Eilish McColgan's Marathon Journey: Patience Over Radcliffe's Record

McColgan’s Marathon Debut and Goals

Eilish McColgan, the reigning Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion, is set to make her marathon debut at the London Marathon in April. However, she has made it clear that breaking Paula Radcliffe's 22-year-old British marathon record is not her immediate focus. Radcliffe's record stands at an impressive 2 hours 15 minutes 25 seconds, and McColgan acknowledges the challenge ahead.

'It's so unrealistic to think I'm going to go in and break Paula Radcliffe's record on my first attempt,' McColgan said. 'That's nonsense. It just isn't going to happen. But do I think I'm capable of getting down to those times in the future? Absolutely. I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I was.'

Overcoming Injuries and Building Longevity

McColgan’s marathon journey has been delayed due to injuries. Initially planning to compete in 2023, she was sidelined for nearly six months due to injuries she attributes to rushing her training. 'I learned a lot from 2023,' McColgan reflected. 'Now I just want to make sure that I build things up gradually, do things properly, and I just want longevity in my career.'

Focus on Long-Term Success

Having broken Radcliffe's 21-year-old British 10,000m record and improved her own British half-marathon mark in Berlin, McColgan was in 'the best shape of her life' before her injury. Despite shifting her focus to road racing, she keeps the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in her sights, even though there will be no road events.

Future Aspirations

McColgan remains optimistic about her future in long-distance running. 'I still believe that this next Olympic cycle I can be at my best,' she said. 'I still think I can get faster over 5k and 10k. But really the marathon is a long-term project. I am going to just try to learn as much as I can from this process, and then try to implement that over the next few years to see how I bridge the gap towards a 2:09 or whatever crazy time they've run by then.'