AFTER his National Cross-Country
success I eventually found time to ask Calum Johnson a number of questions and,
under the microscope, he confidently come up with some interesting, honest and
sometimes controversial replies. So here goes and I hope you appreciate his
answers as much as I did - BillMcG
Q. Alan, your dad, was no slouch in his younger days so was it inevitable that
you would follow in his footsteps or, like many youngsters, did you have a
calling to play football.
A. Unfortunately, I don’t think I inherited the
football genes. I know my Dad used to play in his school days and I think my
other two brothers got the football bug as they both played for the school and
one of them still plays football now. I grew up knowing Dad was a really good
runner and I always thought one day he would try and get me into running
despite me having other interests like Judo and Swimming (quite a bizarre
combination I know!). He never ever pushed me into running competitively though
of which I’ve respected a lot and he would always let me do what interested me.
Eventually, after being involved in school cross-country races as a teenager, I
finally found that I was a decent runner as a 15/16-year-old and I am sure that
this would have been music to my Dad’s ears!
Q. Can you remember your first race and if so where and what was it and how did
you get on and if you didn’t win can you remember who did?
A. Although I never ran for a club as a youngster
(well until I was about 15/16 when I joined Gateshead Harriers), Dad used to
always take me down to run in the Good Friday Road Races (organised by Elswick
Harriers which was his club in his running days). I recall racing in the under-13
race and wore one of my Dad’s Elswick vests which was huge on me! I finished third
that day but can’t remember who was in front of me though. My first race as a
Gateshead Harrier was at the Northumberland County Schools’ Cross-Country
Championships (Inter Boys race) and I think I finished fourth or fifth that
day. It was won by former runner and fellow Gateshead Harrier and good friend
Lewis Hogg who won it by miles. Lewis had so much talent but sadly injury
problems stopped him from a running career as a senior athlete. I went on to finish
74th at the English Schools’ that season.
Q. Your dad still has the bragging rights as far as track times go. Do you feel
that is a side of the sport you would like to put right?
A. He certainly does and I will put my hands up and
say he was definitely a quicker athlete than I am now! His track times from
800m up to 5000m are way better than mine. I think I have bragging rights when
it comes to cross-country though! I am very much a strength/endurance-based
athlete due to the nature of my training and the volumes of training I do for
Triathlon. I would love to try and lower my track PB’s one day. I don’t know
how that would fit into my Triathlon commitments but I haven’t ruled out solely
focusing on running at some point in the future, and if that is the case then I
certainly will try to focus on improving my track running capabilities and
times.
Q. About six years ago athletics looked as though it was being pushed to one
side even though you were awarded your first GB vest. Was it around that time
you were attracted to the triathlon scene?
A. I gained my first GB vest as a junior in January,
2013 at the Great Edinburgh Cross-Country and I remember it very well. I was
still based in Newcastle at home around that time and was training with the
group at Gateshead. Although Triathlon was now my main interest, I tended to
use cross-country as part of my winter training and preparations for the
Triathlon season. I then moved to Leeds for University in September, 2013. It
was around that point I started to focus more on Triathlon so I had to
compromise on cross-country races in the winter. Being down in Leeds I was part
of the Triathlon programme and sort of had to abide by the coaches down there!
Q. Since starting your triathlon journey you have had some notable successes.
What has been the highlight of that journey so far?
A. Despite Triathlon being my main focus, winning the
National Cross-Country title has certainly been the highlight of my sporting
career so far! However, there are some stand out moments in Triathlon for me
which include finishing 12th at my first World Under-23 Triathlon
Championships and winning silver in the Mixed Triathlon Relay. Also, I won my
first international title at a European Cup event in The Netherlands in 2017
which was special, especially as both my parents were there watching and were
able to share that special moment with me.
Q. While cross-country isn’t on the Olympic programme is it triathlon you feel
you have the best chance of becoming an Olympian?
A. I would love to see cross-country eventually on the
Winter Olympics programme. I can’t see it happening in my time as an athlete
which is unfortunate as I do feel it would be my best chance of competing at an
Olympic Games. However, saying that, I haven’t ruled out trying to qualify for
the Triathlon in a future Games. As much as racing at the Olympics is a dream
and goal of mine, I think you have to be realistic and as it’s only once every four
years, plus a maximum of three athletes who will go, the chances are slim.
Especially when you take into account the bias and politics involved when
picking athletes. As someone who knows the sport well, I am confident in saying
that at the last two Olympic Games, it wasn’t necessarily the best three
triathletes that were on the team and unfortunately that’s how it seems to
work. I do believe I have a chance, just like any of the other top level
triathletes in Great Britain and I will do my very best to put myself in a
position to qualify in Paris 2024 (2020 team already picked, albeit
prematurely). If it doesn’t work out then you may see me try to qualify in a
different sport (I’ll keep quiet on that one for now). I think qualifying for
the 2022 Commonwealth Games is a very realistic goal for me and that is
something that is very much on my radar right now.
Q. Winning the ‘National’ came out of the blue to many observers but after your
Northern victory many of your followers felt you had a great chance and so it
proved.
A. Yes, to be honest, I surprised
myself by winning the National and the way I performed on the day. I think as
far as execution goes, it was one of my best ever performances. Races like that
don’t come along very often as an athlete, there aren’t many days where
everything goes right and you feel absolutely 100% in control. After the Northern,
I knew I was in great shape and my fitness was really good and so I knew that I
had a good chance of getting a medal, that was my main goal even though it’s
not something I think about too much before a race. It may surprise a lot of
people that as someone who doesn’t solely focus on running can win such a big
race and beat a lot of high class runners. However, what a lot of people don’t
know about me is that as a Triathlete, I do large volumes of training across
the three disciplines. I tend to rack up on average, about 30 hours per week.
Yes, I don’t run the miles that the top runners in the country will run but I
do a lot of training that conditions me very well and gives me a good aerobic
engine for events like cross-country. When courses are tough and heavy going, as
Nottingham was, it suits me well being more of a strength-based athlete.
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| National Cross Country winner Calum Johnson |
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| Heavy going at Nottingham |
Q. The ‘National’ has been won by many great endurance runners in the past
including North East Olympians Jack Potts, Alex Burns, Brendan Foster and Mike
McLeod. You’ve joined an elite band and after reading the names of previous
winners on the trophy how does it feel to join such illustrious company?
A. Winning the National really was a
dream come true. I’ve said to a lot people that it’s a race I’ve imagined
winning since the day I started running competitively. To actual win it really
did mean a lot and I think the photos at the finish line were testament to
that! I keep having to look at the trophy to remind myself of what I have
achieved and when I read through the names, I am just in awe of what is in
front of me. I still wouldn’t put myself in the same league as those names
you’ve mentioned like Mike and Brendan as they have achieved so much more than
I can really dream of. As a Newcastle/North East lad, I am honoured to have my
name next to theirs on the National winning trophy as I really do aspire to be
at the same level as they were in their best running days.
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| Calum makes the cover of Athletics Weekly |
Q. The cross-country season is drawing
to a close so what are your immediate plans for the rest of the year?
A. I am actually quite gutted that the
cross-country season has more or less ended as it is something I really love
doing throughout the winter months. It gives me the motivation and the right
training I need to prepare me well for the Triathlon season. My first Triathlon
race is just under three weeks’ time and it is part of the European Cup series.
I would love to start the triathlon season off on a high. I know my running is
definitely in a good place right now so it’s a case of fine tuning my overall
fitness and making sure I am ready for the swim and the bike segments too as
they will determine whether I am in the race or not. I then plan a Wold Cup
race a month later and hopefully qualify for the European Championships in July
where I would like to aim for a medal there.
Q. I know your mam and dad, Heather and Alan, have been an inspiration to you
over the years supporting you through the highs and lows, but who else over the
past decade or so has helped guide you to become the nation’s leading
cross-country athlete?
A. Yes for sure, Mam and Dad have been
the biggest key players in supporting me and keeping me on track over the
years. They have always looked out for me, been at my side every step of the
way and given me the best possible chance of reaching the top. They’ve allowed
me to take opportunities that would be out of my reach if it wasn’t for their
support so I can only thank them for that.
To be honest there are too many
people who know who they are, that have supported me in several ways on this
journey. I certainly have to thank John Stephenson, the coach at Gateshead and
aside from my Dad, he is the other person to introduce me to running. I joined
his group at the very start and have loved every bit of it and so much that I
am actually back there now after seven years away at University and other
places too. John has always believed in me and has never given up doing so
despite all of the setbacks I have had. That means a lot to me, to have someone
who fully supports your endeavours and goals no matter where you are or what
you are going through just shows how great a person John really is.
As you’ll
know and many top athletes will know, there are people who come and go and are
fully behind you when you are performing well but then disappear off radar when
things aren’t going so well. As an athlete, those people you don’t need in your
team. It is people like my parents and John, who you should respect and engage
with because ultimately, those are the ones that will help you reach your goals
and achieve your dreams.
Q. You have worked extremely hard over many years and you have finally been
rewarded. Where there any times when you felt that it wasn’t going to happen
and the enjoyment was no longer there?
A. I always find this one of the most
important questions to be asked so I am glad you have asked me! Unfortunately,
most people who follow sport and follow you as an athlete and aren’t
necessarily close to you, will never know what really goes on behind the
scenes. Generally, they will see happy social media posts, good results, see
you flying to sunny and beautiful locations around the world and basically
assume that you live this dream life with no stresses or worries! In reality,
it’s far from that. Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful to not be working a nine-till-five
job and that I get the opportunity to visit some brilliant places and see some
cool things but that’s just a very small part of the life as an international athlete.
To be one of the best athletes in the world, you have to be one of the most
mentally and physically strong people and that takes a lot of work. Over the
years, I have had many setbacks. I’m not going to go into them all as I feel
that will just bore people. In Triathlon, there is very little reward for a
huge amount of work and so you really do have to enjoy the training. When I go
to races, it’s money out of my own pocket (usually I will go to races and
whatever money I win will go to paying for the trip), I don’t stay in fancy
hotels, I use public transport (which isn’t easy with a bike when travelling abroad)
and I have spent many nights in airports to save money. Even to the point of tying
my luggage to my feet so I can try to get some sleep without having anything
stolen! I’ve been turned away every year for the last five years by the Triathlon
governing body, telling me I am not good enough or I am too old to ever become
a world class athlete.
I’ve had to pick myself up many times, get on with it by
myself with no coaching, medical, physical or financial support. But I have
kept going, I’ve always had enough belief in my own ability to keep going and
not give up, and to this day I am proud of that. One thing I have learnt is
that if you start to lose the enjoyment, then something needs to change and you
must try and work that out yourself because nobody else is going to tell you that.
Only you know how you really feel.
Q. Finally Calum, athletics is not easy by any matters or means so what advice
would you give to any youngster considering taking up sport.
A. I think foremost is that you are
enjoying your athletics or whatever sport it is that your training and
competing in. As a youngster, you really want to be doing more than just
athletics that may include another sport, going to school and joining in after
school clubs, socialising with your friends. Don’t sacrifice all those other
things for just athletics. Don’t treat athletics as the only thing you care
about or that matters. It’s ok to have a bad race, or a training session you’re
not happy with. Take time to look after your body and enjoy going out for food
or to the cinema with your mates. I have been there. Yes, I train a lot of
hours now, and I commit most of my life to a sport but I certainly wasn’t doing
that until most recently. Don’t let any setbacks (i.e. injuries, illnesses or
even people telling you that you can’t do it or you aren’t good enough), stop
you from working hard or trying to achieve your goals. Be patient, keep
persevering and look after your health.
Q. Given your result at the National
Cross-Country Championships, was the Inter-Counties result a bit of a
disappointment? What were your thoughts following the race?
A. Yes, I was disappointed with the
result at the Inter-Counties. I would have liked to have been more competitive
at the front end of the race and really competing with the likes of Mahamed and
Adam Hickey. The frustrating part was that I know I am capable of doing so,
especially on a tough and muddy cross-country course. However, the two weeks
post National and leading into the race had been far from ideal. I struggled to
do any training after the National due to illness and then ended up in hospital
the week before with abdominal issues and was unsure whether I would even race.
However, I decided to race because I love cross-country but in hindsight it was
probably not the best decision in terms of looking after my health! But these
things you learn from and you get to know more about your body and how to deal
with certain things. I still finished fifth and that is still way better than I
have ever performed at this race which shows that despite everything, my
fitness is in a good place. The North East team won the team title which did
help lift my spirits and I was chuffed to see the title return to where it
belongs, up in the North East.
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| Intercounties XC Senior Men |
Thanks for your time Calum,
Bill McGuirk
