Athletics: Murray aims for the long run

YVONNE MURRAY yesterday pledged to keep on running until the moment she feels she has stopped learning.

The Scot will defend her Commonwealth Games 10,000 metres title in Kuala Lumpur in September before focusing on a demanding switch to the marathon.

The 33-year-old's long-term target is to compete in her new event at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney - the fresh challenge she believes will prolong her distinguished career.

"The marathon is going to be a completely different event and it will mean going back to basics," Murray said. "I plan to run my first marathon of the season in October, having decided against the London Marathon.

"It was in my thoughts to run it, but we felt it was too early to go straight in against such a competitive field and I will leave it until next year. I don't think you ever stop learning. The day I stop learning is the day I will retire. When you are running you are never happy. I am my own worst critic."

Murray was in Glasgow yesterday to promote the launch of 'Commonwealth 200', which aims to raise much of the pounds 180,000 still required to send a 200-strong Scottish team to the Games in September.