Harriette Thompson, 92, becomes oldest woman to finish a marathon

SAN DIEGO, June 2 (UPI) -- A 92-year-old cancer survivor and former concert pianist from Charlotte, N.C., has become the oldest woman to finish a marathon.

Harriette Thompson ran San Diego's Rock 'n' Roll marathon Sunday in seven hours, 24 minutes and 36 seconds.

Thompson, who has run the Rock 'n' Roll marathon 16 times, ran the event with her son Brenny by her side.

"I can't believe I made it!" Thompson told the Charlotte Observer.

"I was really tired at one point," she added. "Around Mile 21, I was going up a hill and it was like a mountain."

"I was thinking, 'This is sort of crazy at my age.' But then I felt better coming down the hill. And my son Brenny kept feeding me all this wonderful carbohydrates that kept me going."

Thompson beat a previous record set by Gladys Burrill, who was 92 years and 19 days old when she ran the Honolulu Marathon in 2010. Thompson is 92 years and 65 days old.

Thompson told NPR before the race that she likes to stay fit and runs a few miles everyday. She ran her first marathon when she was 76.

She also said she is a three-time cancer survivor who recently lost her husband to the disease. She said she runs the Rock 'n' Roll to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.