For the past seven or eight years local leisure centre manager Henry Gray has used the flat stretch of tarmac to coach his talented group of athletes.

And amongst them is the home nation’s great 800 metres hope for Glasgow, Guy Learmonth.

The talented 22-year-old defected from the Berwickshire coast to Loughborough University four years ago – but still returns to the Gray camp regularly for seaside training sessions.

Henry, who has several other potential international athletes within his growing school, remembers the first time he saw a young Learmonth in action. He said: “We were both in the open Borders circuit and I was going round with my runners from Eyemouth and Berwick.

“This young runner from Berwick appeared and he wasn’t one of my runners – I wished he was, because he was beating them all.

“I was approached by his mum and dad about a year later to coach him. I knew from the start he was special.

“From the very first session he did with me in Eyemouth it was remarkable – I told his parents that one day he’d be the best in the world.” Gray and Guy’s father, former sprint champion Mark, guided the teenager to command the 800 metres at every Scottish age group he passed through.

Further success followed south of the Borders with regional, national and schools titles.

A move to Loughborough University in 2010, where a joint coaching operation between Gray and George Candy was established, continued the progress.

And that progress has taken him to within touching distance of the Commonwealth Games 800 metres final.

Henry added: “A lot of people don’t realise he’s been close to world class since he was 17.

“He’s had a few setbacks – being ignored by the selectors three times even though he had the qualifying times - but he has always come back bigger and stronger and we are starting to see just how good he is getting.

“Hampden is going to be really difficult for Guy. He has to first get through his heat which won’t be as easy as people think. The 800 metres for me is the toughest event at the Games – the very, very best in the world are there.

“I think Guy will get through to the semis and I know he has the race in him to even reach the final.

“He’s just recorded the fastest time from a Scot for 20 years. He’s in unbelievable form.” The 22-year-old athlete has been aiming for the top from an early age – and his attitude and belief hasn’t wavered.

As part of Guy’s Games preparation we spent an hour at Tweedbank warming up and stretching before he went on to run four of the fastest 300 metres – all sub 35 seconds - ever recorded on the Borders track.

And between each of the gruelling endurance sprints were the customary smiles and jokes.

Guy said: “It seems like yesterday that I was pre-selected for the Games.

“I’m starting to get very excited now as it gets closer and closer. The main thing is to stay injury and illness free.

“A lot of the hard work has been done over this winter and for the past four years – I’ve put my body through hell.

“The fine tuning stuff and high-end stuff is now on going.” The progress path hasn’t always been smooth for Learmonth – several bad injuries, illnesses and being overlooked by selectors did dent his confidence.

Last year saw him drop down the British rankings after reacting badly to altitude training.

But 2014 has seen him run faster than ever before – clocking 1.46.85 in Beijing at the IAAF World Challenge in May – and he’s in the form of his life ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

Guy added: “The past four or five years have been a lot of hard work – I’ve had a lot of ups and downs with illnesses and other obstacles.

“But I’m delighted to be representing my country at one of the biggest sporting occasions this country has seen.

“I’ll be anxious and nervous but I’ll use the crowd at Hampden to help me.

“I’ve already proven that I can do it at the Glasgow International in January and I want to replicate that and make everyone proud.

“I have always strived to be the best - not just in sport but also in work and university – I want to get the best out of it. When I took up athletics I had the same mind-set.

“The coaches and my family have helped me believe that I can take it far.

“When you are running faster and breaking national records you realise you are on your way to the top.

“I’ve just turned 22 and I feel that I could write a book already about what I’ve been through, but this is just the start of my athletics career.” Since our Tweedbank session last month Learmonth and Gray have based themselves in Portugal for the final preparations ahead of next week’s 800 metres heats.

Guy will take to the track on Tuesday, July 29, with the semi-finals on the Wednesday and the final on Thursday.

There’s every chance he’ll be jogging along Eyemouth promenade the following weekend – whatever happens.