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Scottish runner Eilish McColgan will be testing her fitness this Sunday over the half-marathon distance at the Berlin Half Marathon. Three weeks later, she is scheduled to debut in the London Marathon.
The national and British record holder is following in the footsteps of her mother Liz McColgan-Nuttall, who was a successful distance runner herself. McColgan has taken several of her mother’s distance records, as well as a pair of Paula Radcliffe’s.
However, McColgan has been dealing with a few injuries including bursitis in the knee and achilles issues.
Back on track đđ„
— Eilish McColgan (@EilishMccolgan) March 26, 2023
Managed to get the bursitis on my knee under control but then my achilles/calf started playing up!đŠ”đ«
Suspect it may have been from jumping out of the way of some kids who weren't looking when crossing the track..đ” But it left me hobbling for a few days! đ€Ź pic.twitter.com/efzbsiZlRc
In February 2022, McColgan ran the Ras Al Khaimah half-marathon in the time of 66:26 which is the British record eclipsing Paula Radcliffe’s 66:47. She has also taken the British 10K road record with her 30:19 performance in May of 2022, which also eclipsed Radcliffe’s long-standing record of the time. The 32-year-old also holds the 5000m, 10,000m and 5K road records as well as the national 10-mile best (not kept as a record). All of her British or European records have been set since July 2021.
The latest is her 30:00.86 10,000m from March 4 at the Sound Running 10 meet in Los Angeles.
âIâm absolutely buzzing,â said McColgan. âTwo years ago I ran a big PB here so itâs nice to be back with the crowds. I knew I was in really good shape but to have it all come together on the day doesnât always happen.â
McColgan will debut in the London Marathon on April 23, 31 years after her mom Liz McColgan-Nutall debuted in Tokyo. It was 30 years ago that McColgan-Nuttall first ran London. For the younger McColgan, âit seems surreal.â
McColgan isn’t too worried about her time performance in London, as she wants to have a good experience in her first go at the 42.195 kilometre distance event. However, her bests point toward a sub-2:20:00 performance. Radcliffe’s former world record and current British record is 2:15:25 from London 2003.