GIVEN that they were partly obscured by a vast mound of pastries, yoghurt and fruit, it seemed only right to apologise to the Brownlee brothers for interrupting their breakfast, before observing that they doubtless have to eat all the time when not actually training.

"Yes," grinned Jonny. "And we're very quick eaters too so it's fine."

Little wonder they have to pile in the fuel. They had just returned to their hotel from the Tollcross pool where they had completed a 4-kilometre swim. After our chat, were bound for Strathclyde Park - venue for the triathlon at this summer's Commonwealth Games - for an hour-long run.

Yet, as Alistair, the Olympic triathlon champion who is the world's very best at his sport (Jonny is a fellow world champion but merely claimed Olympic bronze) explains: "We're only doing that today because it's our day off . . . "

More representative of their schedule is the previous day when a 4½-kilometre swim, was followed by a 45-minute run, then four hours on their bikes, ahead of another 45-minute run . . . and then they travelled from their Leeds base up to Glasgow, their last real chance to visit before this year's globetrotting gets properly under way.

Alistair's winter training having been blighted by an Achilles injury, so delaying his readiness, Jonny - he is the younger by two years at 23 - will have a head start to this season when he takes part in the World Triathlon Series opener in Auckland in early April.

Since entrants have to compete in five of the seven scheduled events in order to qualify for the grand final in Edmonton in August, it means Alistair will have to do a bit of catch-up later in the summer.

However, yesterday's trip was vital because, for all that the brothers have visited Strathclyde Park for several previous events, they like to carry out reconnaissance for the big events and are aware that it will be a challenging lay-out.

"Strathclyde is a tough course; we don't actually know the course exactly but, after the last time we raced there, we know it has a big hill on it," Jonny said.

What is significant about the pair's desire to have an up-to-date look, though, is that while there is debate within some sports about where the Commonwealth Games rank among major meets, there is no question about where they stand in the eyes of the men who will, barring further injury issues, sort out this gold medal between them.

"This year, it's the most important thing," Jonny said. "It is more important than the World Triathlon Series this year, definitely. I'd rather be Commonwealth Games champion than world champion."

The message is instantly reinforced by Alistair: "The Commonwealth Games are only held every four years and there was no triathlon four years ago, so that makes it more significant. It's a home-ish Commonwealth Games for us as well."

"Home-ish . . . " echoes Jonny with a mischievous grin that indicates an awareness that local support cannot be guaranteed for English competitors this summer.

Then again, who needs to worry about Hadrian's Wall when there's an ongoing War of the Roses to be addressed.

"Thinking about it, they had a Commonwealth Games in Manchester and, coming from Yorkshire, this is probably better than that," Alistair said, laughing once more. Both their status and demeanour suggest that the Brownlees will be among the most popular of those wearing the St George's Cross when they return to Glasgow in July.

Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee are BT Ambassadors.  BT is at the heart of Scotland, rolling out fibre broadband across the country (www.bt.com/btscotland)