At this year’s English Indoor Championships in Sheffield, Alice Mourao produced a superb front-running performance to take gold in the U20 1500m. Her reflections give a great insight into the mindset behind the performance: calm, adaptable, and willing to take responsibility when the moment came. Read more below…
When the English Indoor Championships arrived in early February, Alice Mourao stepped onto the start line in Sheffield as one of the contenders in a stacked U20 1500m field. What followed was a decisive, front-running performance that delivered a national title in dominant fashion, (as we initially reported here).
But from Alice’s perspective, the race began with calm rather than nerves.
“It wasn’t as intimidating as I thought it would be. We had been standing in the call room for quite a long time, so I was glad to get onto the track and get moving. I actually felt quite calm and focused — I had a plan and I was more than ready to go.”
Although she knew a medal was possible, she was realistic about the depth of the field.
“There were a lot of girls with good times, so I felt it would be down to how the race played out. I put it down as something that could happen, and decided not to worry about it too much.”
The Decisive Move
When looking back, one moment stands out clearly.
“Definitely when I moved to the front. I have this clear memory of seeing the clock on the third lap and thinking, ‘This is too slow.’ I went without really thinking about it too much.”
It was a bold decision — and one that required instant commitment.
“Almost immediately after I got to the front, I had this moment of doubt. It was really silly, because I knew I’d made the right choice — and even if I hadn’t, I was going to have to commit to it anyway. Sometimes you just have to trust that you know what you’re doing.”
Her pre-race plan had been flexible: aim for a strong time, but be ready to adapt.
“I didn’t know whether it was going to be a free-for-all or really tactical, so I wanted to keep my options open.”
The biggest surprise? No one went with her.
“That threw me a little bit, but I had committed by that point — and I wasn’t going to complain about them letting me go! Having a plan that was mostly dependent on my own actions was definitely the right thing to do.”
Gold Secured — But Not Assumed
Despite opening a gap, Alice stayed fully engaged right to the line.
“On the last lap I could hear they were catching up with me. Getting outkicked on the last lap is rough, and it’s a massive risk in track races with girls who specialise in 800s and 1500s. I was lucky that they let me gap them enough that it wasn’t an issue.”
Even at the finish, reality took a moment to sink in.
“When I went through the line I couldn’t quite believe none of them had caught me.”
Alice saw excellent progression in 2025 – she finished 15 seconds ahead of her podium time from last year.
The CAAC Foundation
Alice has been part of Corstorphine Amateur Athletics Club for seven or eight years — joining as an active youngster who simply loved running and decided to “give it a try.” The rest, as they say, is history.
She credits the consistent environment around her for much of her development.
“Regular training in the Arnott squad has meant that my speed and discipline has really improved over the past few years. David makes sure we work hard and do a variety of different training sessions and always encourages us at races to push us to better performances.”
And it’s not just the coaching.
“The squad is very supportive, encouraging, and often entertaining. I couldn’t hope for a better group of people to run with.”
Looking Ahead
While she admits to having a “soft spot” for the 1500m, Alice is keeping her options open for the season ahead, even if her coach might be relieved she’s stepped away from hill races for now.
That openness reflects a mature approach to her development, something she hopes younger athletes can learn from.
Her advice?
“Be consistent. You don’t have to be the best or the fastest, but if you keep showing up and you keep trying, you will get better.”
She suggests setting two goals for each race:
“A soft goal — which should be within your ability — and a hard goal, which should be just outside your ability. And remember, the most important thing is to enjoy it.”
From a young runner trying out club training to a national champion, Alice’s journey is a powerful example of what steady progress, smart racing, and a supportive club environment can produce. With some excellent results both indoors and over the XC this winter, as we transition to the summer track season, Alice Mourao is certainly one to watch.
Report by Scott Jenkins, CAAC Publicity Officer