RUNNER Beverly Skull has been putting her feet up after completing her first marathon and raising more than £5,000 for a homeless charity.

The 50-year-old crossed the finish line at the London Marathon to raise money for St Mungo’s.

Beverly, a Pilates teacher from Shrivenham, decided that turning 50 in January was as good a time as any to make a wish-list of things she still wanted to achieve. And running a marathon was one of them.

“I’ve always wanted to run a marathon and I knew that if I didn’t do it now that I never would and I’d always regret it,” she said.

“But when I finally decided to run I didn’t realise just how big a task it would be.”

Although Beverly is a very fit 50 year-old, she admitted she wasn’t too good when it comes to cardiovascular fitness.

“I started training in November and at first I could only do a couple of hundred yards at a time,” she said.

“I don’t particularly like running and I’m a fair-weather runner so before the big day the longest I’d run in one go was 12 miles. But I was determined to get round.

“I ran and walked around the course pacing myself because with my work I couldn’t afford to get injured.

“And I had told my Pilates clients that I won’t be breaking any records but I’d bring them back a medal.”

In the end Beverly finished the run in a creditable 6 hours, 40 minutes and 38 seconds.

“I am so happy to have completed the run. It was really tough, especially after the 18th mile. But the support I received and the atmosphere on the day was just wonderful and it kept me going.”