Auckland runner Ingrid Frost started to think about her 100th marathon as soon as she completed her 96th marathon, on the Dunedin course yesterday.
Fondly referred to as "Jafa" by race organisers, Frost has contested the Dunedin event for the past five years, with a best time of 3hr 20min four years ago.
Her time yesterday was 3hr 36min 28sec.
"I'm rapt with that," she said.
Frost, a customer services consultant, was enticed into running her first marathon by partner Peter O'Malley for the 2000 City of Auckland event.
"Even if I have to crawl across the line, nothing will stop me running my 100th in Auckland on November 1," she said.
Frost (43) will run her 97th marathon on the Waitakere Legends course in Auckland, followed by one in Hagley Park (Christchurch) on October 4, before her 99th in Melbourne.
Frost's advice to anyone wishing to run a marathon is to compete in smaller, more community-focused events such as Dunedin's, and to steer clear of those with large fields.
"You need to enjoy the experience and soak up the atmosphere," she said.
Frost also recommends sticking to road marathons.
She had a terrible experience in her first and only off-road marathon.
"It took me over five hours and can you ever imagine this turtle running down on to a beach? That was me."
