I will stay on track after I slipped off it

Eilish McColgan has vowed not to let the big freeze throw her Olympic build-up off the boil after learning the art of patience.

The European Championship silver medallist continues to train at altitude in Arizona while the UK is in lockdown.

But it is understood plans have been drafted to stage a revamped track season, which could stretch into the autumn, with the possibility of squeezing Diamond League meetings into a six-week span.

It would allow athletes to tune up for the rescheduled Games in Tokyo next summer and secure much-needed income.

The Scot had been set to start her season this weekend with a 10,000 metres race at the Payton Jordan meeting in California.

But she plans to lean on the way she coped with only her second “did not finish” strikeout at her opener there 11 months ago to bounce back from current adversity.

The 29-year- old said: “If last year’s race taught me anything it’s that, when things don’t initially go to plan, it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the world.

“If you refocus your energy and keep the faith you can still end up producing results you never believed possible. Last year started pretty horrifically, performing way below par at the European Indoors.

“It seemed like things were continuing to conspire against me when I DNF’d in this race feeling like a bloated hippo on my period and frantically searching for a red velvet cake at midnight after the race.

“Fortunately I had some time on my hands and by the end of summer into October I was running personal best times.

“I came away with PBs over 1500, 5k, 10k and 10 miles. Although this season has got off to a false start it doesn’t necessarily mean total doom and gloom.

“Instead of thinking of it as a negative, we now have a little extra time on our hands. I’m planning on using last year’s experience to guide me through to what will hopefully be some fast times and racing in late summer and autumn.”