Keely Small, after all, can probably lay claim to having the most comprehensive and dedicated race preparation after spending the past four weeks at a high-altitude camp in the United States.

But stepping on to the start line also carries more significance than those who have been pounding the pavement to stay fit.

Small, 18, is using a five kilometre lap of Lake Burley Griffin to kickstart her Olympic Games ambition as she prepares to make the transition from school student to Tokyo hopeful.

She has been juggling school work with the start of an athletics career for the past two years, winning Youth Olympic gold and making her Commonwealth Games debut since bursting on to the national stage.

The fun run, however, wasn't on her radar until this week when she found a way to wedge the race between her Year 12 exams and the end of an elite training camp in Flagstaff.

Training for a month at more than 2000 metres above sea level will give her an advantage over most, but it's really just a chance for Small to test herself before chasing a Tokyo qualifying time.

"I was really only going to do it to see where my fitness was after the altitude training. Maybe that will be my secret [weapon]," Small laughed.

"I've got no idea of [how quick] I can go, but I'm feeling the fittest I've been for a long time.

"I think [at Flagstaff] we were sleeping quite high, you get so much out of altitude training and it was the first big one I've done. I've done it at Perisher before, but coming back now makes everything easier. So I'm looking forward to seeing how I go."

Small's No 1 priority for the next two weeks is study for her final St Clare's College exams.

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She skipped the senior world championships this year to focus on her final year at school, but stress reactions in her shin have kept her on the sideline for almost six months.

The fun run will effectively be a trial to see how her body reacts after so long without a competitive race before setting her sights on the Australian summer season to chase an 800 metres Olympic qualifying time.

Small will have to shave more than a second off her personal best to hit the qualifying target of 1.59.50 minutes with less than a year to go before the Olympic opening ceremony.

"It's a little bit scary the Olympics is so close, but I just have to be confident with it," Small said.

"The training I've done at the moment says that I'm ready to run fast. I'm hitting PBs at training, I'm physically fit and [coach Philo Saunders] has so much confidence in me.

"I trust what he says, and he says I'm ready to run [under] two minutes. I'll go into each of the races, try to run my guts out and hopefully come away with the [qualifying] time."

Small has set her sights on running in different events when the athletics season begins.

She will compete in a handful of multi-distance events before narrowing her focus to the 800m qualifying time.