Home Stretch for Vet and Athlete Victory

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Home stretch for vet and athlete victory

Author : Holly Kernot

Categories : General, Students, Vets

Date : August 16, 2016

Laura Muir is ranked second in the world for the women's 1,500m after breaking Dame Kelly Holmes' British record in July.

It has been quite a year for Laura Muir. She completed her fourth year at the University of Glasgow, broke a British athletics record and is going for gold at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games – not bad seeing as we are only in August.

But how does the 23-year-old cope with what must be a punishing schedule? You may well ask. Training to be a vet is challenging at the best of times, but juggling an athletic career alongside it requires a certain level of tenacity and determination. Fortunately, Miss Muir possesses those

1 / 8 qualities in spades.

Until recently, a typical day for the Scottish student included morning training prior to lectures, physiotherapy in her lunch break and afternoon classes before heading back to the track.

“I think veterinary medicine and athletics complement each other really well,” she said. “If I am stressed about exams, I will go for a run, and that takes my mind off things. But if I’ve got a running session in the evening, I don’t want to be thinking about it all day, so it’s good to have the distraction of veterinary medicine and have something else to do.”

All her hard work has paid off. In July, she broke the British record for the women’s 1,500m. She completed it in 3:57.49, beating Dame Kelly Holmes’ record of 3:57.90 set at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

“Breaking the record was really special, I wasn’t expecting it,” Miss Muir said. “It is always hard to beat a British record, but for it to be Kelly Holmes’ too was special. I am very proud to have my name in the record books now.”

Getting on track

Laura Muir shares what has propelled her athletic career...

2 / 8 Who inspired you to become an athlete?

I looked up to athletes such as Kelly Holmes, Sebastian Coe and Paula Radcliffe when I was younger.

3 / 8 How do you mentally prepare for a race?

I speak to my coach about which tactics I am going to use. It is important to know the field well and what my competitors’ strengths and weaknesses are. I analyse my own feelings, as well as my strengths and weaknesses. I also consider how to attack the race – I have a plan in place, but also have a plan B and C in case the event doesn’t go quite to plan.

4 / 8 If you had to choose between being a vet or an athlete, which would it be?

I don’t know if I could decide as they are so different – they are not really comparable – but they do complement each other. I am very grateful to my coach and the University of Glasgow because they could easily have said “you have to pick one”, but they’ve let me do both, which is great.

5 / 8 A successful season also saw Miss Muir secure her place at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and become part of Team GB, which is, she said, a dream come true.

“I am really excited with how the season has gone and about my first Olympics,” she said. “I am looking forward to the whole experience and competing in the 1,500m. It is really surreal. I guess going to the Olympics is something any sporting person aspires to – it is the main goal and I have done it. I can’t believe I am going to be an Olympian, no matter what. I am very excited.”

Miss Muir will compete in a heat and semi-final first, but she has designs on the final.

“I would like to qualify for the final,” she said. “I rank second in the world now [on time in the 1,500m event] and was fifth at the World Championships in Athletics last year, and want to build on that.”

At the time of the interview, Miss Muir was in France taking part in high-altitude training – the final phase in her training schedule.

“Training is going well and it is all hard work now until race day,” she said. “My family are really excited. My parents, my little brother and my gran are all flying out to watch me, which is lovely.”

Setting an agenda

A lifelong animal lover, Miss Muir developed her passion for sport and science at school and, not wanting to give up either of her aspirations, subsequently set the agenda for a manic schedule spanning many years.

“I started doing cross-country races when I was 11,” she said. “I was doing quite well, but not winning – I just enjoyed it. I then joined a local club and it went from there.”

When it came to choosing a career, there was never any doubt in Miss Muir’s mind that she wanted to be a small animal vet. What makes her unique is the fact she has successfully pursued both her childhood dreams – in tandem.

“I have had a lot of support from the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine, which let me go kind of part-time in my third year,” she said. “It has been really understanding and been there if I needed any support or help.

“My coach [Andy Young] is also good. He recognises my education is important to me as well, so we’ve worked the two together. I feel very lucky to be in the position I am in.”

After Rio

6 / 8 After Rio, Miss Muir is set to take a gap year. She will continue her studies in September 2017 and, on graduation, hopes to carry on with both her interests.

“I think veterinary medicine is something that moves on so quickly, I would lose confidence if I left it for a few years,” she said. “So, I would like to do something voluntary or part-time once I graduate to allow me to still run and then become a vet full time once my running career has finished.”

“Veterinary work and running have a lot in common – both involve performing under pressure, making quick decisions, working hard, being determined and require a willingness to put in the hours.”

Eyes on the prize

One hopes such a combination of skills will set Miss Muir in good stead for a bright future in both fields. For now, she is keeping her eyes on the prize in Rio and is kitted out and ready to go.

“Trying on the kit, standing in front of the mirror and seeing the Team GB logo on your vest is pretty special and an unusual situation to be in,” she said. “My family has been a great support of me being a trainee vet and an athlete – I think they are really proud.”

They are not the only ones, as when Miss Muir takes to the track, the world and veterinary profession will be cheering on its golden girl, proud no matter the result.

High achievers.

An Army vet climbs the highest mountain in each of the world’s seven continents.

7 / 8 Vet Penny Barker rides 928 miles in 90 hours 3 minutes.

Student Seth Kennard completes a 105-mile run around the Lake District.

Two vets take part in a Land’s End to John O’Groats cycle.

Fantastic feats are not just the preserve of Olympic athletes. Adventurous vets across the country are also busy ensuring 2016 is a year to remember by completing Herculean tasks. Here are a few who have, or aim to, achieve wonderful things alongside Laura Muir...

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