Jo Pavey says she is ready for an emotional return to the site of her Commonwealth Games bronze medal after announcing that she will race in this year’s Great Scottish Run.

The 41-year-old had a spectacular 2014 which saw her take 5000m bronze in Glasgow before going on to win 10,000m European gold in Zurich.

And she admits she can’t wait to sample the atmosphere on Scottish soil once more.

“It means a lot to me to be coming back to Glasgow for the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run,” said Pavey.

“I really wanted to run last year but it was not possible because of injury.

“I think it will be quite emotional for me to be back in Glasgow again. I’ll never forget the deafening noise that night I ran at Hampden Park. It felt like a repeat of London 2012. It will be great to come back to run a half marathon through the city.”

It is set to be a big year for Pavey who remains optimistic that a spot at next summer’s Olympics is within her grasp.

But she knows that if she is going to make the cut then she will need to fend off the challenge from some of the country’s emerging crop of stars.

“I’m getting older and older but I’m still enjoying it and I’ve still got goals I want to achieve,” said Pavey. “My main goal, going forward, is to try and qualify for Rio and I’m quite focused on that.

“I’m not complacent about it. There’s so much talent coming through in Britain and, as I say, I’m getting older and older. But I still just want to give that a go - and that’s my main thing on my mind at the moment.

“It’s the same for everybody: you’ve got to be on form when the qualifying window is there. I’m just going to give it my best shot.”

© Sportsbeat 2015