Megan Keith prepares for the 2024 Olympics.
Inverness athlete Megan Keith prepares for the 10,000 metres in the 2024 Olympics.
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00:00And you're the first runner from Inverness to compete at the Olympics.
00:06How is that as an honour for you and how much pride do you take in representing
00:10not just Scotland, but the Highlands too?
00:13Yeah, definitely a lot.
00:14I think everyone's got so behind me up here, which has been,
00:19yeah, I hadn't really expected that the amount of support I've been got.
00:23I've been spending a lot of time in the in the local leisure centre
00:26and that sort of stuff.
00:27So everybody's just getting really excited and there's posters up everywhere.
00:31And I think they're having a viewing party.
00:33So, yeah, it makes me very, very proud that
00:37that people are excited to to see me competing and getting invested.
00:41So, yeah, I didn't really know that fact, but it's very cool.
00:46Are you aware that they've already got banners up at the stadium?
00:50Yes, I mean, I've been training there three times a week
00:54for the last month and a half,
00:56so I can't really get away from them.
00:57But yes, it is lovely to see everyone getting excited as well.
01:03I remember interviewing you when you won the River Ness 10k
01:06when you were just 17 years old, five years ago.
01:10And it really has been a meteoric rise.
01:12Did you ever envisage five years later you'd be on the Olympic stage
01:16preparing to run at the Stade de France?
01:19No, absolutely not.
01:20I think it wasn't at that point.
01:22Running was still just a little fun thing I did on the side of the rest of my life.
01:28So, yeah, it wasn't it's not that I didn't see myself reaching this level
01:33as much as I just didn't even think it was part of what I want to do with my life.
01:38So, yeah, it's been quite a turnaround, but I'm just trying to take it all in my stride.
01:44Following on from winning a bronze medal at the European Championships,
01:49are you hoping to take that form and produce a good result?
01:54Not this Friday, but next Friday?
01:56Yeah, it's going to be a very different race.
02:00Preparations have been slightly different as well.
02:03So I think it won't really be comparable to Europeans,
02:08but I'm going to go out there and give it the best shot I can.
02:13And the competition is going to be
02:16probably the stiffest I've ever come across.
02:18And then it's most likely going to be hot and humid.
02:22So I am ready for it to be a bit of a fight out there.
02:25But I'm looking forward to it.
02:27Before you made an impact in the track, you were an accomplished cross-country runner,
02:31had great success.
02:32How's the transition been from cross-country to track?
02:36I wouldn't say it's transition because I still do cross-country in the wintertime.
02:41And then it's more of, yeah, I've just been trying to
02:45or I have been translating that over into putting my skills to good use
02:51in the summertime, because you can't really do cross-country in the summer.
02:55So, yeah, it's just been sort of learning as I go.
02:59But yeah, I think they go hand in hand pretty nicely.
03:03And do you have a specific target for the 10,000 metres final?
03:07What would be a good result for you?
03:11I have thought of different targets along the way,
03:14but I'm just wanting to, I think I'll know
03:17regardless of position, what is a result or like when I finish,
03:22I'll know whether it's a race that I've done my best in or not.
03:27And I think if I cross the line feeling satisfied that I've given 100 percent,
03:32then that's something I'll be happy with.
03:34But I don't think there's necessarily a number either way
03:37because so much can happen in these things.
03:39So, yes, I'm more going for a feeling than a position.
03:43Ross Kearns, he's been putting you through your paces.
03:46Yeah, he has indeed.
03:48He's also bought a bike the last few weeks.
03:50So he's literally been putting me through my paces now as well.
03:55But yes, he's still by my side.
03:58A lot of excitement here in Inverness.
03:59So from everyone here, the best of luck from us.
04:02Thank you very much.