run and help others accomplish their running goals."Training is, is still training, but it's a different kind of training," McLaurin said. He is also spreading awareness about lung cancer."If I had not persisted, I wouldn't be where I am today. So my biggest advice to people is, if something's not right, keep pursuing it. Keep going back to the doctor, keep asking questions," McLaurin said. Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.He says he is so thankful to the Greensboro running community for their support through all of this. "The running community in general, anywhere, is an awesome group. It's like a family. I call it runship. You have your friendships, and you have your runships," McLaurin said.His next running event is called RunTheBoro, and it's in May in June.For more information on RunnerDude'sFitness, you can head to their website here.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |TRENDING STORIES