Eilish McColgan finished the London Marathon in 7th place despite suffering a severe foot injury that left her foot covered in blood. She completed the race with a time of 2:24:51. This performance came after a blister caused her foot to feel like it ‘exploded’ halfway through the race.
McColgan’s finishing time was 26 seconds slower than her personal best set last year. Yet, she was the top British finisher and won both British and Scottish gold medals for her performance. Her determination showcased the resilience often seen in elite women’s races.
At mile 24, she began to feel pain in different areas of her body, which raised concerns about her running form. “Just not long after halfway, I had a really, really bad blister in my foot,” McColgan said. “It sounds strange saying it, but the only way I can say it is I felt like my foot just exploded.”
This year’s London Marathon featured ideal conditions that led to record performances from many runners. Weynay Ghebresilasie set a new Scottish record in the men’s race with a time of 2:06:59, while Sebastian Sawe broke the world record with an astonishing time of 1:59:30.
McColgan is a four-time Olympian and the daughter of British running star Liz McColgan. Her legacy in Scottish athletics continues to grow as she competes at high levels against fierce competition.
Despite her injury, McColgan’s achievement at this marathon adds to her impressive track record. The marathon had nearly 59,000 runners this year, making it one of the largest events globally.
The next steps for McColgan are unclear as she recovers from this marathon injury. She expressed disappointment with how her body held up during the race, indicating there may be lingering effects from her performance.
