The inspirational story of a runner’s resilience against the odds

If you ever find your marathon training plan daunting, consider the heroism of Olympic athlete Eilish McColgan, a proven survivor who has battled with endless injuries to compete in elite competitions.

While she may not have secured a win in Paris, McColgan’s mere involvement at the highest level represented a bittersweet victory in itself.

It was in 2022 that she broke the British records for the 5K and half marathon as well as the European 10K. In March 2023, she clocked a new British 10,000m record in California, before breaking her own British half marathon record a few weeks later in Berlin, elevating her to fourth position on the European all-timer list.

The daughter of legendary Scottish marathon runner Liz McColgan, Eilish was in the form of her life before succumbing to a knee injury so serious one doctor warned she could never run again. She was never, however, in any doubt that she would race again. Healthy and still in her thirties, she built herself back up to full fitness.

McColgan is aware, though, that a long-term injury is more than just a physical scar, and that it requires overcoming mental barriers and learning to trust her body again. Her ambition now is to switch to full road race marathons after being forced to withdraw from the 2024 London event, struck down once again by injury.

If you have been inspired by Eilish McColgan’s resilience, contact specialist marathon coach Maximum Mileage Coaching today, for tips on avoiding injuries and a suitable marathon recovery plan.