I don’t run away from spiders ... only from my rivals
Laura admits she’s got the medal bug as she eyes double gold in Belgrade
FEARLESS Laura Muir has revealed she is not scared of spiders, bats or track rivals ahead of her bid for European double gold.
The 23-year-old student vet has been designated creepy-crawly catcher by fellow runners when they are away at events.
And Muir is equally unfazed by her upcoming gruelling schedule of four races in three days at the European Indoor Championships in Belgrade.
With two European records already in the bag during this indoor campaign, she is ready to turn in another gutsy performance to capture gold.
She said: “I quite like spiders. I’m the one nominated by the group to get rid of any bugs or bats or anything like that when we’re away. I’m the chief get-rid-of-something.”
Muir is now hoping to dump her rivals as she kicks off her bid to become Europe’s golden girl with the 3000 metres heats this morning.
She then returns for duty in the 1500m tonight – with the finals to come over what will be a punishing weekend.
Muir said: “It’s quite a lot but it’s something young athletes are used to.
“I’ve not done this many races in this amount of time before. But I train very hard so I don’t see how I won’t be able to cope with it.”
Muir has paid the price for going for gold before as her 1500m medal hopes were dashed at the Olympics.
But her disappointment of finishing seventh in Rio has only made her all the more determined to succeed.
Muir faces competition from Eilish McColgan, who is running in both events, and Steph Twell in the 3000m but admits failure is not an option.
She said: “I want to be one of the biggest athletes out there with medals against my name. My main aim is to get two golds and I have to run the best race I can.”
Meanwhile, Guy Learmonth is hoping his punt on going back to basics with his training pays off as he begins his 800m bid.
Switching from UK Athletics’ high-tech base in Loughborough for a rough and ready regime back home in the Borders has already bagged him a UK title.
And Learmonth said: “I’d gone soft down south. It was a bit of a gamble. There was a lot riding on it but it’s worked.
“It’s the next step up I need for my career and to prove to myself and others the move home was right. That’s the statement I want to make.”