Even with over ten years of athletics behind me it still amazes me how much I continue to grow and learn each year. I suppose that’s what keeps me in the sport and fuels my passion for running - no two years are ever the same. Each year we make small changes to my training programme and the outcome of those changes are evident for everyone to see in competition results. However, sometimes the changes take longer to make a difference than we’d like and often that’s when junior athletes lose interest, because it isn’t instant. One thing that I’ve learnt over the years is, patience will bring you closer to your end goal.
My partner Michael and I have made some pretty big commitments over the last year, to ensure that we always put ourselves in the best training location possible. Whether that was in the mountains benefitting from altitude training or simply training in warmer weather conditions to achieve bigger gains within our training sessions. This did mean even more time spent away from family and friends but 2021 was by far my best racing season to date. Coming away with a British Record, a European Record and plenty of personal bests - I couldn’t have asked for much more.
It’s something I wish I had done at a younger age - committed. Committed to doing the small things. Committed to making the big changes. Committed to being the best that I could possibly be. Now at the grand age of 31, I suppose it’s easy to look back and see where I’ve made mistakes and what I could have done differently. However, the most exciting part is that I still feel like I have so much more to learn.
This year marks a new chapter in my career. I feel more inspired than ever by some of the incredible women we have within our sport. Two American ladies have been a big motivation to me as I enter my 30s and towards the longer distances. Sara Hall at the age of 38, just broke the American Record for the Half Marathon, whilst Keira D’Amato broke the American Marathon Record at 37. As I watch what these women have achieved in the latter parts of their career, it has me excited for what’s next in store.
I feel stronger and more confident in my body than ever before, far more confident than when I was younger. I’m still anxious about building up my mileage significantly and taking on the challenge of a full marathon but something about it just feels right.
A marathon is on my horizon for 2022 but it doesn’t mean that I’ll be stepping back entirely from the track. I have some big goals still to tick off around the oval office, so I’ll be doing everything in my power this summer to try tick those off my list.
This summer we have three major championships - the World Championships in Eugene, The Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the Europeans in Munich.
As a Scottish athlete, it’s difficult to describe what the Commonwealths mean for us. It’s the one event we get to represent our small nation which makes it incredibly special. I feel I have some real unfinished business at the CWG and so that will be a really big target for my summer season. I’ve been pre-selected for the 10,000m but would also like to look at doubling in the 5,000m. To have another major championship in the UK is pretty cool and so it’s definitely not an experience I want to miss out on.
It’s going to be a challenge to aim for all three of these championships, but I’ll give it my best shot to switch between the 5k and 10k on track before switching my full attentions to the road.
Currently, we are out in Dubai training at the incredible Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex. The weather was a little challenging the first two weeks as we had very heavy rain fall - the first in over two years here in the UAE! Coming from Scotland, I was more than prepared for it but most of the roads and paths I train on were completely flooded, so it’s been nice to see some sunshine again and back to normality.
This week, we have trained alongside some of the biggest football clubs in the world. They are here on a small training camp between premier league matches and so it’s been pretty cool to share facilities with some incredible athletes from all over the world, and across all different sports too. From F1 drivers, to jockeys to badminton players - it’s very easy to find motivation when training here at NAS.
My next big race is here in the UAE on the 19th of February, which has been the focus of all my recent training. It is one of the fastest half marathons in the world and I’m incredibly excited to be on the start line. Last year, due to the pandemic it was cancelled very last minute. I’m hoping for a different fortune this year but I’m not holding my breath as it seems that cases are beginning to rise again! However. I’ve done the work. I’ve run more miles than ever before. I have completed sessions that I never would have dreamed of completing just a year ago. Even if this racing opportunity doesn’t transpire and even if the result isn’t the outcome I was hoping for - I know all that work hasn’t gone to waste. It will appear somewhere further down the line.
I just need to be patient.
