Runner Eilish McColgan has announced she is officially ‘off the market’ and her trip to Japan was ‘worth the jet lag’
10:14, 30 Apr 2025Updated 11:37, 30 Apr 2025
Eilish McColgan and boyfriend Michael Rimmer are engaged as he gets down on one knee in Japan(Image: Instagram )
Eilish McColgan has taken to social media to announce her engagement to long-term boyfriend Michael Rimmer after he got down on one knee during a holiday in Japan.
The Scots long-distance runner shared a slew of gorgeous snaps on Instagram, featuring four images of the couple against the backdrop of Japan’s Mount Fuji, including one of Michael popping the question.
The champion athlete captioned the series of photos with “absolutely worth the jet lag. YES to forever!” alongside the hashtag “off the market”.
Eilish and Micheal, who is also a former distance runner and a three-time Olympian, have been together for over a decade.
Michael has now retired from the sport, with Eilish previously opening up about their time together now Micheal isn’t on the track professionally anymore. She said: “A lot of people who aren’t athletes probably find it bizarre we spend 24 hours of the day together.
“We’re in each other’s pockets all the time but it just works. I just feel so much more relaxed when he’s around me. It’s essentially like having my best friend with me at every moment of my life – through the highs, the lows.”
“It’s a big commitment on his behalf too. But he’s retired now and I feel he’s shifted all his energy. So when I stand on the start line I feel like I’m not just doing it for myself,” she continued.
The news of Eilish’s engagement follows her London Marathon debut on Sunday. she recorded a two hour, 24 minutes and 25 seconds finish, setting a new Scottish record and beating the original record previously set by her mother, Liz McColgan.
The athlete broke the record that was previously held by her mother (Image: Instagram/@Eilishmccolgan )
Liz, who is also Eilish’s coach, ran the London Marathon in 2:26:52 in 1997, having won the event the year before.
Speaking about the marathon, Eilish told BBC Scotland: “It’s really special. My mum was really happy. Ultimately, we thought there would be a little bit more there. The goal for me was always a sub two-20. I feel I can run that sort of time. But it’s my first run. It was completely unknown.
“I think she was just happy to see the record go back into the family name.
“I’ve broken every one of my mum’s personal bests now. The majority of those were British records. They switched to Paula Radcliffe and I’ve switched them back. It’s quite surreal to think that’s even possible, mum and daughter so many years apart.”
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It’s some happy news for the family after they experienced heartbreak when Liz’s husband and Eilish’s stepfather John Nuttall suddenly passed away in 2023 after suffering a heart attack. The former Olympic long distance runner had been coaching in Qatar as the head athletics coach at the Aspire Institute in Doha after retiring from competitive running before his death.
AloJapan.com