All I wanted after finishing 4th was a Qatar pounder
Callum’s frantic search for McDonald’s burger feast ends in another agonising Doha defeat
CALLUM HAWKINS ran the race of his life only to be stopped in his tracks by Ronald McDonald.
Marathon man Hawkins narrowly missed out on a medal in the World Championships when he finished fourth in Doha.
It was the second championships in succession he has finished fourth in only his seventh race at 26 miles as he all but sealed qualification for the Tokyo Olympics.
Temperatures in Qatar were so searing the marathon started at midnight and Hawkins, 27, even modified his garden shed in Renfrewshire with heaters and a treadmill to prepare for the race.
As he launched the revamped Stirling Marathon for 2020 he admitted it all went pretty much to plan – until he finished and tried to refuel on his favourite fast food.
He said: “British Athletics gave me a fuelling plan so all I ate for a week was pretty much chicken and rice.
“I was desperate to get other food and after the marathon I really wanted a burger. I didn’t get clear of everything at the course until 5.30am, but I googled the nearest McDonald’s, only to find it was closed.
“Luckily there was a restaurant in the hotel and I managed to get a burger there with my physio, Alastair Gorman.
“I got close this time again but ultimately I’m disappointed. I finished fourth last time at the World Championships in London and I didn’t want that again.
“I can take a little bit of pride from how I ran tactically, which gives me confidence when it comes to Tokyo and beyond, but I really wanted that medal. I would feel unfulfilled if I don’t win a major medal at some point.
“Actually, had it been a little bit warmer it might have given me a higher chance of taking a medal because I had prepped so well.
“I’m hugely grateful for the support of everyone in Britain who stayed up so late to watch me on television. A lot of my GB team members also headed out to the course to offer support.
“Laura Muir came straight from her 1500m final. It speaks a lot for Laura. She must have been hugely disappointed to have run as fast as she did and still not medal, yet she came out to offer me support.”
Hawkins heads to the Greek islands for a well-deserved holiday this weekend, with his place in the Tokyo Games set to be rubber-stamped in December.
He will not race another marathon between now and the Olympics next summer and will settle for sharpening his speed over three half marathons in the next six months.
Hawkins went to the front with less than a mile remaining only to be overtaken in the closing stages by Ethiopian duo Lelisa Desisa and Mosinet Geremew and Kenyan Amos Kipruto.
He finished 17 seconds behind gold medallist Desisa after preparing on a treadmill in his garden shed, surrounded by heaters bought from Aldi.
He added: “I am probably going back next year. I put headphones on, listen to heavy metal or 70s rock. I’m comfortable at home, that is where I train the best.”
Hawkins has hailed Stirling Council’s decision to host a marathon next year, with bumper £2,000 prize for the winner of the men’s and women’s races.
Organisers hope to attract more than 7,000 entrants and Hawkins said: “The course is well known as one of the most picturesque in the world.”