Lindsey Buonocore is set for her fifth Boston Marathon, although a lot has changed in her life since her last marathon 10 years ago.

When Hopkinton native Lindsey Buonocore ran her first Boston Marathon in 2011, she recalled viewing running as a way to “decompress” from life’s stresses and pursue a personal goal with passion.

“I wanted to focus all my energy into doing something cool like running the Boston Marathon, so I did,” she explained. “I said that I would never do another one, but then you just kind of get hooked from there.”

After a 10-year break from marathon running, she decided to run on behalf of the South Boston Neighborhood House (sbnh.org), a nonprofit organization she became connected with a decade ago when she lived in that area. Since that time, she not only has volunteered countless hours there but also built a strong support network for her and her family.

Running helps return from ‘very low point’

The 38-year-old last ran the Boston Marathon in 2016. She said it was her fourth time participating in the historic race.

Buonocore said she had stopped running for marathons for several years because she was at what she described as “a very low point” in her life. She had planned on getting married, but the relationship ended.

“I was living in my good friend’s sister’s basement at the time in South Boston,” Buonocore recalled. “I remember when my parents encouraged me to join a marathon team because I had loved running so much and maybe I’d meet more people.”

Buonocore joined the team that ran for the Heather Abbott Foundation based in Newport, Rhode Island. During the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, Abbott was injured in the explosion, and part of one of her legs had to be amputated. Donations from thousands of people allowed her to have a prosthesis and be able to run again. Abbott created a foundation as a way to help other amputees pay for prosthetic limbs, which Buonocore said inspired her.

Marathon friendship leads to volunteering

Through this experience, Buonocore made a connection in 2016 that would powerfully shape her life.

“Because it was a small team, we joined CharityTeams, which has really taken off now,” she said.

CharityTeams is an organization that helps coordinate fundraising for charities through athletic events. It also connects smaller organizations to form training and fundraising programs. This is how she met her best friend, Orla O’Brien.

O’Brien was running for the South Boston Neighborhood House (SBNH), affectionately known as “The Ollie” after its founder, Olivia James. The organization celebrated its 125th anniversary at a gala event in March.

“She and I just kind of hit it off,” Buonocore said of O’Brien. “We did all the training together and ran the 2016 marathon together.”

This friendship led her to step up and join an SBNH fundraising team for its annual gala. She has volunteered in some capacity ever since, initially by teaching a yoga class for pre-teen girls.

Created as a settlement house, the SBNH has helped generations of South Boston’s most vulnerable residents of all ages. From a preschool to trips for teens, the SBNH seeks to offer resources to the community. It also serves family dinners at Thanksgiving and does holiday shopping to help those in need.

“It’s very cool because it helps kids, young families and the elderly,” explained Buonocore. “I said that if I ever did another marathon, I would run for them and raise money. I just really love their mission, so running for them was a no-brainer.”

Return to Hopkinton brings life ‘full circle’

Since 2016, Buonocore’s life has evolved. She moved to Charlestown, where she met her husband and had her first of two daughters (now ages 6 and 3).

“We had a baby and decided that we just needed more room,” she explained. “I grew up in Hopkinton, so I thought we should look at houses here.”

Her home now is a half-mile from the house in which she grew up, which she said was serendipitous.

Added Buonocore: “It’s crazy how things go full circle.”

Two factors that led her home were the strong sense of community and the stellar school system. She simultaneously maintained her ties with the SBNH, volunteering to serve holiday dinners.

“I still love being involved in any way I can,” he said. “It’s just harder with two little kids.”

Volunteer ‘village’ supports training

Buonocore began training for the marathon in the fall. She connected with CharityTeams once more to set up a training schedule and coordinate fundraising.

She added that she had to be “creative” this year because she is balancing a full-time job and her family with her regimen. Also, her husband is recovering from an injury.

Said Buonocore: “I have to use my village.”

After donating time to the SBNH for a decade, Buonocore is receiving support from others. Her “village” consists of her husband, mother, a local babysitter and countless friends. Their help allows her to complete arduous runs that can last up to four hours.

Buonocore recently hosted a fundraiser as part of her goal to raise $12,500 (givengain.com/project/lindsey-raising-funds-for-south-boston-neighborhood-house-111321). She was amazed at the number of old and new friends who supported and encouraged her.

“There’s just been so many things that have just stopped me in my tracks and taken my breath away,” she said through tears. “These are real people that genuinely care, and I feel so lucky every day.”

In late March, Buonocore ran the course from Hopkinton as far as Heartbreak Hill in Newton. She described the joy she experienced as she recalled her past marathon experiences.

“I’ve only ever run Boston,” she said. “There’s no better feeling because it’s such a great course. The spectators are awesome.”

Added Buonocore: “It’s amazing that everyone knows about Marathon Monday and that the whole state basically shuts down for it.”

She especially appreciates the number of charity bibs awarded by the Boston Athletic Association, the Boston Marathon’s organizer. She said she would not have qualified for the race as a nonprofessional runner.

“Millions of dollars are raised every year to support all kinds of charities,” noted Buonocore. “And every runner — 30,000 or so of us — has a personal story behind why they’re doing it.”