THE flat which Eilish McColgan shares in Manchester with boyfriend Michael Rimmer is presently under siege. It’s that time of year when sponsors despatch wardrobes worth of pristine freebie kit and their dog Cooper has been truly ambushed.
“He doesn’t know what’s going on,” the Scot reveals. “I got mine from Nike, Michael got his from Puma, and suddenly, all the dog sees is boxes.”
For those inclined to spend most of their life clad in sportswear, it is an exercise in mass retail therapy – minus the taxing need to abscond to the shops. Such bounty is hard won but also reliant on continued achievement. The 26-year-old’s stock has never been higher but, through her experience of past injuries, she is aware of the potential fragility of a career in athletics.
That is why three weeks after McColgan earned her first major medal – a 3000m bronze at the European Indoor Championships in Belgrade – it is no surprise to learn she did not bask unduly in the occasion.
“I’m quite bad in that when one championships is over I go back into the zone for the next one,” she confesses. “I don’t dwell on things too much which is a shame.”
Especially after shaking off the after-effects of a virus she procured in Kenya to deliver a memorable final two laps that allowed her to finish third in a race that saw Laura Muir, her fellow Scot, complete a golden double. “I should take a step back and think, ‘A couple of months ago, I’d never have dreamt of getting medals.’ As an athlete, you’re never happy and you want one better. I’ll look back one day and be over the moon but now I want personal bests this year and doing myself justice at world championships.”
It is just part of the competitor’s DNA, for whom satisfaction is the enemy and ambition the valued friend. And 2016, lest anyone forget, was a career reboot for the Dundonian after severe injury and prolonged recovery. Making the Olympic final last August in Rio was ahead of the curve. But McColgan continues to identify areas where she can improve. “This year I have taken steps forward,” she says. “And there’s no reason why I can’t keep on improving.”
In Brazil, each available berth in the British team in the 5000m was taken by a Scottish challenger with Steph Twell and Laura Whittle exiting in the semis. Swiftly, Muir has overtaken the trio to become the leader of the pack. Four into three will not go come London in August and it will keep them all on their toes.
“We just know it’s going to be a battle,” McColgan reasons. “And you’ll probably need to run under 15 minutes. I want to go under 14:40 and that’s where my training is indicating. I want a substantial chunk off my time.”
To that end, her new kitbag will soon be packed for a stint in the United States. McColgan, who has signed on as an ambassador for the Simplyhealth Great Women’s Run in Glasgow on June 4, will effectively commence her summer season next Friday in California with a 10km on the roads before heading to train at altitude in Arizona with a group that also includes fellow Scot Andy Butchart.
At some point, room might be found to do a 10,000m on the track that would afford a double tilt at next April’s Commonwealth Games in Australia. “It’s not something I want to focus on this year, or maybe not even next year,” she says. “But it would allow the doors to stay open.”
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