Athletics:Sonia O'Sullivan admitted she was a little disappointed by her display in her last road race on Irish soil in Dublin yesterday.
The 37-year-old was upset after finishing 11th at the Great BUPA Ireland Run which partly owes its massive popularity to her personal involvement.
The former Olympic 5000metres silver medallist has competed in every meeting since winning the inaugural competition four years ago.
O'Sullivan conceded before the event that age was now catching up and her body was straining to cope with the training required to remain an elite international athlete.
But she was thrilled when this year's race saw almost 9,000 contestants take to the pathways of Phoenix Park - treble the number who appeared in the initial event.
O'Sullivan said: "I thought I would have run a lot better, but on the day you only get the result that you deserve.
"It was still a great one for me, with a fantastic atmosphere and plenty of support from fans all around the course. Really, I couldn't have asked for more in a way of farewell."
O'Sullivan vowed: "Hopefully I can now assist in expanding the event and really, I would at some stage in the future love to see the race take place around the city centre streets."
There was some sense of satisfaction when Victoria Mitchell, a member of her training group, claimed a superb victory in the 10kilometres race.
The 25-year-old Australian clocked a time of 33 minutes six seconds to score an 11-second win over British international Helen Clitheroe and Spain's Alessandra Auguilar.
"She's a great talent for the future and I'm delighted that she came out the winner," insisted O'Sullivan.
Mitchell, fourth in last summer's World Athletics Final 3,000m steeplechase, lavished praise upon one of the world's greatest female distance runners.
The US college student said: "Sonia has always been an inspiration to me when I've had the chance to join up with the group back home.
"She's a total professional, who in her preparations is a perfectionist and I include eating, drinking and sleeping habits.
"She does everything completely right and is a great example to the rest of us privileged to train with her."