Olympic (Trials) Talk With Marc Scott

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Do you remember when you first set the goal of making the Olympics? When did it begin to feel like a realistic one?

I first set the goal of making the Olympics when I started out running, I was 10 years old and it was merely a dream. Who knows what I was thinking back then but it was something which I set out to accomplish. I feel this goal became a realistic one once I joined BTC and saw how hard the team worked on a daily basis, training with olympians and medalists really made those dreams become a reality.

For our non-UK fans (and maybe for the UK ones, too) can you explain how the selection process works for the Olympics?

There are two ways in which you can qualify for the Olympics, first you have to achieve the relevant time or ’standard’ in your given event. Once this is accomplished you then have to place in the top 2 at the Olympic Trials to guarantee automatic selection. Third place (three spots on the team) is at the discretion of the selectors providing you have the standard. If you have run close to the standard and have achieved a high enough World Ranking then you may be invited to the games and your country then has to accept the invitation on your behalf (they don’t have to do this).

(Editor’s Note: Marc secured his Olympic spot by winning the British Championships on June 6th!)

Marc running 3:35 last summer.

It's been a tremendous 12 months of improvement for you as you've set personal best at every distance from 1500 to half marathon (3:35, 7:36, 13:05, 27:10, and 60:43). Was there a moment where it really struck you that you'd reached another level or has it all just happened gradually?

I felt like I had reached another level once I ran 3:35 last summer during one of our BTC Intrasquad meets (race video here), I came away from altitude knowing I was in great shape after having the best camp of my career with Bowerman. I took a lot of confidence from that race and then applied it for the remainder of the season and onwards into 2021.

How has that huge breakthrough changed your goals for this season? What would you consider a success now?

It seems my goals have drastically changed, knowing I can compete with the best in the world. I would have been content making the Olympic team two summers ago, but now I want to place in the top 10 in the 10,000m and at the very least make the final of the 5000m.

An image that comes up when you search “Yorkshire Mountains” and what we now imagine Marc running up as a young lad.

What the heck is "fell running" and how was that influential in your early career?

Fell running = American Trail/Mountain running. It involves navigating your way to the top of a ‘fell’ or a peak and then back down, usually with your own choice of route. You can cross rivers, go over deep bogs, climb rocks etc as long as you hit the associated checkpoints. This was very endurance and strength based, and the reason I started doing it was because I was not a fast junior and didn’t enjoy getting beat on the track. It has defintely enabled myself to build an engine and endure and running for a sustained amount of time.

You and Grant have been next to each other with a lap to go 4 times this year and the scoreboard is 2-2. So who has the better kick?

Lets have the next race decide this…but if we’re counting I believe I am 3-1

(Editor’s Note: Marc is correct and we would like to apologize to him and the entirety of the British nation for the error)

Who is the biggest one-stepper on the team and why is it you?

No comment.

(Editor’s Note: Your Honor, the prosecution rests)

Marc securing one of his THREE wins over Grant this year (and also running the 2nd fastest time in UK history at 27:10, race video here.