Fionnuala McCormack has vowed to return after expressing her disappointment in finishing 25th in the women's marathon.
The Wicklow woman may take inspiration from Mayo runner Sinead Diver, who represented Australia, where she resides, and finished in 10th position.
Remarkably, Diver only took up running as a 33-year-old and is now 44.
Although brought forward by an hour to start at 6am, the runners still had to contend with very hot and humid conditions in Sapporo.
McCormack, 36, ran 2:29.58 in her first Olympic marathon in Rio, having previously represented Ireland in the steeplechase in Beijing and London.
In Sapporo she finished in 2.34.09 and later, she said: "It wasn't the result I had hoped for.
"It was a battle out there today, both physical and mental.
"Running has broken my heart so many times so I should probably be used to it but I still love it, so I'll be back again."
However Ireland team-mate Aoife Cooke did not finish the race, pulling out around the 20km mark in the punishing conditions.
Diver finished in 2:31.14 on her Olympic debut and commented: "I'm speechless, I'm so happy.
"I didn't expect to come top 10. That was something I really wanted before the race, so I'm absolutely stoked that I fought for that spot at the end.
"I had to sprint to get past the girl in front of me, so I'm so happy I managed to do that."
