Eilish McColgan: ‘I’d love to rewrite several PBs in 2025’
Some athletes need especially large trophy cabinets – and four-time Olympian Eilish McColgan is one of them.
Having started her athletics career as a 3000m steeplechase specialist, the 34-year-old is now dominant over longer distances and looking ahead to her first-ever marathon this spring. She is a gold and silver Commonwealth Games medallist, a four-time European Championships medallist, the European record holder for the 10K road race and the British record holder for the 5000m, 10,000m, 5K road race and half marathon. Let us catch our breath.
McColgan has competed at the highest level in competitions across the world, but still remains loyal to much-loved races on home soil. An ambassador for Great Run, which organises a series of popular events across the UK, she now hopes to achieve even quicker times and more wins in 2025 – including victory at the world-famous Great North Run in September.
We caught up with McColgan to hear more about her return from injury, her favourite Great Run moments and how she stays motivated to train, even when the times get tough.
How do you stay motivated to train during challenging times?
‘Motivation will always ebb and flow, so it’s important to acknowledge that,’ says McColgan, who experienced a string of highs and lows in 2023 in particular. The Scot was in record-breaking form that spring, clocking 30:00.86 at the The TEN in California in March to better Paula Radcliffe’s 21-year-old British 10K record by 0.23 seconds. Then, in April, she improved upon her own British half marathon record when she ran 1:05:43 at the Berlin Half Marathon.
Later that April, however, she sustained a knee injury, which caused her to miss a series of major events including her marathon debut in London and the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. Then, in addition to the knee surgery that she underwent at the end of the year, McColgan had emergency surgery on her back in 2023 to seal a fluid leak in her spine.
‘Even elite athletes have days where they can’t be bothered,’ says McColgan, who is now fit, healthy and back in the swing of training and competing at a world-leading level. ‘But those are the days where you need a bit of an extra push – so maybe lie out your running clothes the night before, or schedule to meet a friend. Joining a local club can help to keep you accountable, too.
‘Often, it’s having a goal that keeps me motivated – whether that’s trying to break my PB or win a certain race. It becomes much easier to stick to my training schedule when I have goals to achieve. So, entering a race, like one from the Great Run series, can be a good motivator. This sentiment doesn’t really change when I’m injured. It’s frustrating not being able to run during these times, but I usually switch my focus to cross-training and keep those future goals and targets in mind – knowing that my future self will thank me for keeping with it and not letting my training slip!’
What are your top tips for newer runners who need some training motivation?
‘Find a friend to run with or even a local club,’ suggests McColgan. ‘It can make a big difference and is much more fun than doing it solo. Following a training plan can help, too, as it keeps you accountable and takes a bit of the thinking away from you having to plan your own training. Instead of wondering what training to do for the day – it’s already planned for you.
‘Keep things simple,’ she adds. ‘Even buying some new running shoes or clothes can give you a bit of a motivational boost. In winter, wear bright colours to counteract the bleak weather conditions!’
What are the benefits of sticking to a training schedule?
‘At first, it can feel like a bit of a slog – but the more you stick with it, the easier it will become,’ says McColgan, who knows what it takes to progress to the top. ‘It’s so much easier to follow your routine when you’ve been doing it for several weeks – it becomes part of daily life. So, stick with that habit until it becomes normal.’
You’ve had enormous success at Great Run events – what makes them special?
‘The atmosphere and community spirit,’ says McColgan, who has won the Great South Run, a popular 10-mile race in the coastal city of Portsmouth, three consecutive times. The first win, in 2018, marked her impressive debut over 10 miles, while her third win, in 2021, staged her 10-mile PB of 50:43, which also served as a new women’s course record and the European best for 10 miles – two marks that still stand today. Liz McColgan, her mother, coach and former professional athlete, also claimed victory at the Great South Run in 1995 and 1997.
‘It doesn’t matter if you’ve never run before or are an elite runner – the support around each course is fab for everyone. There’s a real buzz at the Great Run events. Although they might not be able to guarantee good weather in the UK, they can certainly guarantee good vibes and an event like no other.’
What’s your favourite Great Run event and why?
‘Oh, that’s a tough one – I have some good memories at them all,’ says McColgan. ‘Scotland is home, so I always get such great support at the Great Scottish Run.
‘The Great Manchester Run is where I broke my first European record over 10K, so that was also amazing,’ she continues, reflecting on her performance at the race in 2022. Here, she stormed to a second-place finish – behind only Kenya’s Hellen Obiri, who that day set the course record – in a time of 30:19, which beat the previous European 10K record, set by Radcliffe, by two seconds. ‘I was feeling so tired over the final mile of that race, but the crowds as I came back into Manchester city centre were what kept me driving to the finish line.
‘But I still think that the atmosphere of the Great North Run is hard to beat. Thousands upon thousands of people all lining up together. It’s pretty special.’
Last year marked your great comeback from injury – what were your 2024 highlights?
‘My performances in 2024 were far from my best, but that’s the reality of elite sport and coming back from a big injury,’ notes McColgan, who, despite her huge injury setbacks in 2023, still competed for Team GB in the 10,000m at the 2024 Paris Olympics – her fourth consecutive Games.
‘I had been in pain for so long – for all of 2023,’ she continues. ‘In fact, the pain got to the point where I wasn’t sure that I would ever run without it. So it was a huge relief to be back racing again, enjoying it and to be pain free. I keep reminding myself that 2024 was a year to rebuild and not a year for performances – a year to build back my body and my mind, knowing that my best is yet to come.’
What are your goals for 2025?
‘I’d love to rewrite several PBs in 2025,’ says McColgan. ‘I’m in a much better position this winter, having missed all of the previous winter due to surgery, so that’s given me a lot of confidence.
‘Obviously, racing my debut marathon in London is a big goal for the year, but then I’ll switch my attention to some shorter road races. Winning the Great North Run would be a big target for the autumn. I’m most looking forward to returning to the form I showed in 2022 and early 2023, to being competitive on the road scene and to continuing to build toward the 2028 Olympic Games in LA.’
You Might Also Like
