Completing the Manchester marathon was a major achievement for Hannah Bentham who could barely run a year ago.
The HR advisor at East Cheshire Hospice enjoyed the occasion so much she was envious of runners in the London marathon a week later.
Hannah Bentham celebrates completing her marathon with daughter Emily.
Hannah has no plans to run any more long distances, though, with work and family commitments leaving little time for serious training.
Like many other enthusiasts, Hannah went from couch to 5k. Yet she carried on, completing a Cheshire half marathon in March before the full 26.2 miles.
Her endeavours have raised £1,135 for the Hospice where she has worked for three years and £520 for the Stable Minds charity.
Husband Tom and daughters Olivia (7) and Emily (4) were there to cheer Hannah in a field of 42,000 runners.
Hannah said: “I had signed up to run last year’s marathon but deferred it because I hadn’t done any training. I’d underestimated the commitment needed.
“Working at the Hospice you see the challenges faced by patients and their families and that inspired me to take part.
“Running a marathon is nothing compared to what they go through.
“The support was fantastic and spectators pushed me along.”
Tom and his brother George raised more than £7,500 for the Hospice three years ago in memory of their father Mark, a Hospice patient.
The pair paddled from the Irish Coast to the North Sea in a canoe, some 195 miles.