TRAINED to pursue a diagnosis and then seek a cure, the qualified veterinarian in Laura Muir could surely appreciate the grand tour of possibilities explored before doctors discovered that the source of the back complaint that derailed her indoor season in late-winter was hidden within her hip.
From crutches to cross-trainers to careful rehabilitation, the 29-year-old was wholly unused to such a period off her quicksilver feet. “I don't think I've had that long a break off running since I started when I was 11 or 12 years old,” she reflected. “I really didn't know where I was going to be. But when I got back training, I was a lot further than I thought I would be.”
The trajectory towards July’s world championships and Commonwealth Games remains upward, to her relief. In her summer debut at yesterday’s Diamond League leg in Birmingham, the Olympic silver medallist was victorious in the women’s 1500 metres, the time of 4:02.81 less important than her ability to stand her ground and then press the accelerator when required.
This doubled as a scouting mission of the venue where she plans to fill one of the few gaps in her illustrious CV come the Commonwealths. The Alexander Stadium’s £72 million makeover is not quite complete with infrastructure for the Games still under construction outside. As an athletics venue, no matter the concerns over the speed and efficiency of the track itself, it harbours much promise.
Likewise Muir, whose training partner Jemma Reekie was fifth. Next stop for both: Oregon, and the Prefontaine Classic in six days time which will serve as the dress rehearsal for the worlds. Full steam ahead. “I didn't really know what to expect,” Muir affirmed. “I'm on tired legs just now from training. It’s the first race of season but I’m very happy. I couldn't have wished for anything better than that.”
Hers was among five British victories on the main bill. Most impressive, arguably, was Dina Asher-Smith’s bolt in the women’s 100m that shaded Jamaica’s Tokyo bronze medallist Shericka Jackson with fellow Brit Daryll Neita third.
“We’re targeting the world championships but also to perform at all three championships this summer, so you have to ease into it,” said the world 200m champion who clocked 11.11 secs. “I will take that for an opener. Although I’m sure on Monday my coach will come with about 100 million things that could have been better.”
Keely Hodgkinson rebounded from her own springtime injury by taking the women’s 800m in 1:58.63, Matthew Hudson-Smith’s renaissance continued in the 400m while Asher-Smith ran the third leg as GB&NI’s women had a test event of their own in the 4x100 relay with Scottish sprinter Beth Dobbin – omitted for their medal run in Tokyo - handed an opportunity to press her case.
“This time last year I got thrown into it,” she recounted. “And I was so nervous every race. I wasn't enjoying it because I went to the European Team Championships having practiced once in my life. Whereas now I've been with the team a year, we had some really good practices out in Tokyo and I'm just loving it.”
Scotland’s other Tokyo athletics medallist Josh Kerr was relegated to fifth in the men’s 1500m but it will not dent his confidence nor spike his intention to conquer the world.
“I am a championship racer and that's when I'm going to be fit and ready to go,” said the 24-year-old whose Kenyan rival Abel Kipsang was victorious. “Things like this haven't always been part of the plan. They are now. I enjoyed myself. I learned a lot but it's not the result I was looking for.”
