Lisa Dobriskey begins her 2013 campaign in Edinburgh
Lisa Dobriskey begins what she hopes will be an injury-free 2013 campaign this weekend.
Last Updated: 04/01/13 4:13pm
The 29-year-old enjoyed a first uninterrupted winter of training since winning 1,500 metres silver at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, after last year having to overcome life-threatening blood clots on her lungs and a stress fracture to her femur.
Those setbacks followed surgery on a long-term hip problem the previous October, however Dobriskey was still able to reach the Olympic 1,500m final, finishing 10th in London.
This weekend, she goes up against the likes of 5,000 and 10,000m world champion Vivian Cheruiyot, Olympic 5,000m champion Meseret Defar and former world 10,000m champion Linet Masai, taking part in a three-kilometre invitational race at the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country in Holyrood Park.
Healthy
Dobriskey said: "I must admit I thought it was going to be a lot lower key than it is, but it's always a pleasure to line up against such pedigree.
"I am really looking forward to racing as I haven't been able to race at this time of year for a while due to injury, so I'm grateful to be healthy.
"I loved every second of the Games, but I have a pang of regret and sadness when I think back to it. I hoped for so much more but was just not good enough on the day. I feel I got as much as I could out of what I had to work with, but it wasn't what I wanted.
"Touch wood I am healthy and training. I've had to build up slowly after a seven-week break to allow the femur to heal.
"I've had a consistent block of training now and am making progress each day. It's been nice to run freely without the pressure of chasing times or team spots."
There will also be plenty of Dobriskey's compatriots in action in the Scottish capital in the annual International Challenge between Great Britain, Europe and the United States.
A GB men's team, led by Steve Vernon, will compete over 8km. There will also be a women's team, captained by Olympic 5,000 and 10,000m finalist Julia Bleasdale, over 6km.