Jo Pavey insists the frustration of losing the World Championships 10,000 metres bronze medal by just over a second last summer will spur her on to making the winner's podium at this year's Olympic Games.

"It was gutting to lose out on a medal in the home straight," said the 34-year-old Exeter Harrier.

"But that is the motivation that drives me to keep going and plugging away before Beijing."

Pavey has put her heart and soul into the most testing winter's training schedule of her long career and is no longer reflecting on the disappointment of finishing behind Kara Goucher in a desperate last lap battle in Osaka.

Pavey's dedication saw her travel to her favourite high altitude training base of Dullstroom in South Africa on Christmas Day.

And she is adamant she has benefited from the time spent with coach and husband Gavin at the remote location.

Pavey contests her second serious race of the year in Sunday's Great Ireland Run in Dublin after competing in last month's Lisbon half marathon, for an early assessment of what shape she is in.

The Commonwealth 5,000 metres silver medallist achieved a personal best time but admitted it may have been a mistake to tackle the distance so soon after returning to sea level.

Pavey said: "The race was a bit disappointing and I should have been a lot quicker, but I

came down from altitude and really, went into it too early.

"But I was desperate not having had a race for six months after missing last year's Great North Run and Great South Run with a groin injury, to have a run out.

"We deliberately kept it low profile, I just had to do something and if nothing else it blew away the cobwebs after not running for so long.

"It was just an off day."

Indeed Pavey is convinced the benefits of the high mileage she has produced in her training package in South Africa will this time bear fruit in her clash against a quality Dublin field headed by Australia's former world cross country champion Benita Johnson.

"This is the first of a couple of road races over 10 kilometres I have lined up and I think they will all be good preparations as they are the same distance I will contest at the Olympics.

"It's going to be a very tough race, but I am glad it is such a strong field and will help me sharpen up."

Sporting Life / Eurosport