Scotland


<p>It’s dark out, but nothing stops Team GB runner Laura Muir from training. Winner of the silver medal at 2020’s Tokyo Olympics in the 1500m, she’s renowned for her unwavering focus, which she attributes in part to embracing the difficulty of winter training.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Selects0-51-1-1.jpg" alt="Laura Muir athlete" class="wp-image-2601" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Selects0-51-1-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Selects0-51-1-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Selects0-51-1-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Selects0-51-1-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Born in Inverness and raised in Kinross, she’s no stranger to the cold and dark. So much so that she’s fronting an initiative with MOVE Pre-workout, a clean supplement designed for sustained energy, focus, and performance, to inspire movement as a means of supporting mental health and raise funds for Scottish charity SAMH.</p>



<p>We caught up with her to get the skinny on her hopes for Glasgow 2026 and to get her tips on how moving through the dark months an help keep both your body and your mind.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-does-a-typical-day-look-like-for-you">What does a typical day look like for you?</h2>



<p>I train six days a week and have one rest day. A typical day usually involves multiple training components; it might be a track session and a run, or a run and a gym session. Beyond the physical training, I have physio a couple of times a week and generally have a few meetings with my team. It’s usually pretty busy, so I try to focus on recovery between sessions as well. If I have time, I might try to squeeze in a coffee with a friend or find some downtime to balance the schedule.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-would-you-describe-your-personality">How would you describe your personality?</h2>



<p>I&#8217;d probably say &#8220;determined.&#8221; I know what I want to achieve and I know there is an awful lot of work required to get to that stage. You aren&#8217;t always going to feel motivated-especially when the weather is horrible-but my determination to be the best I can be is what drives me to go out there and give myself the best chance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-s-impressive-to-be-so-determined-you-can-get-out-when-it-s-cold-out">It’s impressive to be so determined you can get out when it’s cold out…</h2>



<p>Part of you knows it&#8217;s going to be hard, wet and cold, but there is also something really rewarding about it. When you come back from a session in horrible conditions, it&#8217;s even more rewarding. You feel so much better physically and mentally for having gone and done it. Endurance for me means resilience. To have an endurance capacity, you&#8217;ve got to be resilient. I think that&#8217;s a good word to describe what endurance means to me. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-helps-you-stay-motivated-in-the-darker-months">What helps you stay motivated in the darker months?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Selects0-9-1.jpg" alt="Laura Muir SAD" class="wp-image-2602" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Selects0-9-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Selects0-9-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Selects0-9-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Selects0-9-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>For me, it&#8217;s about being accountable and having a strict routine. If I have to train really early in the winter, I&#8217;ll set out my clothes the night before. It just means you don&#8217;t have to think about what you&#8217;re going to wear; you can just roll out of bed and get moving.</p>



<p>Meeting up with people is a big part of that; when you know you have to be in a certain place at a certain time, you just get there. There’s no putting it off, even if it&#8217;s wet, windy and cold outside.</p>



<p>Having a clear goal helps me realise that if I want to achieve my targets, I have to get the work done. It becomes a non-negotiable. Having lived in Scotland, I know the days get very short and the weather isn&#8217;t great, so it can be difficult to stay motivated. I try to stay positive by focusing on the long-term outcome.</p>



<p>But also you don&#8217;t always have to go outside. You could do a gym class to get moving or take advantage of having a treadmill inside. And it’s also important to have something to look forward to. Go for a nice coffee afterwards, or maybe run somewhere that has a nice place at the end, like a pretty park or a bakery.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-were-at-the-same-school-as-hurdler-eilidh-doyle-and-at-uni-distance-runner-hayley-haining-was-one-of-your-lecturers-what-was-in-the-water-you-were-all-drinking">You were at the same school as hurdler Eilidh Doyle and at uni, distance runner Hayley Haining was one of your lecturers… What was in the water you were all drinking?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1250" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Selects0-33-2.jpg" alt="Laura Muir Olympian" class="wp-image-2604" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Selects0-33-2.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Selects0-33-2-240x300.jpg 240w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Selects0-33-2-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Selects0-33-2-768x960.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>I consider myself so fortunate to have had peers at both high school and university who were competing at such high levels and championships. It was lovely to have both of them there during my school and university years.</p>



<p>As for what was in the water? I don&#8217;t know! I think, generally, we were just doing very well on the track in Scotland at that time, which was very encouraging.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-do-you-keep-your-medals">Where do you keep your medals?</h2>



<p>All I&#8217;m going to say is: in a safe place. That&#8217;s it!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-and-how-do-you-set-goals-for-the-future">What&#8217;s next, and how do you set goals for the future?</h2>



<p>I take each year as it comes. So much can change year on year – whether it&#8217;s my own progress or where the competition is at. I tend to review the year as it goes by and then plan for the year ahead, but I try to remain open to unexpected opportunities that might come up.</p>



<p>For the time being, the main focus for 2026 will be the Commonwealth Games and the European Championships.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-do-you-admire-or-find-inspiring-at-this-stage-of-your-life">Who do you admire or find inspiring at this stage of your life?</h2>



<p>Someone I’ve always admired is Sir Chris Hoy. Most of us know him for his phenomenal sporting achievements, but recently, he’s spoken a lot about his cancer diagnosis.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1128" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Prostate_Cancer_Roundtable_with_Sir_Chris_Hoy_cropped-1.jpg" alt="Sir Cris Hoy" class="wp-image-2605" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Prostate_Cancer_Roundtable_with_Sir_Chris_Hoy_cropped-1.jpg 1128w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Prostate_Cancer_Roundtable_with_Sir_Chris_Hoy_cropped-1-226x300.jpg 226w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Prostate_Cancer_Roundtable_with_Sir_Chris_Hoy_cropped-1-770x1024.jpg 770w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/01/Prostate_Cancer_Roundtable_with_Sir_Chris_Hoy_cropped-1-768x1021.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1128px) 100vw, 1128px" /></figure>



<p>While that is devastating news, his outlook on life and the way he is approaching his situation is an inspiration to so many people. He is an amazing person to look up to, both in terms of how he conducts himself in life and his legacy in sport.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-last-but-not-least-where-s-your-favourite-place-in-scotland-and-why">Last but not least, where’s your favourite place in Scotland and why?</h2>



<p>I just love being in the countryside or on the beach. In Scotland, I think the beaches on the East coast are beautiful. In Glasgow, there are a lot of country parks, so on my rest days I like to go out for walks. Being outside – perhaps followed by a visit to a cosy coffee shop – is my ideal way to spend time.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://scotland.muddystilettos.co.uk/wellbeing/scottish-races-2026/">Eyes on the prize: 13 races across Scotland to train for in 2026</a></li>



<li><a href="https://scotland.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/whats-on/whats-on-january/">Jump into January! Great reasons to pull a coat on and leave the house</a></li>



<li><a href="https://scotland.muddystilettos.co.uk/drink/dry-january-sonja/">Muddy Meets: Jumpship’s Sonja Mitchell</a></li>
</ul>


Beat SAD, one step at a time… Muddy meets Olympic runner Laura Muir

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