Eilish McColgan is hoping to reap the rewards of her first unbroken winter of training as a senior athlete after putting down an impressive marker at the weekend.
The Carnoustie Olympian posted a Commonwealth Games qualifying time in the 1,500m at the Loughborough International to get under the 4.10 required by Scottish women, even though her real focus is the 3,000m steeplechase.
McColgan’s first outing of the season in the event in which she is UK champion will be in a high profile Diamond League encounter in New York this weekend.
The impressive start can be attributed to a few good months of preparation, which has included altitude work in the Pyrenees.
“I think the big difference is I have had a full winter without interruptions,” she said.
“In 2011, I was leading the university life and maybe not fully focused. Then, in 2012, I was basically still rehabbing and coming back from the foot injury I suffered at the back end of the previous season.
“This time, I have done all the hard work and altitude training and, hopefully, it will pay off.
“I’ve had good sessions at Font Romeu and just felt good in general. I ran great training times last Tuesday and Thursday and my mum said ‘You’ve got to get a run at Loughborough’.
“I am a lot fitter and healthier than I’ve been for a couple of years.”
Meanwhile, McColgan believes Commonwealth Games standards which are “fair” are driving Scotland’s track and field stars to Hampden.
No fewer than 14 Scottish qualifying standards for Glasgow 2014 were achieved by athletes over the weekend 13 individuals and a women’s relay team in locations as diverse as Los Angeles, Solihull, Loughborough and Grangemouth.
Hurdler Eilidh Child set the tone at Loughborough and was followed by standard-bearing performances by Nony Mordi (triple jump), Jayne Nisbet (high jump), Jade Nimmo (long jump), Susan McKelvie (hammer), Mark Dry (hammer), Andy Frost (hammer), Allan Smith (high jump), Libby Clegg (T12 100m) and the 4x400m women.
Hours earlier, David Bishop (1,500m) and Steph Twell (5,000m) had set standards at other locations and hammer-thrower Chris Bennett also did so at a domestic fixture in Grangemouth.
There are gaps in certain disciplines where Scottish athletes as it stands 14 months from the games appear to have neither the calibre nor depth to reach a required level.
However, McColgan can certainly sense momentum gathering with scottishathletics director of coaching, Stephen Maguire, having taken charge in Loughborough as he will for Glasgow 2014.
“The standards were set in Scotland at times and distances that were reasonable,’ said McColgan whose mother Liz won 10,000m gold at Edinburgh in 1986.
“I think people who are good enough will get them. There has been quite a lot of comment about English standards and some of them are out of reach of people and look unfair.
“In Scotland, we do seem to have set ones that are attainable if people are at a certain level and I do believe that’s the way it should be.
“Standards should be created in such a way that you can attain them if you show a level of improvement. There will be gaps in certain parts of it but I still think they are completely fair.
“In the steeplechase, at 10 minutes for the qualification there’s myself, Emily Stewart and Lennie Waite who are well capable of that and I keep saying this, there could and should be a few more Scottish girls who should feel they can make that time.
“Those on the outskirts of that time have to chase it and that is the same across all the disciplines. Basically, that’s what you want from a Commonwealth Games a carrot which drags up the standards of your country’s athletes.”