Jo Pavey climbed off her sickbed while Andy Vernon smashed his personal best as they claimed the Bupa London 10,000 titles.
European champion Pavey almost pulled out of the race after being struck down by a bug but dominated domestic rivals to win in 32 minutes 56 seconds despite a sleepless night.
Vernon also never looked troubled, carving 43 seconds off his previousl best to cross the line in 28 minutes 38 seconds, the quickest road time by a Briton for four years.
“I really didn’t know what to do after last night,” said the 41-year-old Pavey, after regaining the title she last won in 2011.
“I threw up all night and I was freezing. I just couldn’t keep anything down. I was violently sick five times, and even had red spots under my eyes from the effort.
“It was a real gamble to run but I’m so glad I did. To win after a night like that is surreal. It was so hard to judge what to do, but my legs didn’t feel that bad in warm up, and then after a few kilometres I really got into it.
“I only had a bowl of porridge this morning so I wasn’t sure how I would last, or even if I would finish. But with three kilometres to go I decided to take it on. It was all a bit like stepping into the unknown, but thankfully I got through."
Vernon won by 15 seconds last year but as he made his way towards Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Birdcage Walk and the finish line the result was beyond doubt.
“I felt in control the whole way,” he said, after clocking the quickest winning time at this event since five-time winner Mo Farah set the British record of 27 minutes 44 seconds in 2010.
“It was great to win last year, but this year was just as good. I don’t know about beating Mo’s five in a row, but I would love to keep coming back and running it again and again. Now I can go on to the summer with confidence, hopefully to the World Championships in Beijing, and then the Olympics.”
© Sportsbeat 2015