She may be an Olympic champion but Sally Pearson says now is the first time in her life she really knows how to run.
The London Games gold medallist will be contesting the Sydney Track Classic on Saturday with her new coach Ash Mahoney by her side - the man she credits with revolutionising her career.
Pearson has cut the 100m event from her load on Saturday and will race in only the 200m - a move she says the "very sensible" Mahoney encouraged.
But more than just ensuring she doesn't burn out before the all-important world titles in Beijing this August, Mahoney has transformed her training.
The 28-year-old, who split with former coach Antony Drinkwater-Newman last October, says she's reaching unexpected new heights with Mahoney.
"I never thought I'd be in this shape ever. I thought my years of doing PB (personal best) runs were over and I'd reached my potential," Pearson said on Friday.
"I know how to run now, I know the technique, I know the energy systems that need to be used and what I should be doing at certain parts of my training.
"It's a huge freshen up for me. It's opened my eyes up to a whole new world of running and it's exciting."
The results are speaking for themselves with Pearson off to a blistering start to the domestic season.
She clinched the sprint double in the Canberra event last month, posting a personal best time of 22.97 seconds to win the 200m and clocking her second fastest time ever to take home the 100m in 11.14.
She went on to claim her pet event, the 100m hurdles, in Queensland last week with a scorching time of 12.74 to qualify for the world titles.
Pearson will race in the 200m this weekend before contesting the 100m hurdles in Melbourne next Saturday.
She'll then back up to race in the 100m and the 100m hurdles at the national championships in Brisbane commencing March 26.
Pearson, who has battled recurring hamstring complaints, says her new style is not only making her faster but minimises the risk of injury.
"Ash has changed my technique of how to run properly and how to prevent getting injuries," she said.
"Yes he's pushing me but he's pushing me in the right way.
"The time and the speed is coming from his technical eye.
"I'm not straining to get faster. It's coming naturally with the technique that he's changed."
The Olympic and Commonwealth hurdling champion says hurdles will be her priority leading into the 2016 Rio Games but now is the first time she feels she can give sprinters a run for their money.
"I have said it in the past but I never really believed it. Now I actually believe I can run those times and I can get down to 11.1 and 11 seconds if I really want to.
"Hurdles is always going to take prime position but now I have a true belief in myself that I can put the pressure on some sprinters."
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