Cheam man Kojo Kyereme says winning gold at the World Masters Championship has not sunk in.

Competing in Lyon, France, Kyereme won the 10,000m M40 crown in 30 minutes 52 seconds – making the 40-year-old the fastest man aged between 40 and 44 over the distance.

Kyereme said: “I was really flattered by the fantastic reaction of the spectators and my fellow competitors, who all said I was a very determined man.

“I train virtually every day twice a day as well as one weight session a week.

“I don’t have a special diet, but follow a balanced diet of fruit, vegetables, white meat, occasional red meat and loads of carbohydrates.”

Kyereme also revealed a secret tactic that helps him keep running through the pain barrier.

“With 10 laps to go, I count them down and visualise myself running home from work [equivalent to eight laps] – this helps me to keep going.”

After a short rest, next on Kyereme’s list is the New York marathon in November.

By day the long distance runner is a cardiac physiology manager at Spire St Anthony’s Hospital in Cheam.