Andy Devaney
Eilish McColgan has never been one to shy away from the grind. As she looks ahead to her next chapter on the road, the Commonwealth Games champion reflects on the advice that’s carried her this far, the work still to be done, and the dream that keeps her chasing.
The Scottish runner who claimed 10,000 m gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, holds the British records for 5 km, 5,000 m, 10,000 m, and the half-marathon and posted a marathon personal best of 2:24:25 at the 2025 London Marathon debut, building her career on resilience as much as raw talent.
When asked what wisdom she carried from her mother Liz McColgan’s playbook, she was quick to point to one piece of guidance that has shaped her career.
“I’d say her advice. To focus on yourself and not worry about what someone else is doing on raceday. There’s no point going into a race panicking or worrying about anyone else; you just focus on what you’ve done in training and how things have been going for you and what you think you’re capable of when you stand on the start line. That’s probably one of the best bits of advice that she’s given me throughout the years”.
It’s advice that has grounded her as she turns her attention to one of the toughest challenges in sport: conquering the marathon.
“I would definitely love to win a major marathon. Even to get on the podium of a major marathon series would be pretty spectacular. It’s the hardest event of any sport to be honest, and the calibre of athlete and the times they are getting now are incredible. A major marathon, and especially the ones my Mum competed in, like London, but also Tokyo and New York are pretty special to me as well.”
Building Back From Setbacks
Training has taken on a new shape since surgery, with McColgan working to restore the sharpness that marathon prep can sometimes blunt. “We’re pretty heavy training at the moment. I’m coming from a very gradual build so we’re trying to get to the point where I’m being a little more consistent week on week with the intensity and volume I’m doing.
At the moment, it’s pretty much 2 intervals, hard sessions on the track and extending those as we get towards the Great North.
I’m not doing a huge amount of long stuff to be honest because coming off the London Marathon, I felt like my speed and 10k work had been neglected a little bit. Probably because of my knee surgery, I felt like I couldn’t really attack training as I like to, and everything had been a bit slower and longer.
We’ve sort of gone the other way now, trying to get that speed back. 2 days a week on the track, 1 long run and at the moment we’re at about 15 miles but would like to build that up to 17 or 18. I also get 1 day off, which is non-negotiable.”
Rethinking Fuel for the Long Haul
McColgan admits the step up from track racing to marathon distance has been a steep education in fuelling. “It’s interesting, on the track I never needed to worry about fuelling, as I was running under 15 minutes for 5km, so it wasn’t really needed, as long as I had my porridge that was enough.
The difference now is taking on gels and carbs, and it’s a completely different ball game. It was initially a really big challenge until I started working with SiS. The BETA Fuel has been amazing for me; they’re so easy, no stomach issues, no cramping, and they give me the carbs I need.
It’s been a steep learning curve but I was glad that the London Marathon went amazingly on the fuelling side – it was just everything else that didn’t go too well, but it’s nice to know that I have everything on that side under control.”
Surviving the Miles in the Air
Long-haul travel, she explains, presents its own challenge—hydration. “The HYDRO+ electrolytes are great. We travelled long haul from London to Tokyo and I found that the sachets are so easy, and especially on planes, it’s so easy to end up being dehydrated, so they were one key thing that I’d have all of the time.”
Quickfire Reflections
When pressed on her preferences, McColgan’s answers come with little hesitation.
On the type of racing surface that best suits her, she’s unequivocal:
“Road.”
On the highlight of her career so far, the memory remains vivid:
“Commonwealth Games 2022, Birmingham. Obviously winning, but setting a Championship record in front of my family and friends was very special.”
On the one drill she’ll never skip:
“High knees.”
On her preferred training conditions:
“Cool and dry.”
And on what music sets the tone before a race:
“Something by Kendrick Lamar, I’m a big Kendrick fan.”
The Road Ahead
What remains clear is that McColgan isn’t satisfied with simply being Britain’s best on the track. The marathon still looms as the ultimate test—and she’s not shying away from it.
With her mother’s advice, a stubborn streak a mile wide, and the determination to claw her way back to top speed, don’t be surprised if Eilish McColgan plants herself on that major marathon podium sooner rather than later.
