As Commonwealth Games athletics head to Scotstoun, Glasgow athlete Lucy Fraser reflects on her journey with Victoria Park AC, what it would mean to compete on her home track in a Scotland vest, as this local runner heads for Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026.
By Louise Sylvester
How surreal is it to think the Commonwealth Games athletics will take place at the same stadium where you have trained with Victoria Park AC?
It’s incredibly surreal. Scotstoun is a track where I’ve spent countless hours training over the years, and although I don’t train there regularly anymore, it still holds a special place in my heart. There is something so captivating about the blue track that I’ve always been fond of. To think the Commonwealth Games will be held there is something I never could have imagined.
What would it mean to represent Scotland there later this year?
It would mean everything. Representing Scotland is one of the greatest privileges and not something I take for granted. It’s something I’ve dreamed about for as long as I can remember – even being in contention is something I’m incredibly grateful for. To potentially wear the Scotland vest at a major championship, alongside athletes I’ve admired and looked up to for years, would be a proud moment for both me and everyone who has helped me get this far.
How important has training in Glasgow been to your development as an athlete?
Although I grew up in Caithness and moved to Perth in my second year of high school, Glasgow is where I truly developed as an athlete and undoubtedly as a person. Access to world class facilities, coaching and my current training group has been transformative for my development. I moved here for university five years ago and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Glasgow isn’t where I grew up, but it’s where I grew as an athlete.
Victoria Park AC has produced many talented athletes over the years. What has the club meant to you personally?
Victoria Park has given me far more than a training venue. Above all the support from the club it has given me one of my best friends, whom I continue to train with. The club has also given me a great sense of pride and belonging. To be part of a club of so many talented athletes both past and present is a great feeling.
If you do compete at Glasgow 2026, who will be in the crowd cheering you on?
My family will be there, and that would mean the world to me. They’ve always been the foundation of my belief in myself, especially during the moments when I’ve doubted myself. I’d also hope to have a lot of my training group and friends in the crowd. Athletics can look like an individual sport, but none of my achievements would have been possible without the people around me and I would be grateful to be able to share that moment with them.
When did you first realise athletics could become something more than just a hobby?
Honestly, that realisation has only really come in the last year. I earned my first Scotland vest just over a year ago and before that I never made national teams as a junior. I always believed I had the potential, but I wasn’t sure whether I’d ever get the opportunity to prove it. The last year has shown me that sometimes progress doesn’t happen on the timeline you expect.
What have been the biggest challenges on your journey so far?
The biggest challenge was probably continuing when giving up would have been easier. During my first year at university, I struggled with the balance between academics, training, work and ensuring I was looking after myself properly. I was overtraining, under fuelling and my performances suffered as a result. Looking back, those experiences taught me a lot about resilience and the importance of investing in yourself, especially in your mental and physical health.
Home crowds can bring pressure as well as support. How would you cope with that?
It’s something I’ve been learning to cope with over the past year. In the past I often put too much pressure on myself at bigger competitions, but experience has taught me that pressure largely comes from the expectations we place on ourselves. I’ve learned to reframe nerves as excitement and see them as a sign that I care about what I’m doing. A home crowd would be something to embrace rather than fear.
Outside athletics, how do you switch off?
I love spending time with friends, usually over coffee or food. I’m always wanting to try new places, although I often end up returning to my favourites.
What is your favourite place in the West End for coffee or food after training?
For food, it’s hard to beat a Naked Soup after Saturday morning training or Dumpling Monkey after an evening session. For coffee, Kennoway and Songbird are two of my favourites at the moment. They’re both worth going slightly out of your way for.
What’s your perfect non-training day in the West End?
It would start with a coffee and pastry on a morning walk, followed by a sauna and then a picnic with friends in the Botanics or Kelvingrove Park. I’d finish the day by either heading to somewhere like Civerinos or Celino’s, or, more likely, cooking dinner at home and having friends round. I love cooking for people, so that would probably be the perfect way to end the day.
What would you say to young athletes training at Scotstoun now?
Don’t be afraid to dream big. If you’d have told me a few years ago that I could be in contention for a Commonwealth Games team, I’m not sure I’d have believed you. Progress isn’t always linear and success doesn’t always arrive when you expect it, but if you keep showing up and putting in the work, you never know where the sport might take you.
Five years from now, where do you hope athletics has taken you?
I’d love to be competing regularly on the international circuit, continuing to represent Scotland whenever possible and hopefully earn selection for a GB team. Above all, I hope I still love the process as much as I do now. The results are important, but it’s the journey, the friendships and the people you share it with that truly make the sport and every difficult day worth it.
