The Waitaki Girls’ High School teacher completed the London Marathon late last month in just over 10 hours.
Mrs Aker said she "knew I had to finish" as she carried the names of all her present students on her back during the run — she was presented with a Waitaki Girls’ T-shirt that had all her students’ names on it at the end of term one.
She was also greeted by a handful of current and past Waitaki Girls’ students who happened to be in London at the same time and came out to support her.
"I saw them along the way and then I saw them at the finish line.
"Credit to them for for waiting because it was a long wait."
Crossing the finish line was a proud moment, she said.
"I was elated, I really was.
"When I started off, I felt sluggish and I felt like I hadn’t done enough training because I couldn’t get going.
"But I just kept plodding along."
The school posted on social media congratulating her and after that Mrs Aker was inundated with messages of support from the community.
"I can’t believe the interest.
"This old lady going plodding along and everyone sends all these messages and there’s been so much feedback."
The idea to complete the marathon was put in her head after receiving an email promoting the London event last year.
"They just sent an email saying, ‘Do you want to do the London marathon?’
"I said, ‘Yes’.
"Why? I don’t know."
London was her third marathon, having also completed the New York and Rotorua marathons.
"I thought that was a nice set."
Mrs Aker said she ran every day and kept a log of her runs in a book.
She used many tracks throughout the Waitaki district in the leadup and was very grateful that they were kept in such good condition.
"North Otago is a great place to do training.
"It’s got mountains to look at, and sea to look at and hills."
Mrs Aker spent eight years as Waitaki Girls’ principal in the 1980s and ’90s and then returned to Oamaru eight years ago to teach part-time.
She said she hoped her feat could prove to the students that anything was possible.
"They can’t say now they can’t do it, can they?"
When asked if she hoped to suit up for another marathon in the future, Mrs Aker kept her response simple.
"I wouldn’t say no. We’ll just leave it at that."
