Last year the Dunedin grandmother decided she would mark her 60th birthday by competing in the Great Wall Marathon on May 16.
Ten years ago it was a different story.
She tipped the scales at more than 100kg and was smoking a pack and a-half of cigarettes a day. Her 60th birthday had seemed a lifetime away, she said.
Encouraged to do something about her health, Mrs Mowat took up running 18 months ago under the guidance of dietitian and nutritionist Kate Morland (26).
After completing a half-marathon around Dunedin in April last year, she was encouraged by her husband Max to go to London or New York and run her first marathon.
"But, I thought, everyone does that. I want to do something off the wall."
Discovering a website for the Chinese marathon, Mrs Mowat decided she would run the 42.2km event, which includes climbing up and down 5194 steps of the Great Wall, with Mrs Morland.
Mrs Mowat said after reviewing the course she prepared a text for her family, explaining she would not be able to complete the marathon.
"It just looked too daunting."
But after some soul searching she decided to take her place with the other 1500 runners, which included 400 marathon and 600 half-marathon participants.
The first nine kilometres of the marathon ran up and down thousands of steep steps of the Great Wall of China, and the rest of the course included running through villages and rice fields where people applauded and handed out flowers.
"I burst into tears as soon as I finished. I felt great but every emotional."
Finishing in a time of 8hr 5min, Mrs Mowat was greeted at the finishing line by Mrs Morland, who completed her marathon in 4hr 48min, the 11th woman home.
"I just sat at the finishing line with a beer and a camera waiting for her to finish," Mrs Morland said.
"I was very proud of her achievement."
Mrs Mowat said she still plans to run but is not sure she would run another marathon.
"I have run one, so I can say I am a marathoner."
