Holmes is looking forward to a busy summer, starting in Glasgow

Holmes overcame injuries to win the title at Manchester last summer but then began to wonder how she would find the desire to carry on.

"I'd lost my motivation. I'd had lots of ups and downs with injuries," said Holmes as she contemplated starting her season at the Norwich Union International at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow on Sunday.

"It's hard year after year. I needed something to keep me going."

Holmes believes that the motivation she required came in the form of her training partner this year, Olympic 800m champion Maria Mutola from Mozambique in South Africa.

I ran four minutes two seconds for 1500m indoors this winter - put that into outdoor context and it's pretty reassuring Kelly Holmes

"She is fast and strong and I have the endurance. We compliment each other," said Holmes.

"Training can be very lonely as an athlete, especially as a female. She made the sessions more bareable."

With her belief back, Holmes is now looking forward to a busy 2003 schedule that includes the World Championships in Paris in August.

"I ran four minutes two seconds for 1500m indoors this winter. Put that into outdoor context and it's pretty reassuring."

Holmes' times may be improving, but she is not promising a blistering race on Sunday, when she lines up in the two-lap race for Great Britain against the United States and Russia.

"Times are irrelevant. I'm running for Britain and it's about winning points for your country," she said.

"Championships are usually tactical, only fast at the end. Everything else I do will be over 800m to develop the speed element."

Holmes will run for Britain alongside home favourite Susan Scott and said: "Susan has broken into that mould of being an international athlete, so it will not be an easy race."