Abbie Donnelly hailed an ‘out-of-body experience’ after becoming the first British woman to win a European Championship marathon medal – six weeks before her PhD is due for completion.
Donnelly mastered the undulating eight-lap route around Birmingham city centre to land a breakthrough bronze in 2:27.33.
Britain have not troubled the individual marathon podium at this competition since Ian Thompson won men’s gold in 1974 while Donnelly’s performance also helped the host nation win team gold.
“I can’t believe it,” Donnelly said. “It was such an exciting race, it was just about managing the pace, being cautious in the early surges and just staying strong.
“Even in the last lap then I wasn’t sure (about a medal), it was probably only on the last 200 metres. I thought ‘it could happen’, I still wasn’t certain though.
“It was an optimistic goal coming in. I had a bit of hamstring trouble in April so my block has been a bit different to normal, which probably wasn’t a bad thing. It’s easy to be a bit overcooked so if anything I maybe timed it just right.”
The 29-year-old, who hails from Lincoln, is a five-time medallist at the European Cross Country Championships and helped Britain’s women win half marathon team gold at this event in Rome two years ago.
Her morning build-up here was not ideal as she realised on her to the start line that she was wearing shoes of two different sizes, requiring a hurried change prior to the race getting underway.
But performing in front of a home crowd in the second city proved crucial to helping Donnelly find the required power in her legs to navigate the relentless ups and downs of the course.
“It was a lot better than I was expecting because there was a lot going on in terms of race tactics, so it was quite nice knowing what was coming,” she said.
“It got tough with about three laps to go because you know the hills by that point so you know exactly where the hard points are. It was a proper rollercoaster.
“They (the crowd) got me to the end. I had a bit of an out-of-body experience and was just being screamed at, which I love. They definitely got me through to the finish.”
There is no rest for the wicked and Donnelly will now throw herself straight back into her studies as another finish line looms into view.
The Loughborough University history graduate is researching a PhD entitled ‘Popular Imperialism in the Provinces, 1851-1914’ across Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire.
“It’s due in six weeks, so this event did not come at a well-timed place in the year,” she joked.
“I might give myself tomorrow, then I have a lot of writing to do. If my supervisor is reading this, then I’m sorry – I will finish it!”
Natasha Wilson finished fifth, with Rose Harvey 14th, to secure the team gold, awarded based on each nation’s best three finishers.
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