Laura Muir targeting more records at Anniversary Games ahead of World Championships in Doha

Muir is looking to add world gold to her growing collection of European titles
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Laura Muir has never known being just an athlete... until this season.

Having finished her degree in veterinary science last summer, she has switched to full-time training.

The 26-year-old has left the cold nights studying and training in Glasgow behind for bases in St Moritz, South Africa and California, with her coach Andy Young observing: “Her suntan’s looking better!”

Muir never quite knew her running potential while focusing on such an intensive course, but the second-quickest 1,500metres of her career at the Rome Diamond League followed by a PB over 800m in Monaco last week gave some indication.

Muir is now training full-time after finishing her degree last summer.
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The Rome run was all the more impressive as she had suffered a cold and niggle in training, and had a dire start.

The Scot has her sights set on more record breaking over 1,500m — an event in which she already boasts the best British time — at Saturday’s Anniversary Games at the London Stadium. But the real test will be at the World Championships in Doha later this year.

“At the start of the year, my target was to medal at a global championships outdoors, which I’ve never done and which would be a big achievement,” she said. “The 1,500m is so unpredictable and I can only go for gold. Of course, you can end up with silver or bronze.”

Already, Muir is benefiting from no longer having to squeeze everything into “almost a panicked one-and-a- half hours” around her studies, according to Young.

He said: “There’s been more time to work on technique and strength.

“So her form is looking much better. Last year, everything was condensed, now we have time.”

For Muir, the biggest change is the fact she is now able to experience relative calm. “This time of the year I’m usually pretty stressed,” she added. “I’m able to train more and be relaxed. The main part of what I do is the same, but it changes those ‘one percenters’. There’s more recovery and more attention to detail. I was still able to run 3.55 for the 1,500m in the middle of my studies, but now I have more flexibility.”

Despite her Rome time, she was still pipped by Genzebe Dibaba, who is likely to be her biggest threat to gold in Doha.

“There was only half a second in it and I feel we’ll be closely matched,” said Muir. “Without that start in Rome, who knows? I feel I should be able to match her or beat her, but all I can do is focus on myself.”

Looking ahead to Doha, she said: “The more relaxed I am at a championships, the better I race. I just have to have confidence in my ability and I have that.”

Tickets for the Muller Anniversary Games are on sale at: theticketfactory.com/british-athletics

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