Andrew Coscoran was thrilled to run the race of his life in Toyko's Olympic Stadium - and he vowed to come back faster.
Coscoran, 25, wanted to make the most of the opportunity after scraping into the 1500m semi-finals and he did that, finishing just slower than his 3:35.6 PB.
"I wasn’t expected to get through so I was like bouncing around, having the craic with all the lads," he laughed.
"They were like, ‘who’s this cocky guy?’ I was like, 'ah I’m not getting through, I’m just here for the craic'.
"Then I got through and I was like, 'oh Jesus, OK, I actually have to show up to the semis now otherwise I could be dropped'.
"We had Timothy Cheruiyot in our race and those boys don’t mess around, they just run hard from the gun. I had to be completely switched on, had to have the race of my life just to stay with the pace."
The Balbriggan man was delighted that he did just that.
"I put it all out there, a 56 flat first lap would take the steam out of you fairly quick," Coscoran smiled.
"The plan was to stay connected to the pack, no matter where it was, just try hold on.
"In the heats I let a little bit of a gap open so the plan was not to let that happen. The tactics go out the window when you’re struggling at the back.
"I ran 0.2 within my PB there, my PB is 3:35.6 and that was 3:35.8 so yeah, it was good for me.
"I was ninth 10th - that was the best race of my life, the standard is just crazy at the moment, I just have to get fitter and come back.
"I just need to get aerobically stronger, and then I can actually use some tactics in the race, maybe kick at some point. I can try to kick a few guys down if I’m close enough.
"I’m absolutely delighted with these championships, If you’d told me this is what I would do, coming into the Olympics, I’d have said no chance.
"It’s class - coming into it I’m not a time trailer, like some of the guys who get into diamond leagues.
"Maybe I don’t have a PB to represent my shape, I’ve been in these other Mickey Mouse races and racing them and I did better than what I was expected to do - and maybe that’s because of all the race experience I have in the legs for the season.
"The one thing I’ve taken from this is I can compete, I’m a little off but if I get fitter, I’m there, I’m a racer at the end of the day."
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