Marama Tawhiao has lost nearly 14kg and gained a new sense of pride since she decided to turn around her sedentary lifestyle and line up for yesterday's City to Surf event.
"It was very challenging for me," said the Papamoa mother of four who quit alcohol and unhealthy food after she decided to enter the 12km fun run four months ago.
Marama, 33, confessed that she reached breaking point at the final leg around Mauao's base track when she became so exhausted she felt she could not go on.
"And then I saw the end, and I told myself 'I can do this'."
When she crossed the finishing line on Mount Main Beach to cheers from family and friends, it was a huge reward for months of training every night, and even jogging during lunchbreaks.
"I wanted to do something different and I heard about the City to Surf through a friend."
Her sense of pride at finishing the fun run without stopping meant that Marama now looked forward to her next big challenge, to join her sister who lives in Australia for another running event.
"She is a massive inspiration," Marama said.
She has set her sights on running and biking her way through a duathlon next year, and all because she decided to do something different with her life earlier this year.
"It has been awesome.
"I really looked forward to this day."
Apart from the satisfaction of finishing, Marama said she was feeling much better in herself since she gave up drinking and began to watch what she ate. "This is the beginning for me."
Marama also gave a big thanks to the motivation offered by joining the Smith Sports Shoes group that trained for eight weeks leading up to the City to Surf. Ninety people met every Tuesday for a fun run.
Marama finished 54th from the 67 finishers in the female 30-34 division of the 12km run, with a time of 1hr 32.5min.
The event was won in a time of 41.36min by 18-year-old Tauranga Boys' College student Patrick Burrows who ran down some older and more experienced athletes.
He said he went out fairly easily and caught up with the front three runners about halfway along Totara St.
One of the front bunch stayed with him until the base track, where he shook him off and comfortably crossed in first place.
Burrows, who described himself as more of a triathlete, was cheered on yesterday by coaches Brad Smith and Scott Furness
The other top finishers were Chris Morrissey 2nd (42.2min), Chris Myland 3rd (42.4), Paul Herlihy 4th (43.0), Paul Davidson 5th (43.37) and Helen Rountree 6th (43.48).
City to Surf organiser Murray Fleming, of Event Promotions, was pleased that the Rugby World Cup had scarcely affected the number of entries which reached nearly 2000. The inaugural Bay of Plenty Times-sponsored 5km run and walk events attracted over 300 entries which he said was a very good turnout.
The distance ended up being slightly shorter than 12km because of the weather forecast. Mr Fleming brought the finishing line back to in front of the surf club, rather than further down the beach, in case the weather broke.