ANDY BUTCHART has never had a build-up to a Scottish Championships quite like this one. 

Since becoming a dad for the first time just over a month ago, the 30-year-old has been squeezing his training around the schedule of his newborn son, Max, and while it is far from his usual preparation, the 30-year-old is feeling surprisingly confident ahead of today’s Scottish Short Course Cross-Country Championships in Lanark, where he is defending champion.  

Crossing the line first will be no mean feat; amongst others, he will be up against Olympic 1500m finalist Jake Wightman but Butchart has never been one to worry about his opposition. 

“I feel pretty good even though my mileage has been up and down because I’m fitting around Max,” he says.  

“It’s a very different challenge but I’m enjoying the challenge.  

“Before Max was here, it seemed like I had a lot of free time whereas now, every minute of the day I’m doing something but actually I like that, I hate sitting doing nothing so this really suits me. 

“I feel in very good shape – this winter I’ve got high expectations which, if you look at my training, might seem a bit strange because I’ve not done all that much but actually, I’ve done everything I could so I’m feeling good. 

“For me, the whole point of being an athlete is to win - I’m competitive and I love to race – so I’m going to the Scottish to win.” 

Butchart has the advantage of a hyper-supportive partner in the shape of double-Olympian Lynsey Sharp, who has given him a push out the door when he’s been swithering over doing any sessions. 

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There will be little hesitation today though, with Butchart, who is ever the showman, nothing short of elated to be back racing in front of crowds. 

“For so long, we’ve been racing in front of pretty much no one so to have people back is amazing,” he says. 

“For the Scottish Relays in Perth a few weeks ago, you’d turn a corner and there’s someone with a cowbell screaming “Go on Butchart!!”, which was brilliant.  

“That’s probably a big part of why I’m so excited about racing and especially in cross-country, the crowd can be right on top of you so I’m really looking forward to that at the Scottish.” 

Butchart spent the tail-end of his twenties training across the Atlantic in America but since returning to his native Stirling at the end of 2019, he has returned to his childhood club, Central, for many of his sessions. 

On the face of it, it may seem a step down for double Olympian and Scottish 3000m and 5000m record holder but, on the contrary, Butchart believes he is getting some of the best training in his life on his local patch. 

“Since coming back to Stirling, training with the club seemed the obvious thing to do,” he says. 

“It’s been brilliant for me because the young guys are so hungry and are desperate to beat me in every session. These have been some of the toughest sessions I’ve ever done in my life because I’m having to work so hard to keep these boys out of sight. There’s quite a few very good guys there and so everyone is getting a lot from it.” 

Having finished eleventh in the Olympic 5000m final three months ago, Butchart has been keen to look forward.  

The Covid-induced restrictions meant Tokyo was not the thrilling experience Butchart had hoped for from his second Olympic appearance and he admits he cannot wait to return to more “normal” times. 

However, he will head into next season in the unusual position of being an unfunded athlete having lost his support from UK Athletics last month but he is utterly unperturbed, particularly considering the turmoil the governing body has been experiencing recently. 

The departure of the chief executive and performance director led to long-standing Scottish Athletics’ personnel, Mark Munro and Ian Beattie, being given top positions in the organisation and that, believes Butchart, is hugely positive for the sport. 

“I’m not too disappointed about the funding because when I was taken off it, Joanna Coates and Sara Symington were still in charge and to be honest, I didn’t want to represent them,” he says. 

“Now though, I’m so happy that Mark and Ian are in charge – that’s such a great thing for the sport. They really understand the sport and everyone has seen that with them in charge of Scottish Athletics, we’ve thrived over the past five or six years. 

“I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do and I think the changes they’re going to make will be really positive.” 

Butchart is already looking forward to next season, which will see three major championships – the Worlds, Commonwealth Games and Europeans – squeezed into the space of a couple of months. 

With Sharp still on the path back to elite athletics after her pregnancy, much of the pair’s immediate focus is towards ensuring Butchart brings some silverware home to Max. 

“Lynsey has been brilliant – she’s been so supportive of me whilst at the same time working towards her return to racing. That gives me the chance to really push on,” he says.  

“All three champs next season are a focus for me and it’s now time that I won some medals.  

“I don’t want to be one of those athletes who does well but doesn’t win medals so now’s the time for that.”