HSPC started sponsoring Marie in late 2008, she is a local lass competing at the world class competitions. HSPC caught up with Mhairi back in May:

You've recently been competing in Mexico - what was the competition and how did it go?
The competition in Mexico was a World Cup, there is a series of 4/5 World Cup competitions in a year with a World Cup Final at the end of the season. With athletes from all over the world competing. The turn out for this first world cup was great with nearly 60 girls competing. This year we have experienced a slight change in the format of our competitions so this is taking some time getting used to. They have combined the Running and Shooting Phase so it is contested very similar to a Winter Biathlon. The competition went reasonable well for the first of the season and I finished 12th.

What was it like competing so far from home?
I think competing so far away from home is something i have gotten used to over the last 5 years. I always find it quite fascinating and enjoy seeing different cultures and places. However some places we go are easier to compete in that others. We competed ion Mexico City which sits at nearly 2200-meters above sea level, this meaning there is a lot less oxygen in comparison to our training center in Bath. This high altitude affects me quite badly especially during the Running phase, mainly due to the fact that i am Asthmatic.

Back in December you told us that Running was your weakest event - how have you been getting on with training for that - any improvements?
With the slight change in our format we now run 3 time 1 km rather than 3 km continuously. This has helped my running hugely and i definitely feel much stronger in the running phase. I still have to train very hard with my running but i am beginning to see some must needed improvements which is always uplifting and motivating.

 

The training that you told us about last time sounds gruelling. How much do you have to eat to keep the training regime up?
I think some people would be surprised as to the amount of food I eat to fuel myself as it is probably a lot less that people would assume. My nutrition plan is very strict to help me stay as light as possible for my running but still staying strong for the swimming and fencing phases. I think the emphasis within my eating is not necessarily the amount I eat but what I eat and the timings. It is very important to refuel your body at the correct time after a training session so the muscles can repair and your energy systems are not depleted too much.

And how do you relax and switch off from being competitively focussed?
I’m not sure I ever completely 'switch off' from being competitive as it’s in my nature; I even have a drive to win a game of monopoly or crazy golf! Normally when I am not training I can be found sleeping. I do a lot of sleeping, I love it. On a more upbeat level I like to spend time with my friends, going to the cinema, watching DVDs or having dinner parties. I find it vitally important to laugh a lot!

Are the other athletes you train with supportive or does a healthy competitive rivalry ever spill over into hostility?
I really think we are a very lucky squad of athletes because we get on so well. There is always very high spirits while training. A lot of giggling and joking goes on which makes everyone happy and more motivated. Off coarse there is rivalry but I think we are all quite driven to make Britain successful as well as ourselves and to do that we need the squad to be successful not just one person. On the day of a competition sometimes there can be some tension but this does not stop us all being great friends and spending time together outside the sporting field.

And finally, what's your goal for this competitive season?
This year my goal is to finish top 6 at the World Championships in August in Crystal Palace, London. With the change in format this year is definitely about getting experience and getting used to the changes so I'm ready for the start of Olympic Qualification which starts in 2011. As always one of my goals is to continue to improve my running so I will stop feeling like it is so much of a weakness.