Edderton athlete Ross Gollan hoping for a medal after receiving call to make Great Britain debut at World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand in November
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Ross Gollan has been called up to the Great Britain squad for the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand.
The 26-year-old from Edderton is one of 35 athletes called up to the squad to compete at the world championships at Chiang Mai in November.
He will make his debut for Great Britain after an impressive season which included winning the Snowdon International in Wales in July.
Gollan also won the Highland Cross duathlon between Kintail and Beauly for the first time in June.
He says it is a huge honour to be called up to the squad and would love to return home with a medal, and so is determined to be in top condition to give the best performance he can.
“I want to get there healthy and in good form, realistically we are there for the team,” he said.
“We should be up there for a team medal. It all depends on how the body can cope within the heat and humidity in Thailand.”
Gollan started his running career with East Sutherland Athletics Club when he was eight.
Going on to compete for Shettleston Harriers when he was studying at university in Glasgow, it was quickly established from a young age Gollan had a talent for endurance running.
“I started off road running and I always enjoyed hill walking so it seemed like a natural progression.
“Walking turned into running and I took part in Highland Games and in the North District Cross Country series. Then when I went to university in Glasgow I joined Shettleston Harriers who had a good hill running squad and I have taken things from there.”
Gollan, whose athletics career has been supported by the High Life Highland Athlete Travel Award Scheme, won the 50-mile Highland Cross duathlon when he ran and cycled his way to victory for the first time.
He says the experience will stand him in good stead for the world championships.
“It was a big learning experience taking part in the Highland Cross, especially in terms of nutrition,” he said.
“I have looked at that and how I can take that on board for the World Championship.
“It is a different event, but I have learned about my own physiology after taking part in the Highland Cross and look to take that forward.”
Gollan is now heading to Slovenia to compete at the Smarna Gora Mountain Running Race.
He is pleased with how his season has gone so far, but says his main focus is being in top condition for the world championships.
“I had a good cross country season, then I took some down time before competing over the hills during the summer.
“I got off to a shaky start but then had some good races in Europe.
“I had a good race winning the Snowdon International, and I am now heading to Europe to take part in a few races before heading to Thailand.”
