Lockdown loneliness of the long-distance runner lives on
Callum Hawkins admits the easing of restrictions for performance athletes will change little for him.
But he concedes he would love more certainty on what competitions are actually going to go ahead.
As a marathon runner, the 27- year- old Scot has still been able to take part in his usual training routine by pounding the roads around his home.
However, Hawkins recognises that other athletes will benefit from the five-step road map that was announced on Friday.
Step one allows them to travel more than the Government’s five- mile- limit to train, while groups can also now train together if they adhere to social distancing.
But Hawkins admits his biggest problem is trying to select an event that will not eventually be cancelled due to the lockdown.
Hawkins said: “I’m definitely missing competing, and even having a goal to go for. That’s really tough.
“We had a couple of plans throughout lockdown, but it’s constantly changing. We don’t even know if races that say they’re on in October are going to be on.
“It’s been quite hard to actually pick a race because in a lot of marathons, you could be training for 10 weeks – then six weeks before the race they say they’re not going ahead.
“Then you have to reassess, so the toughest part is picking the right one.”
Hawkins, who came fourth in last year’s World Championships in Doha, added: “To me, personally, the road map won’t make too much difference.
“Just the nature of the marathon. It’s a lot of miles on your own, and a lot of sessions on your own.
“Most of my training, even before lockdown, was just from my house.
“But for the greater running community, it will help a lot with the shorter events to start training together and push each other on.”