For long-time CAAC’er Ian McPherson, the 2026 European Masters Indoor Championships in Toruń at the end of March marked another step in the renaissance of his middle-distance racing career.
Competing in the M55 category over 800m and 1500m, Ian produced strong performances on the European stage, running 2:23.13 for 800m and 5:06.86 for 1500m, and ranking 20th in both events at the championships. Following last year’s outdoor European Masters Championships in Madeira, Toruń was only his second European championship appearance and just his second ever indoor competition.
A Championship Experience to Remember
“Toruń itself is a beautiful town,” Ian said. “We were lucky with the weather, which made the walks to the stadium really enjoyable.”
The arena left a big impression too. Fresh from hosting the World Indoor Championships the week before, the venue was far larger than the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, complete with wrap-around seating and a huge halo screen suspended above the track.
There were some challenges. The warm-up facilities were less polished than the main arena, and Ian admitted the experience of being introduced on the big screen before his 800m heat was slightly overwhelming.
“Having a camera right in my face as they announced us to the crowd and put us on the jumbotron was definitely not something I felt entirely at ease with.”
Once the race started, though, his focus sharpened.
Chasing Personal Bests
With more than 30 athletes entered in both events, the heats were always going to be competitive. In the 800m, Ian found himself lining up alongside the current world record holder. Despite the intimidating company, he executed his race pace perfectly through the opening laps.
As the final bend approached, the effort caught up with him.
“At 100m to go, the slight rise on the banked bend hit me and my legs just gave up. From there it became a battle to stay upright. I was convinced the PB had slipped away.”
However, the clock delivered good news. Ian took three seconds off his age-group best from last season, a significant improvement. The standard was so high that he would have had to go 10 seconds faster to reach the final.
The 1500m followed a different pattern. Opting for a more controlled start, Ian settled into pace before trying to build through the second half of the race.
“I went through 800m just inside PB pace but couldn’t quite lift it in the second half.”
He finished just outside his best, but still came away encouraged. “I’ve still got plenty of hard work ahead” said Ian, with a refreshed sense of perspective. Full championship results are available here.
Rediscovering the Sport
Ian’s athletics story stretches back nearly half a century. His first taste of competition came in the Fife Schools Cross Country Championships 46 years ago before joining Pitreavie AAC as a teenager. There he trained alongside talented middle-distance groups coached by respected Scottish athletics figures including John Wands and John Linaker.
Life eventually pulled him away from the sport. Several attempts at returning followed over the years, but it wasn’t until joining CAAC around that running became a consistent part of his life again.
Initially focused on longer-distance events and road running, Ian later rediscovered his love for middle-distance racing before a long spell of back problems forced him away from competition for six years.
Now back training regularly, he remains motivated by the challenge of improvement and by seeing how close he can get to his best performances at this stage of his athletic career.
“I just have a real drive to keep improving. I stopped the sport at 17 or 18, long before reaching my potential,” he said. “As a masters athlete I’m motivated by the idea of seeing how close I can get to the best I’m capable of at this age.”
Finding the Right Balance in Training
Ian trains with the Arnott squad at CAAC, balancing interval sessions, easy running, gym work, and stretching as he continues refining what works best for him as a masters athlete.
A typical week now includes two track sessions, two gym sessions, easy mileage, and daily stretching and bodyweight work.
“In the build-up to Toruń I was definitely overtraining,” he admitted. “I’ve scaled things back now and I’m trying to run my easy days slower than last year.”
Tuesday sessions usually focus on longer intervals, while Thursdays are sharper and more speed-oriented — recent examples including 4 × 1km reps and 20 × 200m sessions.
“The shorter sessions are the ones I really need to focus on to build my anaerobic capacity and bring my times down,” Ian explained.
The Appeal of Masters Athletics
For Ian, masters athletics offers something uniquely motivating: the chance to compete against athletes facing the same realities of age, injury, recovery, and longevity in the sport.
“What I enjoy most is the chance to race against people my own age,” he explained. “In masters competition I’ve been able to pick up a few medals at Scottish level, which definitely gives me encouragement.”
But the appeal goes beyond competition.
“Racing at British and European events has also introduced me to athletes from all over who are dealing with the same age‑related aches, pains, and complaints. The camaraderie is a huge part of it. The support from other athletes is brilliant. In Toruń, for example, I even had support from an Italian athlete who lives in London and whom I met at the British Championships last year. He was injured and couldn’t compete, but still travelled out just to cheer on his fellow masters athletes. That kind of spirit really makes the whole experience special.”
He recalled one particularly memorable moment from Toruń involving an M85 athlete in the 400m who fell twice during the race, got back up both times, and still finished to a standing ovation.
“That spirit sums up masters athletics perfectly. Although I do think that some events such as the pole vault would benefit from an upper age limit for safety!” says Ian.
His message to anyone considering masters competition is simple:
“Just do it.” he says. “The last two European Championships have had more than 4,000 athletes across all age groups competing in track and field, with road races and cross country included as well. It’s a welcoming, supportive environment, and there’s a place for everyone.”
Looking Ahead
Ian’s immediate goals are straightforward: stay healthy, continue improving, and keep closing the gap to his old personal bests.
He hopes to lower his 800m time towards 2:16 and his 1500m towards 4:50 over the coming seasons, before eventually moving into a new age category in 2028.
That year already has a special target circled in the calendar.
The 2028 European Masters Indoor Championships are coming to Glasgow.
“It’s really exciting,” Ian said. “Having a home championships should mean a great turnout from GB, and hopefully a few more CAAC athletes giving it a go too.”
Competing internationally normally means long-distance travel and significant expense, but Glasgow offers something different: a major championship on home soil.
“Being able to stay at home, save some money, and compete in a major championship on familiar ground is a huge bonus.”
And if recent performances are anything to go by, Ian may not be finished improving just yet.
Write Up by Scott Jenkins, CAAC Publicity Team