Sue's marathon effort

She rose to the challenge to raise funds for the Bexhill branch of St John Ambulance, and son Chris took part as well.

Sue managed to raise more than £900 and has memories of a great day to look back on; the highs and lows of going the distance, and the encouragement she received from husband Dave, family and friends as well as the crowd on her way round.

Sue said: “At about 10 miles I was really starting to struggle mentally with the heat – as it baked down upon us there was no respite at all, very little shade on the course, and I was really trying to focus on running just one more mile at a time. All of a sudden we rounded a corner, and there, right in front of me, resplendent in all its glory – was Tower Bridge.

“It rose magnificently above the crowd, and having read about the feelings of awe, and the support that comes from running across the bridge, there was no way I was stopping yet.

“The other great feeling is that the half way point is just around the corner from Tower Bridge, and I knew that Dave would be somewhere along that section, along with our local Bexhill St John Unit. It was good to then see Dave and get a bit of a morale boost, because the heat was really building now as it was past mid-day and the sun was really beating down.”

Sue admits it was a struggle but said: “I’m proud to have finished this marathon on such a warm and challenging day (both of us are, as Chris finished too), but I’m also disappointed at the resultant time (5hrs and 38 mins) – so I guess that means I shall have to do it all over again.

“I would like to add a huge thank you to all those who have supported me and sponsored me during this effort – that help and support definitely helped my stubborn streak and got me to the finish line.”

•Any last minute donations to St John Ambulance can be made via http://www.justgiving.com/SusanMercer

PICTURED: Sue and Chris in London