At the British Indoor Championships, Guy Learmonth aims for his fourth title and a place in his fifth European Indoor Championships. Learmonth talks about his goals and how his training setup is rejuvenating his long career in a conversation with James Rhodes.
Guy Learmonth, like every athlete, was affected by the disruptive consequences of the COVID pandemic. Competitions were cancelled, plans were altered, and dreams were put on hold. But Learmonth faced an additional challenge: a major change in his training setup.
In late 2019, Learmonth made a life-changing decision to switch coaches and join the Fast8 Track Club in Australia, led by coach Justin Rinaldi. This move took Learmonth away from his home country and introduced him to a group of talented 800m specialists. However, he did not anticipate the subsequent challenges caused by the pandemic.
Instead of flying to Australia, Learmonth found himself training in Glasgow, receiving coaching remotely and being supported by his younger brother Jack. Although it wasn’t the original plan, the makeshift arrangement proved effective, with Jack playing a crucial role in assisting Learmonth.
This winter, Learmonth finally had the opportunity for a full training block in Australia, spending three months in Melbourne with his training group. He also experienced altitude training in Perisher, which was a unique experience for him.
The training setup in Australia has had a positive impact on Learmonth’s performances. He achieved a sub-1:47 season opener in Lyon and improved his indoor personal best to 1:46.36 in Erfurt, Germany. Learmonth is now aiming for the longstanding Scottish record of 1:46.26 and hopes to run 1:45 indoors.
Photo: James Rhodes
Learmonth’s success indoors is not new. He has consistently improved his indoor personal best every season since 2014, except for a break in 2018. He has also achieved impressive results at the British Indoor Championships, winning three titles and earning ten medals overall. His main goal now is to secure a spot at his fifth consecutive European Indoor Championships, which would make him the first British male to do so in the 800m event.
Reflecting on his previous European Indoor Championships experiences, Learmonth had faced setbacks due to a fall in Glasgow, where he raced with injuries, and missing the final in Torun due to COVID. These memories provide added motivation for him to perform well in Istanbul.
Looking ahead to the future, Learmonth is considering the possibility of participating in the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow. Initially, he had planned for this to be his last indoor season, focusing on qualifying for the Olympics and training in Australia. However, the prospect of competing in his home city may change his plans.
After the indoor season, Learmonth’s plan is to spend around six weeks in Australia before joining his training group in Germany for the summer. The ultimate goal is to achieve consistency in racing and eventually run a 1:43 time in the 800m event.
Learmonth acknowledges the tough competition in British middle-distance running and draws motivation from seeing his peers perform well. He wants to reclaim his position at the top and aims to run super-fast times. He believes that enjoying the sport is essential and hopes for an exciting few years ahead.
Photo: James Rhodes
Throughout his career, Learmonth has faced difficulties and challenges but has always remained open about his experiences on social media. He has used athletics and training as an escape from personal struggles and maintains a positive outlook on his career. Learmonth credits his training setup and the support of his team for his improved performances. He feels like a completely new person and is enjoying his athletics again.
With a simple philosophy of dropping times, having a good laugh, and enjoying the sport, Learmonth is looking forward to an exciting year ahead.