Double Olympic and world Jakob Ingebrigtsen may even be competing over the 1500m distance in opposition to Arizona-based Giffnock North athlete Gourley and his fellow Scots.
“Off the highest of my head, I feel I am ranked exterior the highest 30 by way of season’s bests this yr in order that most likely tells you a large number concerning the depth of the occasion simply now,” mentioned Gourley.
“I am fairly assured in saying I am going to end greater than that. I might like to outperform that rating and I feel I’ll, however it offers you a way of how deep the occasion has obtained.
“Not simply the individuals on the high – the highest 20 are all fairly shut collectively and there are such a lot of individuals operating underneath three minutes 30 seconds within the 1500m and that was once a time that perhaps one or two individuals a yr would run.
“It is now turn out to be so commonplace that it is obtained foolish, if something. On the similar time, it solely counts for a lot whenever you all line up at a championship – and I am wanting ahead to beating loads of individuals ranked forward of me.”
To assist with that, Gourley has taken himself away to a particular preparation camp in a location that makes him really feel like he’s on vacation.
A good few would swap locations with him in Hawaii the place, in addition to some specialist coaching classes, he has additionally been capable of get pleasure from a little bit relaxation and restoration.
“I’ve spent a while on the seaside as a result of it will be a bit impolite to not,” he added.
“I might like to learn to surf, anyone’s obtained to show me in the future. Really, I simply type of swim round within the waves till I crash out onto the shore. That is about as adventurous as I get.”
It could take a bolder strategy on the monitor but when he can safely negotiate the rounds in Tokyo, Gourley will really feel on protected floor if he will get to a different international 1500m last to spherical off his yr.
