Track and Field Star Eilish McColgan in Two-Piece Workout Gear Does "Treadmill Test"

Eilish McColgan is a record-breaking track and field athlete who has competed in four consecutive Summer Olympics, from 2012 to 2024. Known for her endurance and consistency, she holds the European record for the 10-kilometer road race and the European best for 10 miles. Recently, McColgan shared a glimpse into her training routine on Instagram, posting a video of herself running at varying speeds on a treadmill. “Putting my headphones to the ultimate treadmill test.. 🏃🏼‍♀️💨🎧,” she captioned the post. From smart training strategies to her favorite pre-workout meal, here’s how McColgan stays at the top of her game.

1. She Runs

Running is the main way McColgan keeps herself in shape. She shared this video on Instagram of herself on a treadmill. McColgan captioned the post, “Such is life... 🫠Exactly 2️⃣ weeks since my last race! Took to the treadmill for an easy run, with some short tempo efforts to get my legs moving again. 🦵Didn't feel too bad, considering the amount of time we spent walking around Vietnam and Cambodia!”

2. She’s Consistent

McColgan shared her training secrets in an interview with Runner’s World. “Being consistent. In the past, I used to always think I needed to train harder in order to run fast but now I realise that it's more important to train smart. Since reducing my mileage and focussing on the quality in my sessions rather than quantity - I've gone from strength to strength.”

3. She Doesn’t Restrict Herself

McColgan talked about her diet in her Runner’s World interview. “There's nothing that I restrict in my diet - everything is in moderation and if I want something sweet - I'll do so. I'm training so hard, I need to make sure I'm getting in enough calories in order for my body to recover rather than restricting it. With the volume of training that I do throughout the week, it's more important that I eat as much as I possible can and fuel correctly to try and prevent any injuries from breaking down. On race day, I stick to what I normally eat throughout the week - nothing changes.”

4. She Does Lower Body Workouts

McColgan tells Your Healthy Living that she does a lot of lower body workouts in the gym. “I have two hard interval sessions a week on the track and then afterwards I’ll do a session in the gym for an hour. I do things like squats, lunges and glute exercises using Thera Bands. It’s about keeping everything activated without tiring myself too much. I don’t lift a huge amount of weights. The focus is on my core, hips and glutes as those are the areas that are really important for a good, strong, running stride.”

5. She Loves Porridge

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McColgan shared her favorite pre-workout meal with Your Healthy Living. “It’s pretty simple. I eat porridge every single day. I have it with milk, a banana and some berries, and sometimes I’ll add a scoop of protein. That’s the perfect fuel for me. I enjoy eating it and I don’t have any stomach issues afterwards when I go for a run.”

Elite CrossFit athlete Tia-Clair Toomey recently wowed fans with her performance at the Rogue Invitational in Scotland, where she faced off against the best in the sport. Sharing highlights on Instagram, Toomey expressed gratitude for the “electric” crowd and the event’s organizers, stating, “THANK-YOU Scotland for a fantastic experience.” Known for her rigorous training, Toomey’s fitness routine combines strength training, cardio, and high-intensity exercises like pull-ups, jump rope, and running. In addition, she utilizes a fitness bike for low-impact cardio, supporting heart and lung health. As a dedicated competitor, Toomey shows that maintaining peak performance takes a mix of strength, endurance, and discipline, inspiring her followers to embrace a dynamic approach to fitness.

1. She Strength Trains

In her Instagram post, Toomey is seen lifting a heavy bag, which is a type of strength training exercise. According to The Mayo Clinic, strength training has a lot of benefits. “Strength training may enhance your quality of life and improve your ability to do everyday activities. Strength training can also protect your joints from injury. Building muscle also can contribute to better balance and may reduce your risk of falls. This can help you maintain independence as you age.”

2. She Jumps Rope

Tia-Clair Toomey/Instagram

In her Instagram post, Toomey is also seen jumping rope. Piedmont states that jumping rope has a lot of benefits. “It’s an amazing total body exercise that engages all of the major muscle groups,” says Clinton Maclin, ACSM CEP-CPO, an exercise physiologist and safety coach at Piedmont Atlanta Fitness Center. “You can use it to warm up or as a stand-alone exercise, and it incorporates cardiovascular exercise and resistance training. You are guaranteed to burn more calories jumping rope for five minutes than you would walking on a treadmill for five minutes.”

3. She Does Pull-Ups

Toomey shared this workout video on her Instagram. One exercise she is seen doing is pull-ups. NASM states that pull-ups have a lot of health benefits. “Pull ups and chin ups are extremely effective when it comes to building upper body and back strength. Gradual progression over time will allow you to perform chin ups and pull ups with good form to reduce the risk of injury and to see the results that you’re looking for. Incorporate these exercises into your fitness routine for a fun yet challenging upper body exercise that’s sure to yield great results.”

4. She Uses A Fitness Bike

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In the previous Instagram video, Toomey is also seen using a fitness bike. According to Penn State PRO Wellness, using a fitness bike has a lot of benefits. “Riding a stationary exercise bike is an efficient and effective way to burn calories and body fat while strengthening your heart, lungs, and muscles. Compared to some other types of cardio equipment, a stationary bicycle puts less stress on your joints, but it still provides an excellent aerobic workout.”

5. She Runs

Toomey likes to run to stay in shape. She shared this video of herself on the track on Instagram. Toomey captioned the post, “@rogueinvitational said there will be a possibility of being outside for a brief period of time. Please pack accordingly. First thing I packed were my @roka sunnies. 😎 Any guesses what we might be doing outside?”

Femke Bol is a phenomenal track and field athlete, celebrated for her Olympic success. At the 2024 Olympics, she won gold in the 4x400 mixed relay, silver in the 4x400 relay, and bronze in the 400-meter hurdles, adding to her bronze from the 2020 Olympics. Recently, she shared a series of workout photos on Instagram, captioned, “Running, hurdles, smiles, sore muscles, all is good 🥰.” Here’s how Bol stays at the top of her game.

1. She Runs

Bol is seen running in her Instagram post. Running has a lot of health benefits. According to FloTrack, running is a great way to burn calories. “Just like other forms of exercise, running burns calories while working out. The additional perk about running, though, is you can continue to burn calories even after you stop. The ‘afterburn’ continues to burn calories after your run.”

2. She Lifts Weights

Bol shared this video on Instagram of herself working out in the gym. In it, she is seen weightlifting. ACE Fitness states that using weights has a lot of benefits. “Using heavy weights increases intramuscular coordination, the number of type II motor units and the amount of muscle fibers engaged within a specific muscle. Have you ever felt your muscles shaking while lifting heavy weights? This is because you are recruiting and activating the larger type II muscle fibers, which are only stimulated to work when a muscle is challenged with heavy resistance or working to fatigue.”

3. She Works With A Trainer

Bol’s trainer, Laurent Mowley, talked about her training in an interview with Athletics Weekly. “Progressively we pushed her stride a bit more and changed to having a more cruising way of running the first 200m, with longer strides. It’s about a 12cm difference in stride length. And then to change after seven hurdles to go to 15 – that was something completely different to what she has been used to. But, very quickly, she realised in training that this was the direction to go in.”

4. She Does Hip Thrusts

Femke Bol/Instagram

In the second blurb’s Instagram link, Bol is seen doing hip thrusts to keep herself in shape. Gymless states that since hip thrusts are a glute workout, they have a lot of benefits. “Strong glutes are not only for aesthetic appeal; they serve a key functional purpose in supporting the posterior chain of muscles around the spine. Hip thrusts are also known for their capacity to develop and define glute muscles, contributing to their popularity on social media. After all, who doesn’t appreciate the look of a well-crafted pair of glutes?”

5. She Does Squats

Femke Bol/Instagram

Bol is also seen doing squats in the Instagram video. According to The Cleveland Clinic, squats have a lot of benefits. “Proper squatting form requires you to reaaaaally engage your core — the muscles of your stomach, pelvis, hips and lower back. These large muscle groups support every move you make, both large and small, so keeping them strong helps keep you well. Strong core muscles play a role in: Maintaining good posture. Relieving back pain. Lowering your risk of injuries like hip flexor strains and sports hernias.”

Keely Hodgkinson, a rising star in track and field, has made waves on the global stage. After winning silver in the 2021 Olympics, she clinched gold in the 800 meter at this year's Olympics, solidifying her status as a top athlete. Before her triumphant performance, Hodgkinson graced the pages of ELLE UK, sharing stunning photos from the shoot on Instagram with the caption, "This was so fun." Curious about how she maintains her peak physical condition? Read on to discover five ways Keely Hodgkinson stays in shape and see the photos that prove her methods work.

1. She Does A Split 800 Meter

Hodgkinson shared her training secrets with Runner’s World. She says that she splits the 800 meter up. “There's a session I do, which is usually the last one I’ll run before a championships. It’s a split 800m, so a 400m, 30 seconds’ rest, then another 400m. The outcome is very accurate in terms of telling you what you’re capable of. When I was at the Tokyo Olympics, I did that session beforehand and I split a 1:55.3, then ended up running 1:55.8. So it’s a really honest reflection of where you’re at.”

2. She Trains 7 Days A Week

Hodgkinson trains 7 days a week. She shared her routine with Runner’s World. “So, it’s cross training on Mondays. On Tuesdays, I’ll do a session on the cross trainer and then I’ll do a track session. Wednesdays involve a 30-minute run and 40 minutes on the cross trainer, plus some gym work. Thursdays are similar to Tuesdays, but with maybe more of a tempo-type session. I always have Fridays off, then Saturdays in the winter will be a longer session and in the summer a track session. Sundays in the winter will be hills, and in the summer I’ll do a 15-minute run.”

3. She Eats A Pre-Race Breakfast

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Hodgkinson shared her favorite pre-race breakfast with Runner’s World. “It’s probably one of those questions where nearly every athlete has the same answer, but I’d say porridge – and I always have a cup of tea. Then white toast. I’m usually the athlete who doesn’t have the snacks, although there will often be some granola lying around somewhere.”

4. She Enjoys Eating Healthy

Hodgkinson revealed to Runner’s World that she actually enjoys eating healthy. “I eat pretty well. I’m not really a person who craves takeaways or things like that, because they just don’t make me feel very good. My friends will say, ‘Let’s get a Chinese,’ but I’d rather just eat a chocolate bar, to be honest – that’s my thing. So I eat pretty well, not so much because I have to, but more because I like to. I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables and good carbohydrates, but there will always be a chocolate bar, too. I think I need the calories, to be honest.”

5. She Isn’t Bothered By What Others Think

Hodgkinson isn’t bothered by what others think of her. She told ELLE UK, “You can’t get overly bothered about what everyone else is doing. I think that’s good [to remember] in every aspect of life, whether it’s how you look or what job you have – if you’re just comparing, you’re going to be miserable.”

Amalie Iuel is a professional hurdler who has made her mark in athletics. In 2019, she claimed first place in both the 400-meter hurdles and the 4x400 relay at the European Athletics Team Championships and went on to compete in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Recently, Iuel gave her followers a glimpse into her rigorous training routine via Instagram. The video features her running, performing box jumps, and doing leg-strengthening exercises. “Lately at practice,” she captioned the post. From her intense workouts to her love of cooking, here’s how Iuel stays in peak condition.

1. She Runs On The Treadmill

Iuel is seen on the treadmill in her Instagram video. Healthy Talbot states that using a treadmill has a lot of benefits. “Treadmill working is an aerobic/ cardio exercise. Studies demonstrate that aerobic exercise can minimize the risk of heart diseases. Moreover, they can strengthen your heart muscles. This helps to lower blood pressure and allows the heart to pump blood more efficiently. Most doctors recommend aerobic exercise to people suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular exercises control cholesterol levels in the blood, preventing artery blockage. They increase high-density lipoprotein and reduce low-density lipoprotein in the blood.”

2. She Does Box Jumps

Amalie Iuel/Instagram

Iuel is seen doing box jumps in her Instagram video. Box jumps are a plyometric exercise, and they have a lot of benefits. ACE Fitness states, “Box jumps strengthen your leg muscles and enhance coordination and the ability to generate power, making them a terrific plyometric exercise for seniors who need to maintain their strength and stability as they get older.”

3. She Cooks

Iuel makes sure to eat a healthy diet. One way she does so is by cooking. Iuel shares a lot of posts on Instagram of herself cooking. In this post, she is seen making homemade pasta. Iuel captioned the post, “Eat pasta, run fastah.” Harvard Health states that hiking has a lot of benefits. “We already know that the more people cook at home, the healthier their diet, the fewer calories they consume, and the less likely they are to be obese or develop type 2 diabetes. A growing body of scientific evidence supports teaching patients how to cook meals at home as an effective medical intervention for improving diet quality, weight loss, and diabetes prevention.”

4. She Hikes

Iuel spends a lot of time outside. One thing she likes to do is going for hikes. She shared these photos and a video on Instagram of herself hiking by the beach in Norway. Iuel also shared this photo of herself and her dog on a mountain hike. Harvard Health states that hiking has a lot of benefits. “Like brisk walking, hiking is a good way to improve your cardiovascular fitness, particularly if your route includes some hills, which will force your heart to work harder. Taking a hike on the slightly uneven surface of a trail also provides a natural way to engage the core muscles in your torso and to hone your balance skills.”

5. She Swims

Another outdoor workout that Iuel likes to do is swim. She shared this video of herself going for a dip in a lake on Instagram. Swimming has a lot of health benefits. The Cleveland Clinic says, “Swimming isn’t just good exercise, it’s great exercise. That’s thanks to the water itself, which offers buoyancy and resistance that makes it easier on your whole body than other forms of exercise.”