Athletics: Catriona Morrison hoping for glory on Holy ground

CATRIONA MORRISON has competed in the Caribbean this month with further races planned in Spain, France, Germany and Hawaii, but the event closest to her heart this year takes place here in Edinburgh.

The Broxburn girl climbed Calton Hill to promote the World Duathlon Championships at Holyrood Park in September.

And the 55km combination of running and cycling, going seven times round Arthur's Seat, will give her the chance to claim her fourth world title.

"When I heard we'd got the Worlds in Edinburgh, I thought: 'I can't retire now!'" she joked.

"I know the territory, and my whole family and my dog will come out to watch me.

"It's in the middle of Edinburgh, it's a free event and you can see healthy bodies running around in lycra!

"The course has super views of an iconic city, but it's going to be gruelling for everyone. It's a challenging course with no opportunity to rest at any time, and the best all-round athlete will win."

In addition to her punishing training regime, which includes five-hour cycle rides round West Lothian, Morrison has a busy racing programme this summer.

"I won in the US Virgin Islands a fortnight ago, and I'm off to Lanzarote on Monday to do an Ironman event," she explained.

"The Ironman World Championship (3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and 26-mile marathon] is in Hawaii in October, but I need to qualify, and that's what Lanzarote is about."

Despite the increasing focus on Ironman, Edinburgh will not be her Duathlon swansong as she intends to continue competing in the sport which has been so kind to her.

"Duathlon does not have Olympic status, but Triathlon does, and I tried to up my game in swimming to be competitive," she recalled.

"But it got to the stage where it was making me unhappy and I took a step back from it. Duathlon made me happier and I won the Worlds and the Europeans."