THE backdrop to Scotland’s New Year cross country event may have changed but that doesn’t mean Laura Muir doesn’t still have a proud unbeaten record to uphold. The 25-year-old gave the Great Edinburgh Cross Country a perfect Holyrood ending last January when it moved on from its previous atmospheric venue in the shadow of Arthur’s Seat and she hopes to make it a perfect four-in-a-row in the 4x1500m mixed relay now it has moved on to a new course in the proximity of Stirling Castle.
After anchoring Scotland A to a famous victory back in 2016, Muir has won in the colours of Great Britain each of the last two years. She is joined by fellow Scot Jamie Williamson and English pair Phil Sesemann and Alex Bell - with one of her training partners, Sol Sweeney, currently scheduled to front up home favourites, Scotland alongside Mhairi Hendry, Adam Craig and Steph Pennycook. The field is made up by the USA and a European team which is likely to be identical to the Spanish squad who recently claimed the European Cross Country Championship title in Tilburg in December.
“I really love the event – I’ve won it every year!” said Muir after she made a flying start to her year after winning the GAA Miler Meet at the Emirates Arena in a time of 14.52.02, culminating in a last 2k which was identical to her own British 5,000m record. “So it’s a no brainer to do. And no pressure to try to win this year!
“We are going up I think against the team which won the Euro Cross just gone so it is going to be tough,” she added. “I loved Holyrood but it is exciting to have a new course. I don’t really know what to expect too much. But t is going to be fun to run a new event, I hope it goes really well and the spectators support it, it is one more chance for the spectators in Scotland to come out and watch.”
There is a certain element of risk for an elite, precision athlete such as Muir to subject herself to the undulating terrain of a cross country course, particularly one which she doesn’t know like the back of her hand. So she and coach Andy Young will be sure to do some thorough reconnaissance before the race gets underway.
“Hopefully there aren’t too many hills!” said Muir. “I can’t tell from the map how bad the hills are. But definitely we will have a look at it. It is only 1500m each, but you still want to know where you are going! Especially as hopefully I will be at the front.”
The sheer meticulousness of Muir’s life in athletics is something to behold, a young woman who had mapped out her precise window to complete her veterinary degree some years in advance. As focused as she is about ensuring she has a starring role at the European Indoor Championships in Glasgow in March, she is keeping her cards close to her chest as to which event she will enter.
While Muir is the reigning champion in both the 1500m and the 3000m, the compressed three-day schedule makes doubling up problematic. Whatever she chooses, her final decision won’t be influenced by what she feels rival Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands is up to. “We are leaving it open just now, running over different distances to see where I am at, see what is the better fit,” she said. “To be honest Berlin was probably the only time we haven’t run against each other. We had the two races in Birmingham, Rio, in London we had two races, and Beijing we had the two as well. She looks like she is doing longer stuff now, but I don’t think that will come into our decisions. I just want to do the best I can for myself.”
As much focus as Muir is putting on Glasgow in March, she also knows that a global outdoor medal from Doha in September/October would bolster her confidence still further ahead of Tokyo. “This year you’ve got a global finals – and the year before the Olympics as well,” said Muir. “You really want to gain a lot of momentum and get that confidence boost. I am fully targeting Glasgow just now ... then I want to get on that podium [in Doha]. That is something I have not done yet, medal at a global event outdoors. It is the one piece of the puzzle that is missing.If I could do that before Tokyo that would be pretty good.”
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