Derek Rae from Kirkcaldy and Fife AC continues to reap the benefits of his silver medal performance at the IPC World Marathon Championships that were held in London earlier this year as part of the Virgin Money London Marathon.
Derek was offered the opportunity to attend a training camp in Flagstaff Arizona with fellow Scots, Derek and Callum Hawkins, two of the leading mainstream marathon runners in the world. This was Derek’s first attendance at this particular training camp but he had heard so many positive stories about it and not surprisingly he prepared well under the guidance of coach Ron Morrison.
Derek and his colleagues hit the ground running as soon as they touched base. The first run offered an insight on how the camp would unfold and what lay ahead. The location is amazing and every day the runs were challenging but the scenery spectacular. As the days passed Derek began to feel that training at 7,000 ft was normal. At the end of week one the hard work really started.
Derek grew in confidence and he believed his fitness was on a different level. Having previously only experienced altitude in Kenya it was very difficult to compare and contrast. Some running surfaces were similar but occasionally altitude likes to remind you who is boss and really in charge and Flagstaff was no different.
Experiencing and being in the position to soak up the sights of Route 66, Buffalo Park and the infamous Lake Mary Road added so much to the occasion and helped to make the sessions a little easier. When he arrived back in Fife Derek was able to reflect on a hugely successful four week training camp and he loved every minute. It was a wonderful experience as a Paralympian training with two great Olympians. Of course it filled him with enormous pride on how far he has come as a Para athlete and an ambassador for Para sport.
Derek is now in the best shape he has ever been and is looking forward to the next two months of racing ahead. Not surprisingly he his is first to acknowledge the team that is behind him throughout the year at the sportscotland Institute of Sport plus of course Scottish Athletics and UK Athletics who continue to offer exceptional levels of support. In addition Derek is immensely to coach and fellow athletes back at Fife AC who are behind him every day throughout the year.
Richard Brickley OBE MBE Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees