Marathon star Jess Trengove says she's inspired by the injury battles of her AFL playing brother Jack.
Trengove will make her first appearance on the Australian summer circuit on Saturday night in the 3000m at the Adelaide Track Classic.
The Commonwealth Games marathon bronze medallist says the foot injuries suffered by her brother Jack have given her a reality check.
Jack, who was Melbourne's co-captain in 2012-13, played only two games last season before needing foot surgery - and last October required more surgery, virtually ending his 2015 season as well.
"Jack has played an integral role in my running career," Trengove said on Friday.
"It was my sister and brother, the two of them pursuing their sporting dreams, that made me get itchy feet and start thinking I'm pretty keen to see what I can do with running. They were the stimulus for me to have a real go.
"And then Jack and the way he has managed his injuries, it has really inspired me.
"He has been now two years of not being able to do what he wants to be able to do because of his injury and he still has this really positive outlook.
"When I had my foot injury leading up to Glasgow (Commonwealth Games) I kept thinking `come on, put it in perspective'."
Trengove's outing in Adelaide comes at a meeting in extreme heat - forecast temperatures of 40 degrees prompted the program to be pushed back 90 minutes from the original 5pm local time start time.
Trengove said her 3000m race was part of a grand plan to challenge for a marathon medal at next year's Rio Olympics.
"It will feel like a sprint for me," she said.
Trengove hoped to get a feel for "ticking the legs over quickly" that would benefit her racing over longer distances in a busy year.
She will contest the national championships in mid-March before racing at the world cross country titles in late March.
The following month she plans to compete in a 10km race in the United States and hopefully qualify for that distance at the world championships in Beijing in August, where she won't run the marathon.
Trengove then has sights set on a marathon late in the year, with the aim of qualifying for Rio.
Share
