Eilish McColgan: ‘I’d like to think I’m breaking the ceiling of what’s possible for female endurance runners’

When Eilish McColgan was growing up, she was under the impression that reaching 30 was “game over” for elite athletes. “But I’d like to think that I’m breaking the ceiling of what is possible for female endurance runners, and not being stuck on these boundaries that have been set by X, Y and Z.” For McColgan – who has won medals at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships, and has competed in four Olympic Games – it was important to see what was possible. But after her toe injury, she says preparation has been a lot different to the normal build-up to a major competition. The Commonwealth Games should’ve marked the start to McColgan’s season after 10 weeks off – but she says relaxing and switching off is the thing she struggles with “the most”.