AN RNLI volunteer has smashed her fundraising target after completing the Great North Run.

Rebecca Miller, from Dunbar, was among the thousands lining up on the start line in Newcastle last month.

Less than three hours later, the 43-year-old was crossing the finish line after completing the 13.1-mile course.

She said: “I finished in two and a half hours, which is bang on what I was wanting to achieve really.

“I’ll never be a Mo Farah, but I made it!” Rebecca, from Countess Avenue, set herself a target of £500 for the televised event.

And she was especially pleased to break that target by raising more than £600.

Through her work with the RNLI, she gives talks to children and adults about sea safety.

That can include resilience training for children and getting them to think about their safety when they are around the water.

She also helps out in Dunbar’s RNLI shop on the town’s High Street as well.

Rebecca, who was joined on her training runs by her dog Marmite, is no stranger to long distance runs, though, having completed the Milton Keynes and Edinburgh marathons.

It was, however, her first-time taking part in the Great North Run, which was won by Mo Farah in one hour.

Rebecca said: “It was brilliant, I really enjoyed it and I got finished, which is always good.

“There was a brilliant atmosphere and fantastic support as well all the way round the course.

“It was just very exciting and keeps you going. The crowd just pushes you on and, to be fair, the weather was great and that helps as well.

“It was easier than I thought because a few people said it is quite hilly but training up here, there are quite a lot of hills, so I noticed the downhill more than the up.”