Jo Pavey proved once again that age is no barrier as the 40-year old mum of one kicked away from a stellar field to win 10,000m gold at the European Championships in Zurich.
Pavey, who won 5,000m bronze at the recent Commonwealth Games, made her move at the bell and extended her advantage all the way down the home straight as France's Clemence Calvin settled for silver.
“To be honest I didn’t feel that confident – it felt like a long way," said Pavey, after clocking 32:22.39.
"I was thinking to myself during the later stages of the race ‘I don’t know if I feel very good here’ and I had to try and remind myself that you do feel like this at the end of a 10k.
“It’s just quite a long way. I didn’t feel that confident going into last two laps but I thought I’ve got to go for it and give it all I’ve got. It does feel really different at the end of a 10k - at the end of a 5k you feel ready to go, but I felt dead.
"I just can’t believe I’ve come away with a gold at this age. It took me a long time to know what I have had to learn about running and I just think being a busy mum has done me a lot of good."
Elsewhere, Commonwealth silver medallist Tiffany Porter was an impressive qualifier to women's 100m hurdles final and world champion Christine Ohuruogu eased to victory in her 400m heat.
“It was just a matter of finishing the race cleanly and executing well, and getting to tomorrow’s final,” said Porter.
“I’m feeling pretty relaxed and my performances are pretty encouraging, but the final is when it matters the most, so hopefully tomorrow will be even better.”
Dwain Chambers, James Dasaolu and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey all eased through their 100m heats - with veteran Chambers quickest in 10.18 seconds.
“It felt comfortable surprisingly – I’m really happy with that – I can go to bed happy now and just refocus," he said.
"There has to be more and there will be more for obvious reasons. The heats are like an exam – it’s always nerve wracking but once the gun goes, you just run.”
© Sportsbeat 2014