Yvonne Murray returns for 'veteran debut'

FOR a decade, Yvonne Murray has observed athletics from outside the lines, nurturing the next generation as mentor to a group of young hopefuls in Lanarkshire.

"They make me feel old," laughed the Olympic 3000 metres bronze medallist of 1988. "One wee boy told me the other day that his daddy said I was famous because he'd watched me on TV when he was a boy."

One charity run apart, Murray has remained in idle retirement on doctor's advice, the only way to temper the backaches that are the enduring by-products of her impressive track career.

Now 45, Murray has decided to make a return – of sorts. Cleared to pull on her trainers once more, she will take part in the Super Series triathlon in Strathclyde Park on 23 May.

"I'm taking this quite seriously because it is competitive," she underlines. For two months now, she has been reacquainting herself with the rigours of training in preparation for what might, diplomatically, be described as her "veteran debut".

The idea came about when she came to watch the event two years ago. "There was just something there that made me want to get back involved in running again," Murray said. "My orthopaedic consultant told me years ago that I could come back, but he wasn't impressed when I asked him what it meant in minutes per mile. But I'm going to see how things go. I'll probably be more cautious in terms of chasing times."

The competitive instinct is hard to fully extinguish. It has, the five-times Scottish champion reveals, been a challenge to exercise self-restraint when the mind knows there is a disused extra gear.

"The problem is starting to build it up and then your body starts to hurt as if it's asking 'What's going on here?' It's like anyone who hasn't had high mileage for a huge period of time," said Murray. "I get the aches and pains and you have to listen to them and make sure you don't do too much."

Running a marathon, five years after an abortive attempt to debut at the distance in London, may also be a viable goal for Murray.

Meanwhile, Great Britain international Kerry Lang, who will also take part in the Motherwell event, is still harbouring hopes of cycling for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games. With triathlon not included in New Delhi, Lang is awaiting clarification over the status of the road events.

"My main aim this year will be triathlon but cycling will be a nice bonus if it comes across as well. I've not ruled it out," she said.