Runner Jackie Williams, from the Isle of Wight, not only completed the London Marathon on Sunday, April 21, but also scored a role in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.
There was some light relief when she crossed Tower Bridge and came face-to-face with a film crew and EastEnders actors Emma Barton and Jamie Borthwick - aka Honey and Jay - starring in a scene for the flagship BBC show.
It was included in Monday night's episode.
The West Wight Road Runner finished in just under five hours and 12 minutes.
Meanwhile, Ross McMahon ran the London Marathon for the first time and finished in an epic three hours fifty minutes and a second - a full 50 minutes faster than when he ran the Isle of Wight Marathon, in 2022.
He said: "I was very very happy with my performance.
"I am raising money for Mountbatten to support the incredible work they do locally."
He has gathered over £1,500 and you can support him HERE
There was another incredible fast finish time for Islander Jack Faulds, who completed the course in just three hours and 12 minutes.
From the Isle of Wight Road Runners, Briony Andrew, Becky Rann, Tanya Clifford and Steve Morris headed to the capital.
Becky ran for Wessex Cancer Trust, raising £3,405 and also achieved a PB, knocking off 15 minutes.
London was Briony’s first ever marathon, but her training paid off, as she achieved a brilliant 04:27:52, running for the Meningitis Research Foundation, in memory of her dad, Darren. She has raised £2,423.
Steve and Tanya finished in just over five hours and 26 minutes.
Running for the Salvation Army, to support homeless people on the Isle of Wight, Rosie Colson completed the route in five hours and 35 minutes, raising over £2,500.
She was photographed on Tower Bridge, still feeling strong at the half way point.
It was mile 15 where it all started to get 'incredibly difficult', but she completed her run.
Rosie said: "It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience: 26.2 miles of party and celebration.
"I'll stick to half marathons from now on, but I am feeling proud of myself.
"Most importantly, I showed my children you can really achieve anything you set your mind to, no matter how difficult."
Primary school teacher, Alice Fry, 'survived' her first London Marathon, for Mountbatten.
- CLICK HERE for Alice's fundraising page, where she has raised over £1,000
- CLICK HERE for Louise's fundraising page
She was joined on the course by her sister, Louise Kirby, who has raised over £2,500 for the NSPCC
Alice said: "It was absolutely amazing.
"The crowds and sights in London were epic.
"Lou and I had different starting locations, so somehow managed to find each other at mile three, when the coloured zones merged.
"We then ran the whole London Marathon together.
"Our friends and family were at different points along the route and my three-year-old, George, was there to give me a big cuddle at mile 25, which helped me finish the iconic last mile.
Alice completed the course in five hours 34 mins, while Louise crossed the line at five hours 30 minutes.
Beverley James ran for Isle of Wight Cats Protection and has raised over £2,500, which you can add to HERE.
She said: "A huge huge thank you to everyone who has supported me over the last number of months and also donated to our wonderful charity.
"London was absolutely amazing, the other runners and supporters were absolutely fantastic and I enjoyed every minute, my legs just wanted to keep running.
"I felt very honoured to be one of the lucky 50,000 to have the opportunity to run, and one of 38 running for Cats Protection.
"It was lovely meeting the cheer squad at mile 21!"
Beverley says if you are tempted, go for it.
She advises breaking it into segments - run 5k, then 10k, 10 mile, a half marathon, 20 miles, then 6.2 miles - after plenty of training.
She achieved a personal best and finished in 4 hours 24 minutes and 38 seconds.
Katie Churchill ran for an end-of-life hospice charity called Helen and Douglas House.
Its team cared for Katie's baby cousin, Aliza-May Faith Norton, who died in 2018, aged almost ten months.
Katie said: "It is a relatively small charity compared with others, but deserves as much funding as possible, as they do such amazing work."
Despite a bad knee injury on mile 20, Katie still managed to complete the course - limping the last 6.2 miles.
Rightly proud of herself, she has raised nearly £2,000 and you can add to that total HERE.
Rachel Richards raised money for the Royal Osteoporosis Society, after the diagnosis of a close family member.
She said: "It was an amazing experience - overwhelming at times, especially for someone who normally runs the lonely trails of the Island.
"The sheer number of people and noise from the crowd was incredible.
"The scenes on the television really don't fully capture the energy and support of the crowd.
"Tower Bridge was actually vibrating as complete strangers were cheering my name and willing me on.
"Turning the corner past the Houses of Parliament was quite emotional and then a push to the end and celebrations at the finish."
She has raised over £2,300 and set a new PB of 4 hours, 49 minutes and 14 seconds.
Annabel Robbins ran to support Sandown and Shanklin Hurricanes' Luke Orton, who was seriously injured during a beach rugby match, in July 2023
She completed the course in four hours and 43 minutes.
From the County Press team, well done to all from the Isle of Wight who ran the London Marathon.
It's not too late to donate to their causes - click on the individual links to reward their efforts!
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