The London Marathon has become an institution since first being held in 1981 and 35 years on a Barnet police officer has become the millionth person to finish the race.

Shannon Foudy was running her first marathon on Sunday 24 April and when she crossed the finish line in a time of 5:45.18 hours, she was the millionth runner to complete the iconic course.

Shannon ran to raise money for the Luton & Dunstable Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) that saved the life of her daughter, Caitrin.

In January 2010, Shannon gave birth at just 26 weeks to Catrin, who weighed only 2lb 5oz, but successfully battled through organ failure and a brain haemorrhage in the NICU.

Catrin – now a thriving six-year-old – Shannon’s partner Jamie and other members of her family were present at the Virgin Money London Marathon to cheer her on.

And the 39-year-old serving police officer, who works as a schools and youth engagement sergeant in Barnet, admits she still can’t quite believe she was the landmark finisher.

“I knew about the #oneinamillion campaign and it’s unbelievable that I am the millionth finisher,” she said.

“I ran to say thank you to the Luton & Dunstable NICU and it is the most worthwhile thing I have ever done.

“Catrin, Jamie and my mum and dad were at the 14-mile mark so I stopped there for a few cuddles. Being surrounded by so many people running for great causes was amazing.”

Shannon has been presented with her unique #oneinamillion t-shirt and also receives a guaranteed place for the 2017 event.

And Hugh Brasher, event director of the Virgin Money London Marathon, is adamant the accolade couldn’t have gone to a more deserving competitior.

“Shannon epitomises the spirit of the London Marathon,” he said. “She was a novice runner inspired to take on the challenge of 26.2 miles for a very personal cause and it’s wonderful she is our millionth finisher.”

The 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon is now less than 350 days away and a record number of 253,930 UK applicants had registered for a ballot place in the race when the application system closed on Friday 6 May.

This is over 6,000 more applications than the previous record of 247,069 for the 2016 event with just under 56 per cent of the applications for 2017 from people who have never run a marathon.

More than 43 per cent of the total applicants were women and Brasher is convinced next year’s race will be as special as ever.

“These numbers reflect the huge success of the 36th London Marathon on 24 April,” he said.

“One of our goals is to inspire people to take up sport and more than 142,000 people have been inspired to apply to run a marathon for the first time in 2017. 

“In 1981, less than 300 of the finishers were women. More than 110,000 women have applied to run next year and for first-timers to marathon running it is virtually a 50/50 split of men and women.”