Laura Muir’s road to Rio will take her from the Holyrood mud last Saturday to the indoor track at the Emirates Arena this weekend.
The GB international and World Championship 1500m finalist ran the anchor leg as Scotland A claimed the inaugural Stewart Cup trophy for the 4 x 1K International Relay in Edinburgh.
Now the KInross-shire athlete is planning a couple of indoor races in Glasgow to get herself ready for the summer outdoor season which will hopefully culminate with her first appearance at the Olympics in August.
“I am not taking on a full indoor season this year but my coach Andy Young and I have decided to schedule a couple of indoor events in Scotland,” said the 22-year-old, who has no plans to compete at the World indoors in America in March.
“I will head to the scottishathletics National Open at the Emirates on Saturday where I plan to do an 800m and a 400m because the timetable gives me the opportunity to do that. Then I will be back there a couple of weeks later for the Scottish Seniors on January 30. I plan to do the 800m that day.”
Four of Scotland’s six medallists at the Commonwealth Youth Games are expected to feature at the National Open, with the start-lists including Perth’s Ben Greenwood, Rachel Alexander, Alisha Rees and Cameron Tindle. There are also welcome comebacks for Jade Nimmo and John McCall.
Rodger Harkins, the scottishathletics director of coaching, said: “The National Open marks the start of the indoor season for many track and field athletes, although the 3000m Champs at the Glasgow Athletics Association Miler Meet has already witnessed some good performances.
“At this time of year it is probably about finding out where you are at after periods of winter training and seeing if you can get a good indication of what is to come later in the year.
“For many athletes, getting an indoor PB at this time of year can help give encouragement for the outdoor season and we are urging them to try and give their best.
“There’s barely two years to go now to the Commonwealth Games in Australia which are in early April 2018. Those with serious ambitions to qualify for Scotland for the Gold Coast will already have a coaching and competition plan and will be working towards that.
“I’m encouraged by a lot of the work that is happening around the country and it has already been a good start to the New Year with the Great Edinburgh XC last weekend.”
We’ve a trophy in the bag with the 4 x 1K International Relay win to lift the Stewart Cup!’
The National Open is at the Emirates from 10am to 4pm on Saturday adults £3, U-16s free.