Gail Irvine’s speedy son provided her with the motivation to start running again after an eight-year break.
The 38-year-old last ran at distance in 2010 after limping across the London Marathon finish line with a time of five hours 16 minutes.
“I decided to take eight weeks off to recover,” she said.
“The weeks turned into years and I never picked my trainers up again.
“In those eight years I’ve had children, so exercise has been the last thing on my mind.”
Things changed last year when Mrs Irvine signed up to take part in the family mile with her three-year-old son, but admitted: “I struggled to keep up with him.”
She added: “But going to the event, I forgot how much I enjoyed them.
“I loved the atmosphere and it inspired me to get back into it.”
She now has her eyes on setting a good time in this year’s half marathon, and is encouraging others to push through the mental barrier and give it a try as well.
Mrs Irvine, from Meikle Wartle, near Inverurie, said: “The first time I ran after an eight year break I put my trainers on and ran to the end of the street. I thought it was a nightmare.
“But each and every day it gets a little bit easier.
“This is me a couple of months into it and I’m starting to enjoy it now.
“At first it’s hard to find the motivation but once you get into it, it gets easier and you start feeling the benefits.
“I’ve lost a bit of weight and I can run six miles now, so I’m getting there.”
