Last Sunday, more than 50,000 runners took to the streets of New York City to run the annual TCS New York City Marathon. The race, a whopping 26.2 miles through the five boroughs of the city, had two million people watching while runners pushed themselves to the limit in the quest to finish. However for one runner, she was attempting to make history.

As 36 year old Shalane Flanagan began to run the final half-mile of the New York City Marathon this past Sunday, she sped up. In front of her, the prospect of breaking a 40-year drought by crossing the finish line first. With her hands up, tears in her eyes, and plenty of cheers, Flanagan broke the ribbon.

For the first time in 40 years, an American woman had won the New York City Marathon.

Shalane was greeted with an American flag draped around her shoulders after finishing the marathon with an unofficial time of 2 hours 26 minutes and 53 seconds. Her time was fast enough to beat Mary Keitany, the three-time defending champion from Kenya, and every other woman running in the marathon as well. She’s the first woman in four decades to win the marathon, preceded by Miki Gorman who won in 1977.

“It’s a moment I’m trying to soak up and savor. This is the moment I’ve dreamed of since I was a little girl,” Shalane said at the finish line. After all her hard work and dedication to running, it’s quite obvious she’s been dreaming of this for a long time. Congratulations Shalane on your record-breaking run!