Two years ago, Jim Kerse thought his athletics days were over, following a horrific bike crash.
On Saturday, the Caversham runner celebrated victory in the Brighton to Green Island open road race.
Kerse (66), an endurance runner and ironman competitor for the past four decades, returned to training about 18 months ago, after having a rod and five screws inserted in his upper left thigh.
''I'm one who believes that we should all wear out, rather than rust out,'' he said.
Kerse's goal is to finish his first 100 mile (160km) race in New Zealand when he runs in Naseby in a couple of weeks.
It will be the 22nd time he will line up for a 100 mile event, having run over the distance in the United States and in Canada.
To prepare, Kerse looked at Saturday's 10km race as a ''speed burst'' to get some different muscle fibres working after a long, slow paced training regime.
He was told he had a good handicap before the race, but aware that his handicap of 1min may have been generous, he was determined not to get too excited, knowing 10km can be a long race if things go wrong.
His plan was to run for 50 minutes and ''give it hell from there'', remembering the last time he competed in a similar event, the Port Chalmers to Dunedin road race, he was almost last to finish.
Kerse led the field across the line on Saturday in a time of 58min. Gerry O'Connell led home a competitive contingent representing the Les Mills Road Runners Club, finishing second in a time of 44min 17sec.
Road Runners Club members dominated the remaining minor places. Shell Cobby (25), overcoming a recent two week break because of flu, was third overall and led the women's section home in 45min 22sec.
Cobby competed from a handicap of 14min 30sec along with clubmate Karen Moore, who was fourth overall (second woman) in 46min 28sec. Holly Pierce was fifth to clinch third place in the open women's section.
Kerse's Caversham clubmate, Andrew Glennie, followed Pierce across the line to clinch third place in the open men's section, clocking 43min 52sec.
Fastest time went to Josh Baan (Caversham), who recorded a slick 32min 57sec in the men's section. Mel Aitken (Leith) clocked 37min 37sec for fastest time in the women's section.
