- "This is the way she wanted to go," says the daughter of 86-year-old Joy Johnson
- Sunday was her 25th appearance in the 26-mile New York Marathon
- Johnson fell about six miles from the end race, but she kept going to finish
- She appeared Monday on the "Today" show and was resting in her hotel when she died
New York (CNN) -- The oldest female contestant in the 2013 ING New York City Marathon died just hours after completing her 25th consecutive appearance at the race, her daughter says.
Eighty-six-year-old California resident Joy Johnson completed Sunday's race in just under eight hours. The following afternoon she was resting in her New York City hotel room and never woke up, her daughter Donna Graffis told CNN.
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Around mile 20 of the 26.2-mile marathon, at close to 5 p.m., Johnson fell and hit her head, Graffis said. She was brought to the first aid tent, where responders suggested that she go to the hospital.
Graffis said that her mother -- who was able to speak coherently and with a clear head -- continued on, more determined than ever to finish the run.
Read more on http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/05/us/oldest-ny-marathon-woman-dies/?iref=obnetwork