THERE was no time for Callum Hawkins to dwell on collecting the FPSG scottishathletics "Athlete of the Year" title on Saturday night at a star-studded gala occasion in Glasgow.

While the trophies were forthcoming for the Hawkins clan – dad Robert won Performance Coach of the Year as well – the Champagne and late night that usually accompany such events was something the marathon man sidestepped. From picking up awards on Saturday evening, Hawkins was picking up his passport again yesterday, heading back out to France to train, but only after he’d completed a session closer to home.

If 2017 was a year to remember for the 25-year-old, then his focus now is firmly on 2018, the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Down Under, and the possible showdown on the road against multiple Olympic gold medal winner Sir Mo Farah.

“I’m always ready to take on Mo; I’m always ready to take on the best. But I think it will be good when I actually get to race him,” said Hawkins, who ran a PB of 2.10:17 in finishing fourth in the 2017 World Championship marathon in London.

“Hopefully. I’m always up for racing the best in the world and I’m not going to shy away from that – and Mo!” laughed Hawkins, who for good measure, and still chuckling confirmed no less than three times; “and Mo is one of the best in the world.”

Hawkins, who genuinely looked overwhelmed and surprised that he had landed such a prestigious honour, took time out after his gruelling summer schedule – and found another Brit has emerged as a challenger for Gold Coast and beyond.

During his down time, Hawkins saw Welshman Dewi Griffiths surpass the Scot’s London time by 28 seconds in Frankfurt. So, has Griffiths raised the bar further?

“Yes and no,” was Hawkins' slightly coy response. “He ran phenomenally, but I always knew Dewi had it. But I didn’t think he’d be quite that quick. Maybe low 2.10's – but he’s definitely made me want to go out and get my times down. But that is going to be tough with the championships.

“I know I can so something similar, time wise,” said Hawkins, who believes it isn’t always about racing the clock.

“In a big city marathon, then yes. In a championship, it’s a bit more tactical and a bit harder to predict who is going to come out on top, say compared to 100m, because we don’t really race that much.

“The marathon is so unpredictable, anything can happen. Conditions can be a factor, or you could get a small niggle. You just don’t know, or what shape people are in.”

Hawkins is himself getting back into shape, and already has his card marked in the build up to the Commonwealth Games – and that means no cross country this winter.

“I only came back [to Glasgow] on Thursday,” he said, breaking his training schedule in France to pick up his award at the weekend.” But the legs are starting to click in now, compared to a few weeks ago. I took a break after the Scottish and it took a wee while for the legs to come back.”

He added, “I’m back to France, then it’s the Seven Hills race [in the Netherlands] in two weeks' time – I’ve never run 15k – and then I’ve got a few races lined up next year. Then I’ll be out to the Gold Coast, probably about six weeks before, getting used to the heat.

“Unfortunately, the Euro cross falls a week or two after I start my block for the marathon, so it would postpone that, and I want a big, proper block for the Commonwealth Games.

“I’ve got a few 10k races, one half marathon – in Britain, I’ll say that much – so a few races. But everything is geared towards Gold Coast.”

And before heading for France, Hawkins admitted he thought he was a fortunate winner of Scottish athletics’ biggest accolade.

“It’s been a good end to the year. It was a tough category though. I think anyone could have won it, pretty much eeksy peeksy,” said Hawkins, nominated alongside Eilish McColgan, Laura Muir, Chris O’Hare and Para Athlete of the Year, Sammi Kinghorn.

“It is pretty flattering to be put on top of all those great people. I wouldn’t personally put myself there. But I think everyone on that list would probably say the same,” said Hawkins who was quick to offer up his "winner."

“It’s got to be Sam. She had a brilliant year; a double gold medallist. But, I’m still proud to be up there and mentioned with them.”

Hawkins received a standing ovation on Saturday night, the kind of acknowledgement he doesn’t always witness when running.

“Personally, I don’t get to see it – I tend to keep myself to myself and just run. You tend to see it a little bit at local championships, but the chance to see it, massed, I don’t know if I can put it into words – athletics is such a great community,” said the almost shy, but deserving winner.