Amy-Eloise Markovc holds the unique distinction of being the only athlete to compete at five major championships in 2022. World Indoors, Worlds, Commonwealths, Europeans and European Cross Country.
To say that it was a busy year for her would be an understatement, especially considering the additional changes in her personal life. She relocated back to England after spending several years in the United States, which meant adjusting to a new country and home. She also joined a new training group led by coach Rob Denmark in Loughborough and gained a new sponsor in On.
All of these changes brought about a series of challenges and successes, and most importantly, valuable lessons for the upcoming season.
Prior to her first race of the indoor season, where she aims to defend her European Indoor title, Amy-Eloise spoke about her past year, adapting to a new training group, and her goals for the future.
A New Life
One of the biggest changes for Amy-Eloise in 2022 was adapting to a new training setup in England with coach Rob Denmark. The transition was initially stressful, considering the other changes happening in her life and the immediate succession of major championships. However, she quickly found her place in the new group, feeling comfortable and like herself from the beginning.
Openness to new training approaches and ideas, as well as trust in her coach, have been key factors in her successful transition. One new approach that has been implemented is using heart rate to measure effort, which has proven to be effective in addressing areas of improvement.
Photo: James Rhodes
Kenyan Experiences
Amy-Eloise’s first-time training visit to Kenya and experience with altitude training has been a significant change in her career. Although it may seem daunting, she found reassurance and guidance from her training partners Adelle Tracey and Melissa Courtney-Bryant. Taking a week-by-week approach, she focused on maintaining a good training volume while being mindful of her energy levels.
Her training schedule typically included two weekly sessions on the track or dirt track, a longer threshold effort, and a Sunday long run. She also incorporated gym sessions and easy runs in between. The change of scenery and the availability of soft surface trails made a positive impact during her training block.
Reigning Champion
After returning to the UK, Amy-Eloise has a short three-race indoor season planned. Her first race will be at the Meeting de l’Eure in France, where she aims to achieve the European Indoor standard. This will be followed by the British Indoor Championships and, hopefully, the European Indoors in Istanbul.
Being the first athlete to defend a title in an indoor season holds special significance for Amy-Eloise. She previously won the European Indoor title in Torun, and the opportunity to enter this season as the reigning champion is one she couldn’t pass up. The 3000m event indoors is also one of her favorites to race.
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images for European Athletics
Ups & Downs
The past season has been a rollercoaster ride for Amy-Eloise, with both highs and lows. She started the indoor season strong, winning her first British title over 3000m. While her performance at the Millrose Games was just shy of the World Indoor standard, she quickly improved with a personal best at the NB Indoor Grand Prix. She also achieved impressive times in shorter distance races, including the fastest mile and 1500m by a Brit in 2022.
However, the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade didn’t go as well as she had hoped, partly due to unknowingly racing with COVID. The outdoor season had its highlights too, such as finishing second in the Rabat Diamond League over 3000m.
Photo: James Rhodes
Bouncing Back
Despite some setbacks, Amy-Eloise made a strong comeback at the Commonwealth Games, finishing fourth in the 5000m event. It was her first time breaking the 15-minute barrier and a proud moment for her. The performance may not have received as much attention as she hoped, but the experience of bouncing back from disappointment in the World Championships brought her immense pride.
Moving forward, Amy-Eloise has learned valuable lessons from her past experiences and aims to apply them in the upcoming World Championships. She understands the importance of peaking at the right time and competing with confidence. Her summer racing calendar is still being finalized, but she has plans for training trips to Flagstaff and participating in events like the Night of the 10000m PB’s.
While her focus remains on achieving time goals, Amy-Eloise has shifted her priorities to enjoying the process of racing and performing well in the finals. She wants to walk off the track feeling proud of her race and is open to new opportunities and challenges.
Throughout her journey, Amy-Eloise emphasizes the importance of relatability. She wants club-level runners to understand that even professional athletes experience ups and downs. The most fulfilling races don’t always yield the fastest times, and it’s crucial to love and enjoy the sport while being open to change.