Despite her knee going early on, Brentford Dock's Sandra Courtney still managed to complete the London Marathon in under five hours, crossing the finishing line with the words: 'I'm too happy to even cry.'
It was at three miles that she suffered a recurring injury and wondered how she was going to get through the rest of the course.
It was a tough struggle until at 15 miles her brother was able to pass her some pain killers. Sandra took these and the rest of the run went relatively smoothly.
Her time was 4 hours, 55 minutes, 31 seconds.
She said: 'That was ok for me given the 20 degree heat. I'd hoped for slightly faster but was still happy with under 5 hours.
'The race was amazing. The first half was harder because my knee went at three miles and I had to battle through to 15 miles until I got the pain killers. Then on I went.
Almost all of the course had spectators which I was surprised at. I was expecting some quiet time but there was none really. There were some bottle necks with people walking but I managed to run it all apart from a couple of pit stops to fuel up for about 30 seconds.'
Sandra, 37, who works as an office manager in Ealing, was once a smoker. She's been running for two years and shows it's never too late to give up the fags.
She added: 'It was as hard as I thought it would be, but also much more exciting and I was overwhelmed by the spectators from about mile 22 onwards. They were amazing! They kept me going and you feel like a celebrity with people calling your name. I saw my family and friends, my sister and her kids, and it was such a boost and an emotional experience that I started crying - but I pulled myself together for the finish.
'The last couple of miles is mind blowing and something that I will never forget. Crossing the line I was elated and too happy to cry - which is what I thought I would do.' Sandra raised £659.73 for MacMillan Cancer Support.
After the Marathon, the knee was swollen and she found it painful to walk but hopes it will be better for the Richmond half marathon in three weeks time.
She said: 'It was a fantastic experience and I'll be putting my name in for next year's ballot - which opens on 26th April 2011 - if anyone else is interested and fancies having a go.'
She also intends to take part in Race for Life in Richmond, held over the weekend of 25-26 June, at the Deer Park.
