WITH JUST FOUR months until the Olympic flame is lit in Rio, concerns remain over the fitness of Ireland’s leading track hopeful, Mark English.
The 22-year-old 800m runner has been nursing an ankle injury for the last seven weeks and is still unable to bear any weight on it.
English, who is still wearing a protective boot, has embarked on a rigorous rehab programme in a bid to get back on the track as soon as possible – but it’s been a slow process.
He sustained the injury after running over a pothole during an evening jog around the UCD campus and missed the World Indoor Championships in March.
“It’s coming along, I’m still quite hopeful [of getting back to full fitness],” he told The42. “Rehab is progressing nicely because it was much worse than I thought it was at the time.
“It just got more painful as the days went on and it has taken a lot of patience ever since.
“I was running really well through January and February so it has been difficult and was hard to watch guys you’ve beaten before go out and medal at the Worlds.”
The medical student won bronze at the European Championships in 2014 and a silver at the European Indoors last year.
He booked his place in Rio with an impressive run at the Anniversary Games in London last July and has mapped out his schedule for the next few months with the aim of peaking later in the summer – but he must first work his way back to full fitness.
“At the minute, I’m just looking to recover from this injury and run pain free,” he continued.
“The plan would be to build a small base in June before I hit the outdoor season properly and then maybe get into the races in July and start running fast. Hopefully it will all go according to plan.
“Obviously it’s hampered preparations but I’ve always been able to get back to my fitness levels after setbacks so hopefully it won’t take me too long to get back.”
Electric Ireland are proud to support Pieta House as they continue to bring suicide out of the darkness. Register for Darkness Into Light at www.darknessintolight.ie.
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
Replace one warrior with another. Good.
@Chris Mc: Seanie will right a few things ahead of next season.
@Chris Mc: I’m sure you remember this quote from the 2017 Lions tour: Phil Gifford, from Stuff, who was critical of the Lions style of play in general, referred to Sean O’Brien as “a flanker so tough and hard-edged he’s basically a roll of barbed wire in boots.” Great move by Leinster.
Great signing a great bit of business
No need to clean the toilets in cassidys
@Tony Mcgrath: bit of an insulting remark from a Munster supporter. Check your own coaches for a similar problem.
He might play a few games even. Would love to see it
I thought he was taking the pee ;)
@CAMILA REMONA: bad news for the Dublin homeless
Good project that hopefully works out
Seamus replacing Leamy. I wonder could we persuade Isa to come back and replace Dr. Phil?
RDS busy installing golden showers
Out with the old, in with the new!