MARA Yamauchi was something of a latecomer to international marathon running.

Having made her 26.2-mile debut in 2004 at the age of 30, she made impressive progress.

CAREER TIMELINE

Date of birth: August 13, 1973.

Education: Oxford High School, St Anne’s College, Oxford and London School of Economics.

1997: European Cross Country Championships, Lisbon (38th).

1998: English National Cross Country Championships, Leeds (winner). World Universities Cross Country Championships (6th).

2004: London Marathon (17th on debut, 2.39.16).

2005: Tokyo Women’s Marathon (5th, 2.27.38). World Championships Marathon, Helsinki (18th, 2.31.26, team bronze). London Marathon (10th, 2.31.52). World Cross Country Championships, St Etienne (27th). World Half-marathon Championships, Edmonton (18th, 1.12.40).

2006: Commonwealth Games 10,000m, Melbourne (bronze medal, 31.49 – pb) European Championships 10,000m, Gothenburg (13th, 32.07). London Marathon (6th, 2.25.13). Ohme 10K, Japan (winner, 31.43 – pb). World Cross Country Championships, Fukuoka (23rd).

2007: World Championships Marathon, Osaka (9th, 2.32.55). London Marathon (6th, 2.25.41).

2008: Tokyo Women’s Marathon (3rd, 2.25.03). Beijing Olympics Women’s Marathon (6th, 2.27.29 – joint best position by a British woman). Osaka Women’s Marathon (winner, 2.25.10). 2009: London Marathon (2nd, 2.23.12 – pb & 2nd fastest UK all-time, 2nd fastest in the world in 2009). Marugame Half-Marathon, Japan (winner, 1.08.29 – pb & 3rd fastest UK all time).

2010: New York City Marathon, USA (13th, 2.31.38). London Marathon (10th, 2.26.16). New York City Half-marathon, USA (winner, 1.09.25).

2011: Yokohama Women’s Marathon, Japan (3rd place, 2.27.24).

2012: London Olympics Women’s Marathon (DNF due to injury).

PERSONAL BESTS

10km: 31.43.

Half-marathon: 1.08.29.

Marathon: 2.23.12