Eilish McColgan

Eilish McColgan followed up her 10000m Commonwealth title with European silver over the same distance in Munich on Monday night.

Jessica Judd came home in 10th after a tough run in the warm conditions in Munich. Following the conclusion of the European Championships, McColgan will return her attention back to road racing. At the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, McColgan suffered a hamstring problem and contracted Covid which stopped her from being 100 per cent.

The Scot admits she is suffering from fatigue after a draining week in Birmingham at the Commonwealth Games.

We came to the conclusion that we’d mention it. The multi-sport European Championships Munich 2022, featuring Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Canoe Sprint, Cycling, Gymnastics, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Rowing, Sport Climbing, takes place 11th-21st August on the 50th anniversary of the Olympics Games in the German city. “It will be tough [doing the 5000m], I’ve got two days recovery to do it all again. I did my best but she was too good tonight. I can’t complain with a silver medal. She said: “I’m pleased but disappointed.

Matt Long uses some clever word play to break down the training of Commonwealth Games Champion Eilish McColgan. As the bell rings to signal the last of the ...

The latter involve a commitment to running, jumping and throwing to continue to develop agility, balance and co-ordination. She has said, “I did everything at the club and actually started off in the high jump and javelin”, laughing that, “my first Scottish youth medal was in the javelin!” (Shepherd, 2019). Significantly she was still high jumping as an U17 athlete in the Scottish Young Athletes League. Without ever excelling, ‘Hare and Hounds’ style cross country was clearly used in processual terms with outings over the Great Edinburgh international, UK Challenge Series and Scottish Universities championships being evident. Aqua jogging, spin biking and the cross trainer have all been used in replacement of double day running to help with mechanical loading (Shepherd, 2019). As she does so a fellow Scot, who is clearly a casual fan rather than an enthusiast sat next to me in the stands says in my ear, “I get her mixed up with Liz. How do you spell her name?”. The comment makes me laugh as he’s already cracked open a beer in celebration and as I recount the story to my fellow coaches a day or two later I reflect that perhaps it is worth spelling out just what Eilish spells out. The 2018 European 5000m bronze medallist has said, “I’ll always remember my mum saying “focus on you” because some of these kids will be training too hard for their age and not make it into the senior ranks. Her working of the 800m and 1500m for years before moving up to the 5000m and 10,000m and using the 3000m as a ‘bridging’ distance along the way is indicative of an athlete who has developed ‘speed windows’ plus the requisite speed endurance along the way to equip her for a 63s last lap run in Birmingham. She’s going to do it. She’s going to make it. I was 21 when I made my first ever GB team” (Shepherd, 2019). Everyone develops at different rates, so just because you’re not a successful junior doesn’t mean you can’t do it as a senior.