This is a serious case of "might-as-well".

A 37-year-old Singaporean mother of two came in fourth at the 2017 SEA Games woman's marathon on Aug. 19, 2017.

Jasmine Goh completed the 42.195km race in 3hr 14min 36secs, narrowly missing a top three podium finish.

The financial planner took up distance running six years ago in a bid to lose weight.

Road to 2017 SEA Games started in 2016

What is more impressive is that Goh's road to the 2017 SEA Games began only in 2016.

Goh clocked 3hr 4min 43secs qualifying time for the SEA Games in September 2016 at the Sydney Marathon.

She comfortably cleared the standard of 3:07:14 set by the Singapore Athletics Association (SAA).

SAA announced her qualification in December.

The SAA qualifying timing is based on the third-place timing in the 2015 SEA Games marathon event for women.

Ran to lose weight

Goh first picked up running in August 2011 simply to lose weight.

She also challenged herself that year to train for the Standard Chartered Marathon (SCMS).

She then joined local running club F1 Runners’ Team to train exclusively under Lexxus Tan, a distance runner.

Goh only realised her full potential when she went on a proper structured training regime.

She had by then been participating in weekly running sessions with the club.

To get into marathon running fully, Goh cut back on 10km and 21km distances.

In the 2016 edition of the SCMS, Goh emerged as the local female champion -- her first podium finish in six consecutive marathons.

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Part-time athlete

Goh did not take time off work to prepare for the SEA Games.

The mother of two daughters, aged nine and seven, has been praised by her coach for her dedication and professionalism to her craft.

Her coach, Tan, said of her before the Games: "She can be at MacRitchie Reservoir every morning at 6.45am and then come back for a second session in the evening; for a lady with a family, I don’t think that’s easy."

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Top photo via Team Singapore