Kilbarchan sensation Hawkins eyes history-making triumph in Glasgow

Olympic marathon ace aiming to become first home male winner of the Great Scottish Run in 30 years

Hawkins’ brothers attempts to socialise in Rio – the marathon was on the last day – these singular Scottish siblings did find time to kick back with their English triathlon counterparts, Alistair and Jonny Brownlee. They bonded over a game of the apparently worldrenowned drinking game Beer Pong against the USA team, while Callum also said yesterday that he would also do something similar to Alistair, who helped his cramping brother over the line in a world series event in Mexico.

“Would I do the same for Derek? Depends on the circumstances!” joked Callum. “I probably would. If he was struggling to the finish, I would probably pick him up and throw him over the line!

“My brother’s performance was a great performance for other reasons – defying medical science is what they have been saying,” he added. “So I am really glad he managed to finish. I didn’t really think about at the time but we have both come along way, sort of had different paths.

“We didn’t get out the village but we had a couple of beers together in there, although the first thing we had, mealwise, was a McDonalds!”

When it comes to tomorrow’s race, Callum’s modus operandi involves less obsessing about placings and times and more putting himself in the mix and seeing what happens.

When it comes to marathons less is more. Callum has only one marathon planned for next year, the 2017 World Championships in London, for which his pre-selection on the strength of his Rio finish should be confirmed in December. Then there is the chance to take on all-comers in a Scotland vest in the Gold Coast in 2018.

“The main thing is that it has really spurred me on,” he says. “It really makes me want to knuckle down for the Gold Coast and Tokyo. It has really given me the drive for that.

“While you really hurt and it is horrible at the time, when you get a marathon right and you finish it is amazing, really quite addictive.”