The 30-year-old Queenstown Lakes District Council recreation programmes team leader last year won her dream lottery - to compete in the 2012 New York Marathon, a long-held goal and one she wanted to do before her 30th birthday.
It was not to be.
After nine months' training, Ms Paterson boarded her plane bound for New York - a city struggling to cope with the after-effects of Hurricane Sandy.
At that time it was ''50:50'' as to whether the event, which attracts about 50,000 runners, would go ahead.
Just 30 hours before the starting gun was fired, Ms Paterson went from the highest of highs - collecting her race number - to the depths of despair after learning through a United States chat show the race had been cancelled.
''There had been a New York Times picture of a big generator on the front page, not being used, in Central Park, when there were 30,000 homes without power.
''I can definitely understand that, when 50,000 people were entering their city and [planning to] use power that could be used to light and warm homes and feed families.
''But it was so gutting.
''I didn't know what to do [so] the next day I went for a run and saw the finish line.''
In 10 days, Ms Paterson will again see that finish line. This time she hopes to be crossing it at the end of the 2013 New York Marathon, having been offered a place in the race late last year.
While it was an expensive decision, Ms Paterson said it was also a ''no-brainer''.
''I kind of felt beaten - when you work so hard for something like that and then something called Sandy comes along and wrecks it all; to be beaten by some wood and twigs was frustrating.
''There is nothing more frustrating than hearing `it wasn't meant to be' at that time, but it has worked out better and this year I'm just humming.''
In the past 18 months, Ms Paterson has gone through seven pairs of running shoes and clocked up an estimated 3900km, running an average of 50km a week, including this year's 32km Routeburn Classic, which she finished in 5hr 1min. While last year she aimed to cross the finish line in less than four hours, just to finish this year would be enough.
''I think it would be stupid to go and do a race like that and put pressure on myself. If I get a dream run ... I am capable of doing it under four [hours], but I'll just be happy crossing that finish line.
''If I have to crawl I will crawl.
''If they start that race, I will finish it.''
- The New York Marathon will be run on November 3 (early November 4 in New Zealand).
