Muir revels in feelgood factor from Olympics

LAURA MUIR has been amazed by the feelgood factor generated by her Olympic silver medal.

The 28-year-old began her countdown to next summer’s bid for a treble of world, European and Commonwealth golds with victory at Saturday’s Lindsay’s Scottish short-course cross-country championships amid ferocious winds in Lanark.

It was a one-off, confirmed Muir, who has ruled out both next month’s Euro Cross in Dublin and March’s world indoor championships in Belgrade.

But the Scottish star, showing no lingering effects from the ankle injury that prematurely ended her track campaign, concedes the public reaction to her 1500 metres success in Tokyo has given her extra satisfaction.

She said: “Just being in and around Glasgow, I don’t think there’s been one run I’ve been on where someone’s not said well done, or hello. And it’s really lovely. I think you don’t realise the impact it’s had.

“At the time I hadn’t realised it was Yvonne Murray and Liz McColgan were the last Scots to win an individual Olympic medal. So to be the next one to do that, it’s kind of crazy when you think of how iconic they are. And I’ve joined that collection of athletes. It does take a while to sink in and realise what happened in Tokyo.”

Andy Butchart won the men’s title for the fourth time but it was a slog in the mud for Olympic 1500m finalist Jake Wightman who ended in 14th place.

Training stints in Arizona and South Africa have been booked this winter as the 27-year-old is in bounce-back mode after coming 10th in Tokyo. The challenge, his Dad and coach Geoff has told him, is to get stronger before his medal tilt in 2022.

“I might race some 5km road stuff after Dad threw Scottish cross-country into the mix,” he said. “I’m going to do indoors, but I’m going to race over distance rather than 800 or 1500m. I’m going to try and do some 3000m which I haven’t done one since I was at uni.

“Looking back at last summer, I think that was my biggest weakness. I wasn’t quite strong enough. That’s why I’m racing this weekend – to get myself into those longer races where I’m a little bit more uncomfortable and not quite as strong. Because that’s the only way I’m going to get better at it.”