Glasgow 2014 heroine Jo Pavey encourages mums everywhere to get fit

Jo Pavey won a heroic bronze in the 5,000m at Glasgow 2014 and her words off the track were equally inspiring as she offered encouragement to mums everywhere!

Jo gave birth to her second child just 10 months ago, which makes her performance, at age 40, all the more incredible as she split the three Kenyan women in the race to win Commonwealth bronze.

"I made myself think that the Kenyans weren't unbeatable and when I hit the bell I thought just ‘don’t regret this last lap’," she said.

"I wanted to push on at the bell but not blow up in the home straight. I gave it my all in the home straight, I was convinced they would come past me but I got a medal and I can't believe it.

"I was trying to push the pace because I knew if I did nothing until the last lap I would regret it, so I gave it a go and I'm really happy."

Despite bringing home a bronze medal for England with one of the Games' most memorable performances, Jo said her main job now is being a mum, and she encouraged mums across the country to get fit:

"The fact I've got two kids and my youngest is only ten months old feels almost comical to me.

"To be out there trying to race against the Kenyans and get a medal is like a dream – hopefully I can inspire some mums to get fit.

"My little boy was watching – it was so great to give him a hug after the race. The fact I'm 40 now makes this medal seem almost funny.

"I haven’t been on any training camps, I was still breast-feeding at the start of April. Being a mum is my main thing now.

"It seems funny being out there – now changing nappies and doing meals means I don’t have a minute to relax."

Congratulations to Jo from everyone at Run England! If you're a mum and Jo has inspired you to 'get fit', check out the video below and visit runengland.org/whywerun to find out how you can get started this summer!