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After opening her season with an impressive 9:00.21 victory in the 3000m, Tayla Kavanagh has told SABC Sport that she plans to shift more of her attention to the track this season.
The former national 10km champion says she wants to use the track to sharpen her speed and ultimately improve her road performances.
As she prepares for the upcoming Absa Run Your City 10km in Gqeberha on 1 March, Kavanagh believes going back to basics and challenging herself in the 5000m and 10 000m will help her grow as an athlete.
She is also targeting qualification for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland from 23 July to 2 August.
This season, she will balance both road and track racing with the aim of becoming a stronger and faster competitor.
"I told myself that I need to give myself a shot at at the track this year. I know I am not really a track runner, but I said to myself it would be good to challenge myself. I think in order to develop as an athlete and get better, you have to challenge yourself. Track for me, has always been something I've had to work at – it hasn't always come naturally. So ja, I'm really going to work on that and hopefully it will help my road times improve," said Kavanagh
The Hollywood Athletics Club runner missed last year’s opening leg of the Absa Run Your City series in Gqeberha due to injury, but she returns this season determined to make an impact.
One of her biggest hopes is to line up against national 10km record holder Glenrose Xaba, believing that strong competition will push her to a fast time.
Kavanagh holds a personal best of 31:41 over 10km and is eager to lower it as she continues her comeback.
Having broken the 32-minute barrier twice – including her victory at the Cape Town Marathon 10km Peace Run last year – Kavanagh is ready to test herself against both East African athletes and the best local runners.
However, she insists that success in her career comes down to the small details, focusing on her health, consistency and overall performance.
She believes that paying attention to those finer aspects has already made a noticeable difference.
"I have just been focusing on the small things that make a difference, like recovery. You can train as hard as your body can handle, but if you're not getting in the right recovery, I feel like you can't bounce back as quickly.
"So, just really focusing on the recovery elements – getting enough sleep and eating well – all those things do play a big part in an athlete's life. I think last year I really managed to focus on that and I think it made a big difference."
