Great Britain 1,500 metre runner Hannah England accepts the next six months are going to be "nuts" as the nation gets swept up in Olympics fever - but the world silver medalist intends to take it all in her stride.
England, 24, produced a stunning finish in Daegu, South Korea last year to come runner-up to American Jennifer Barringer Simpson in what was her first major championship final.
The result catapulted the Oxford-born athlete - who is mentored by double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes - into the spotlight as the nation focuses on success in London this summer.
However, England, second at the recent Aviva International Match in Glasgow, is determined to remain grounded as the expectation of a nation builds to a frenzy.
"Before we know it, the Olympics will be on us. I am really enjoying the hype surrounding it, but I am just approaching it like any other summer season," England told Press Association Sport as she helped promote The National Lottery Olympic Park Run with a training session at Lee Valley Athletics Centre today.
"I am going to train and race hard, it does not really seem that much different to me.
"It is not so much blocking out the external pressure and all of the hype, it is just making sure that does not effect your training, that you are not wearing yourself out getting anxious about it."
England added: "You have to prepare for this event - you cannot just turn up in July and think it is going to be all right.
"For me, it is about pre-empting it, accepting it is going to be nuts and being ready for it.
"If I am ready for a big, screaming crowd or walking past someone who knows who I am and wants to talk to me about my race, then I have to be ready for those scenarios.
"2012 could be a defining moment for many British athletes. I have no idea what that would be like, I don't really think you can imagine that, but it is just exciting that people are paying attention to it."
The National Lottery Olympic Park Run randomly picked 5,000 entrants from some 43,000 hopefuls, with runners set to come from all over Britain with ages ranging from 16 to 82 for the event on March 31 around five miles inside the Olympic Park at Stratford, finishing in the stadium itself.
England said: "The National Lottery Olympic Park Run is coming up on March 31 and it is just great the number of people who have applied is breathtaking.
"It is so cool the way people in the country are getting behind sport."
England added: "I hope things like this can inspire youngsters to take up competitive sport and the older people can maybe revisit the passion they have for sport, whether it is getting involved or watching."
