The British distance-runner talks through running over 25 laps in Tokyo, avenging Paris and expectations for the Chicago Marathon.

Calli Hauger-Thackery is the first to admit that choosing the 10,000m over the marathon at the World Athletics Championships was a hard decision.

“It wasn’t easy at all,” says the Brit, who qualified for both events in Tokyo.

Hauger-Thackery was automatically selected to represent Great Britain over 26.2 miles back in May, courtesy of her personal best of 2:21:24 at last year’s Berlin Marathon.

She also achieved a best of 30:50.64 over 10,000m at the Oslo Diamond League, well under the UK Athletics consideration standard of 31:10.00. That meant that if she placed high enough in the world rankings, Hauger-Thackery could essentially choose which event she wanted to do in Tokyo.

When Hauger-Thackery announced she would be running this year’s Chicago Marathon in October, it became almost inevitable the Brit would race over 25 laps in the Japanese capital.

After withdrawing from the Paris Olympic marathon before the 30km mark – her mother’s cancer diagnosis caused severe sleep and appetite issues in the immediate build-up the Games – Tokyo is now about vindication for Hauger-Thackery.

“I want redemption from the Olympics last year,” she says. “The heat and humidity in Tokyo doesn’t actually scare me because I'm like ‘okay it's just six and not 26.2 miles'.

“I can do that. It's fine. I can hurt for about 30 minutes. So that isn't worrying me. It might be a jog fest and that doesn't excite me too much. But at the same time, we're all in it together.

“Like, we're all going to be there and I do feel really strong. I do back myself, even in the speed stuff. Like, I still back myself in it. It's definitely shown in the last few weeks. So I don't really like care how it's going to be run.”

Hauger-Thackery states that she has never felt better in training and will travel to the Japanese capital from St Moritz.

The 32-year-old spent around a month at altitude and states it’s one of the best training stints she’s had. Not only did Hauger-Thackery’s dad visit for a week but she also saw the likes of Laura Muir run on the track in Switzerland.

“I’ve never ran some of the splits I've done in the last few weeks in terms of mile and km reps,” Hauger-Thackery says. “I’ve been doing 200m in 29 seconds so I’ve got speed.

“I do feel really strong. I’ve obviously had some great people around me as well like Laura and seeing them every day fires you up, so it’s exciting.”

After her 10,000m exploits in Tokyo, Hauger-Thackery’s attention will soon turn to Chicago next month.

Courtesy of her 2:21:24 from Berlin, the distance-runner is currently second on the UK marathon all-time list behind Paula Radcliffe.

Radcliffe still holds the British marathon record of 2:15:15 – set at the 2003 London Marathon – and although Hauger-Thackery believes she’s still a way off that mark, a sub-2:20 run is the target in Chicago.

“In terms of the time, I’m excited,” she adds. “I think I've got a good time in me and I’m definitely going for that sub-2:20. With how Berlin went, I was surprised I ran 2:21, so I think I’ve still got a lot to give on a fast course.

“My husband/coach [Nick] will be pacing me so hopefully there’s a really solid group and we can work off one another and race really well.

“I think this 10,000m in Tokyo will translate to a quick run in Chicago and definitely benefit me a lot.”