Laura Muir: My European Championships gold meant more because I could share the moment with my parents

But what really separated her first major outdoor gold medal from all the rest is the fact that for once her parents Crawford and Alison were there to celebrate it with her in person.

“My mum and dad were out there, which was nice, and I got to see them briefly,” said Muir. “I had never actually delivered a medal when they’ve been there watching.

“They came to Rio for the Olympics and I missed out,” she added. “They came to London for the World Championships when I missed out. Then they were meant to come to Birmingham [for the World Indoors, when she won silver and bronze] but got stuck because of the snow. So every single time they’ve been there, I’ve not delivered the medal. So I knew I had to get them a medal this time.”

If a post-race pow-wow with the parents was unusual, it is rarer still for her to have a chin wag with her flesh and blood before she goes out there to perform. While every sportsperson on the planet has a different relationship when it comes to how closely they want their parents to keep track of them, Muir knew plenty of sporting heartache and misfortune early in her career. Shortly after tumbling on the track at Glasgow 2014, after all, she failed to reach the European final in Zurich despite being the third fastest in the field.

“I don’t mind at all whether they are there or not, I just don’t meet them beforehand – I have just got to be 100 per cent focused,” says Muir. “After the race it is fine to meet up.

“They do get nervous, I know they definitely do,” she added. “But they also just get wrapped up in it like everyone else. Watching can be worse than actually racing itself. But they have always been there for me since I was little, watching and supporting.

“I only saw them for five minutes afterwards but they were quite emotional, just happy for me. They know more than anyone the journey

I have been on these last few years. How hard I work and what it means to me. Like any mum and dad, they want their kids to do well so it was great for them to be there and see that.”

It is unclear what role the imperative of easing parental nerves had to play, but Muir was determined to ease everybody’s stress levels.

Going into the race fully five seconds quicker than everyone else in the field – Sifan Hassan, perhaps wisely, opted for what she saw as a safer gold medal in the 5000m – she accelerated off the front with 1000m to go, turning a European final into a glorified practice race.

Her ability to handle the pressure of being outright favourite augurs well for the next major championships in her calendar, the bid to defend – schedule-permitting – her European 1500m and 3000m titles at the Emirates Arena track where she trains most days.

“I had been one of the favourites before, in terms of being in the mix for a medal – but I’d never been the No.1 favourite,” said Muir. “I knew it was mine to lose. But I just didn’t think about that too much because I’m at my best when I’m relaxed. And I managed to deliver, which is good. In previous years, for me, that could have been a burden. I would let the pressure get to me before. But I’ve learned.”

If she made this seem like a routine victory, that is to Muir’s credit. Even the plan of attacking some 1000m out was only formalised a matter of hours before the race.

“That was something we decided on the day – five o’clock, I think!” said Muir. “But I kind of knew prior to that what I wanted to do. I wanted to go from a way out because a lot of the girls had a strong kick and would be dangerous in a sprint finish.

“I said to Andy [Young, her coach]

I thought I would maybe go with 800 to go. He said I should go with 1k to go and I agreed. I had to judge it very carefully to make sure I was strong to the finish line. Go too early and I could have burned out. But it’s a good way to do it, giving yourself just a couple of hours to process the plan.”

There was certainly nothing in the way of outlandish, exuberant celebrations, but then, that simply isn’t

her style. “As I was standing on the podium, all I was thinking was: ‘Don’t cry!’ It’s been a really crazy, busy, tough year. To go there and be European champion at the end of it all, it meant a lot to me, to show that I can win not just indoors but outdoors – and claim my first big title.

“I’m not usually that emotional. But, when it means so much to you and you’ve worked so hard, it’s a natural and good thing that you will be emotional. It shows that you really care.

“It took a while to do medals and media, then anti-doping before I got back to the hotel – and I was pretty knackered to be honest,” she added.

“I was actually gutted that the dinner at the hotel didn’t have any cake available. It was only fruit and yoghurt,

so I was quite upset! Fortunately the medical team had some chocolate, so they could give me some.”

Perhaps the celebrations would have been wilder if the win had come in Glasgow, not Berlin, but the home crowd will be able to make up for that in March.

“It was a wee bit surreal with it being in Berlin, but I felt like I was really connected to everything that was going on back here,” she said. “There was a lot of British support in Berlin. Maybe we missed out on having that home crowd but the next one coming up will be in Glasgow. That will be fantastic.”

It will be strange for Muir not to have her vet studies to look forward to in September but she is excited about how much faster she can go now that she is a full-time athlete.

Typically she is planning to do some volunteer or charity work along the way. I am focusing on the athletics this summer then we will have a chat at the end of the season to work out what training camps I am going to do, what training is going to be like for the next coming year, what free time I have got,” she said.

“I will explore a couple of avenues – whether it is charity or voluntary routes, I am quite flexible. If anyone needs a hand and I am in the country I can hopefully pop along and help out.”