The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
New loneliness of the long-distance runner
ATHLETICS: Scots cross-country champ Jamie is adapting his regime
Courier Country athletes, Parkrunners, club athletes and casual joggers are all are having to adapt to the loneliness of the long-distance runner, given the pandemic.
Dundee athlete Jamie Crowe, the recently-crowned Scottish National Cross-country champion, is not immune to the forced changes in routine and is having to adapt his training and focus.
The 21-year-old started his athletic career at the age of nine at primary school in Glasgow before moving to Dundee as a primary 7 pupil.
There followed years of success as a junior distance runner representing Grove Academy and Dundee Hawkhill, whom Crowe joined aged 12.
Aged 18, Crowe moved on to Stirling University where, joining local club Central AC, coach Derek Easton took him under his wing.
Crowe, however, acknowledges that the greatest influence in his early career was, and still is, his father, Des – a noted hill-runner who at the age of 59 is still bagging over-50 veteran hill race prizes.
Two years at Stirling University were followed by a two-year scholarship at Lamar University, Texas, where he won the Southern Conference Cross-country title before topping that performance with a win at the prestigious regional championships covering all the southern states of the USA.
Crowe said: “The two years at Lamar taught me to focus on my athletics, US colleges are very serious and tough regarding their athletics, there can be no distractions.”
Returning home to Dundee last summer, that dedication certainly paid off winning the East of Scotland Cross-country title at Piperdam last November before finishing second to training colleague Kris Jones (Swansea/ Dundeehawkhill)atthehomecountries Cross-country International at Stirling ahead of Central AC colleague Olympian Andrew Butchart and England’s Adam Hickey.
He said: “I was so happy with that performance to beat Butchy and Hickey, I just hope it doesn’t spoil my friendship with Andrew.”
The best was yet to come, of course, with a runaway win at Callendar Park, Stirling, in February to claim the national title.
“I was so nervous the week before the race, so the win was a huge relief,” said Crowe. “My dad had always emphasised just how important the national crosscountry was.”
A fitting touch at the national came as convener Alex Jackson placed dad
Des as a marshal entering the finishing straight knowing that son Jamie was a hot favourite to win the race.
An important part of Crowe’s usual training would normally be the Tuesday speed sessions on the track at Caird Park following a training programme devised by Stirling coach Easton and overseen by Fife AC coach Doug Gunstone. Kris Jones and James Donald would also join in, making for high quality training sessions.
Crowe added: “I’m now having to focus on quantity, solo runs of up to 20 miles totalling 120 miles a week. I used to undertake a 20-mile Sunday training run in Texas so a long run is nothing new.
“I’ve just managed to get in a speed session on the road and hill reps up Dundee Law will come in useful to provide some variety. You can’t do 20-mile runs every day.
“I was hoping to run a fast 5km in Belgium and then enter the UK Olympic Trials 5,000m but all that’s gone by the wayside now. The Tokyo Olympics would probably have come along too soon in my career anyhow but the European Championships in Paris at the end of August was a possibility and that remains a target.
“You’ve got to have targets to aim at to keep you going and in the current climate things are changing every day.”
What is not changing, however, is Crowe’s dedication to adapt and continue a demanding training programme. More racing success will certainly come when normality resumes.