MOST athletes dream of making a major championship.
Derek Hawkins received the offer and knocked it back. The world championships in Moscow two years ago should have been the Scot's coming out party. Instead, having earned selection for the marathon with speedy qualifying times in Frankfurt and London, he recused himself, opting to throw everything into his preparations for the Commonwealth Games.
Many questioned his logic. With Hawkins 26 next week, there are no guarantees he will get such an opportunity again. Any remorse now?
"I would say no because I was actually injured in the week of the race," he says. "Coming up to it, there was a bit of regret. But when I got injured, it made it feel more that it wasn't meant to be."
Should the summons arrive for Rio 2016, however, he would gladly paddle to Brazil to take up his place. The Kilbarchan athlete continues his countdown to a probable autumnal qualification tilt in Berlin in this morning's Morrisons Great Edinburgh Run, linking up with younger brother Calum in a relay event that will see the duo split the load of an arduous 10-mile course. His sibling, along with compatriot Andrew Lemoncello, will be among many potentially seeking long-distance berths in Team GB.
To aid his cause, the elder Hawkins is to travel to Colorado next month to seek insights and inspiration from the Briton who has covered 26 miles faster than any other.
It is 21 years since Steve Jones broke the world record in Chicago and 20 since he triumphed in the Windy City in 2:07.13, a time that remains the UK benchmark.
"There doesn't seem to be a situation he's not faced," Hawkins says. "He's raced the best and beat the best so in my opinion, there's no better person whose brains I can pick. I went over to work with him for the first time in March last year and it was really helpful."
The altitude of Boulder and the lure of its resident guru have attracted a number of Scots with Freya Ross and Susan Partridge among the regular visitors. Normally a lone wolf, training with a pack was a welcome stimulant for Haw-kins in surroundings conducive to adding finesse to mere fitness.
"It was lower [altitude] than what I'd been used to. Kenya was higher," he confirms. "But I came out of it in a better place. I enjoyed the runs out there a lot more than other places. I came away in such a positive frame of mind and I felt I was running quicker."
He might need to accelerate to earn an Olympic spot. The IAAF last week revealed their standard of 2 hours and 17 minutes. Hawkins may have to venture far beyond.
"I'd expect . . . whoever comes up with this to make it even quicker," he says. "If it's 2:17, it will be very competitive."
In Edinburgh, Partridge will link up with Helen Clitheroe in the relay with Rhona Auckland favourite in the individual event.
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