Holly Bradshaw said the ‘rebel and risk taker’ in her meant there was no way she could overlook the indoor season - starting with the British Championships in Birmingham today.

Injuries and set backs has meant the Chorley star has not competed at her home indoor championships for five years.

But Bradshaw is back and using a shorter run-up for the first time hoping little steps lead to giant strides for the season ahead.

The 27-year-old will compete at the British Indoor Championships at Arena Birmingham today and returns to the same venue for the Birmingham Grand Prix next weekend before heading up to Glasgow for the European Indoor Championships next month.

With the competitions coming thick and fast, Bradshaw could have been tempted to go for the tried and trusted but has opted for a shorter approach - 12 steps instead of 16 - in her run-ups.

“The easy option could have easily been to sit it out and just continue with my training,” said Bradshaw who is a member of Blackburn Harriers. “When we sat down to discuss my plans for this year, originally we did not include the indoor season.

“But the rebel and risk taker in me meant I wanted to compete and try out my new shorter approach.”

Bradshaw has a brilliant record at the British indoors - winning in 2012, 2013 and 2014 with world leading clearances - and clearly enjoys it.

“I love competing in front of a home crowd and my family and friends,” added Bradshaw. “There is nothing better. The British Indoor Championships is one of my favourite events of the year.

“Because of injury, I haven’t competed in it for five years so there was no way I was going to miss it.”

She added: “I love competing indoors, there are no variables, you don’t have to worry about the change in wind direction or those sort of things.

“You just go out there and concentrate on your run-up and going as high as you can.

“The indoor season is short and sweet, four to six weeks and it is all over but I like it like that.”

Bradshaw has a brilliant record at the British indoors - winning in 2012, 2013 and 2014 with world leading clearances.

“My results and records have been good in the past,” added Bradshaw “But it has been a while since I have competed in them so I will have to just wait and see how it goes.”

Bradshaw has swapped her training base from Cardiff to Loughborough where she is working full time with her long term coach Scott Simpson and she feels it is already paying dividends - or, in her own words, going ‘crazy good’.

“I had a great time in Cardiff but moving to Loughborough made a lot sense,” she said. “It’s very central and I can be back home in 90 minutes which is very important to me.

“I’ve worked with Scott for a long time but now he is working full time in Loughborough and to be able to work with him every day and everything else that comes with it is crazy good.”

While training is going well, the former Parkland High pupil said it may be too soon to transfer new techniques to results - not that she is too bothered about that.

“At this stage of the season, it is not about winning medals it is about working on techniques and working on different things,” she said.

“Sometimes, you can get a bit bogged down with winning or people asking you if you are going to win.

“While of course I want to win, sometimes you have to sacrifice those short term aims for long term goals.”

  • Holly Bradshaw visited The Ticket Factory offices in Birmingham, who were announced as British Athletics’ new official ticketing supplier. Tickets for British Athletics outdoor season, including the Müller Anniversary Games at London Stadium, go on sale 27th February at www.theticketfactory.com.