YOU CAN’T IMAGINE a 22-year old even considering the possibility of being labelled a failure but, then again, the more he talks, the more you realise the European Outdoor bronze and European Indoor 800m silver medallist Mark English is not like most 22-year olds.
In addition to the endless hours of training that comes with competing against the very best in the world, the Letterkenny native is also in the middle of studying medicine in UCD.
However, despite everything he touches over the past few years seemingly turning into a medal of some description, the 2014 Irish Athlete of the Year admits he worried about his future in athletics.
Nagging doubts that were really only put to bed once he mounted the podium in Switzerland at the European Athletics Championships last year.
“Winning medals, it does give you confidence. Before I went out to Zurich, there was part of me that felt I wasn’t fulfilling my potential at a championship level and to get that medal in the bag and, obviously, to medal at the European indoors, it just means that I can’t describe myself as a failed athlete. It takes a lot of pressure off you.
“Well, not really a failed athlete but someone who didn’t fulfil their potential. Even last year, I would have been the biggest hope for the Ireland team and you do feel that expectation so it is tough but when I got the medal it takes that weight of expectation off.
“It also gave me the confidence to know I can beat those guys. I have been racing them on the circuit and beating them but then, they are renowned as championship athletes so it’s nice to have that label now too.
“They’ll all look at me now when I go to the World Championships and see me as a bit of a danger too.”
How though, can he find the time to study medicine and train to the level needed to compete with — his personal best would have earned him a place in the 2012 Olympic final — the world’s top 800m runners?
“It’s much easier in the winter time because I’m not racing, then towards the summer time it’s a bit more challenging, there’s less time during the spring and summer to socialise.
“I try to do my studies between nine and five and get some free time in the evening to do a bit of training between six and nine. On my off days — Friday and Saturday — I can have the chance to do some socialising, and that’s important to me.
“It’s been challenging but I’ve managed to do it.”
Save for a celebratory bottle of beer after a major championship, English doesn’t drink as he feels it’s not worth the time it takes out of his already packed schedule.
As a future doctor, however, he’s far more concerned with other substances athletes are putting into their bodies but admits, like fellow Donegal man Brendan Boyce, you waste negative energy just assuming that everyone you’re competing against is cheating.
“It’s disappointing to know that there are these cases coming out but then the upside to that is that they are getting caught and the sport is getting cleaner.
“Obviously with all the allegations coming out with the Russian Federation, there is a serious problem that needs to be addressed and hopefully it will be over the next couple of years.
“You would have your doubts but it’s really wasted energy, trying to think about it because what can you do about it as an athlete?
“You just have to go out and run against who is there and leave that stuff up to the drug testers and let them do their job.
“So I don’t waste much energy over it. For me, it’s disappointing to know that there are athletes who may be using drugs but at the end of the day can they get much satisfaction from it when they go home and close the door at night time? I don’t know.
“I just just try to focus on myself.”
Unlike a lot of 800m competitors who also compete at the 1500, English is a 400 and 800 runner, something that means he had to be very particular with who he selected as his coach as most would ask him to change to run mile after mile after mile, something he feels would lead to burnout.
Instead, the Letterkenny native turned to Nick Bideau who helped Craig Mottram to a World Championship 5000m bronze medal, Benita Willis to a world cross country title and, famously, guided Cathy Freeman to Olympic gold in the 400m.
He also happens to be married to Sonia O’Sullivan.
“I’m probably training seven days a week at the minute.
“It’s not done by how many days though,, it’s done in cycles so it could be an eight-day cycle, it could be a six-day cycle, so about seven days a week but every day isn’t going to be flat out. You’ve got a hard session which breaks the body down completely and you have to let the body recover. You have to be smart about it.
“The reason I went with Nick Bideau is because he understands me as an athlete.
“He’s been around a lot of athletes, he knows what it takes at championships so it’s great to know you’ve got that confidence from Nick.”
As for 2015, well the plan is simple. Qualify for the World Championships and Olympic Games as soon as possible, then focus on tailoring his training to peak at the former.
“Hopefully I can get the qualification time in May or June. That would be ideal for me as it would give me enough time to try and peak instead of having to chase times throughout the summer.
“I think the standard is 1:46:00 which I’ve run five to ten times already so hopefully it won’t be too much of a problem for me.
“If I’m not running that time I don’t really want to be going out there anyway.”
First off though, is a race against the man many consider to be the best of all time.
“I’m back racing on 26 May in Ostrava in a 600m race. David Rudisha should be racing and word is he’s going for the world record.
“600m is probably my perfect distance because of the type of runner I am so I’m actually pretty excited by it as all the pressure is going to be on him and nobody will expect much from me.
“That’s a nice position to be in when racing a world record holder.”
European Indoor Championship 2015 silver medallist Mark English has become the latest talented athlete to join the Sky Academy Sports Scholarships programme, which helps young sporting talent to fulfil their potential on the international stage through funding, media coaching and mentoring.
Amen!
He is spot on. This years six nations has been so dull and dour. Forget the wins so far – has anyone actually enjoyed watching Ireland so far? One try scored from a pass in this years campaign so far – says it all.
2 point penalties and 1 point drop goals would be a start, making scoring tries even more valuable and dissuading teams from milking the penalty as reward is low. It may also result in more instances of teams going for high risk plays/true attempts on penalty advantage, like Henshaw v England, with a droppy not equal to the successful penalty goal if not advantage comes from playing on. Making the English and French top tier closed leagues have strong arguements. ATM winning at all costs is everything. Makes for usually dull games despite quality of players. Get rid of fear of relegation and it might open up more like the closed Super Rugby
Even better to penalise conceding deliberate penalties even more….
Yeah reducing the points for a penalty just promotes the defence to play more cynically as there is less of a punishment.
I’ve always thought that 6 points for a try and 3 for a conversion would be enough to entice more attacking play.
More liberal use of the yellow card would be good – there shouldn’t need to be a warning or much of a precedent to dish one out. Kill the ball 2m out from your own line 30 seconds in? Off you march.
I’ll e the first to admit my logic isn’t completely sound. I thought about the defending team being cynical after my OP, that’s a good point. I suppose there is an onus on attitude change. In my second point about closing off the two biggest European club leagues, unlikely as that is to happen right now, maybe it would help with the overall style of rugby played in NH. It’s interesting after Hansen made these comments last week or whatever, I watched Highlanders Tahs in Super Rugby. The endeavour to score tries is always there, regardless of kickable penalties. I don’t love SR, but it’s interesting to see the attitude difference after watching so much 6N the past month or so
The scrum still requires serious work. More often than not a penalty is given and many of us (the refs included) are none the wiser as to what really happened. Its all down to perception and thats really not ideal as is the ridiculous play time which is lost with scrum resets. At the very least the timer should be paused (similar to when injuries occur) and resumed once the ball has been cleared from the scrum. Fans get bored and feel somewhat cheated when over an eighth of the game has been held up in a confusing huddle.
Secondly i firmly believe rucking should be brought back. Take the responsibility out of the official’s hands and give it to the players. Want to deliberately loiter or slow the ball? Heres a few boot scrapes to encourage you to move on. Any over-zealous rucking (attacking of the head) obviously can’t be tolerated however players will quickly learn and adapt. Let the officials focus on ensuring the defensive team are onside.
Watch how much quicker the game will speed up from the lack of penalties and slowing down of the ball.
As a prop I enjoy the scrums but like everyone else I get frustrated when the ref keeps resetting and then gives penalties for little things.
Ways to make it better:
Make the scrumhalf feed it straight. First time he doesnt its a free, second time penalty, third time its the bin.
Dont wait for the perfect scrum. If it is some-way steady get the ball in. Its 16 big men trying to get the physical advantage, its rarely going to be perfect.
Dont penalise a prop if he is trying to keep the scrum up. If he puts his hand on the ground he is trying to stay up. Warn him you’ve seen it and give him a few seconds to rebind instead of immediately pinging him.
Have retired props watch each game with the TMO. Have them communicate with the ref at scrums, e.g. 3 green is boring; 1 red is dropping, etc.
Yeah, the use of the TMO at scrum time would be good. Perhaps they could use those location trackers the players have in their jerseys to determine what actually happened?
As a retired prop I think the scrum could be sorted by the referee bringing together both front rows first then the second rows introduced and lastly the back rows. The ref then gives the instruction to the 9 to ‘feed’ & then to the packs, ‘compete’. Where by the packs can then shove.
Trouble is these days most refs I’ve seen never played the game least of all were in a competitive scrum.
no more penalties at the scrum either or at least not for going backwards like it is now. free kick or play on. scrums shouldn’t decide the outcome of games.
To be fair, Wayne Barnes hasn’t even read the updated version of the Rule Book not to mind ripping it up!!
All the refs are struggling with the interpretation of what’s legal or not at the breakdown. As for the scrums, it’s a lucky dip with whatever ref is on duty that day!!! No consistency whatsoever!
I think Barnes actually reads it at half time and adds some new updates – how else do you explain how he manages to ref differently is each half
An English ref shouldn’t have been used IMO!! Is there an Irish ref doing England v France by any chance????!!!! It’s bad enough our TMO this weekend is English too!!! In the interest of fairness at the business end of the tournament Southern Hemisphere refs are a must!!
Reduce penalties to 2 points. Increase try to 6 points. After 4 tries scored in a game by a team every other try scored after by that team in the game, the conversion points given automatically.
At breakdown bring in 5 second challenge, if the team defending the breakdown haven’t had an attempt at getting their hands on the ball or counter rucking within 5 seconds of the ball going to ground then the ref calls no challenge and team defending players all have to get 1 metre back from ruck.
Reducing points from a penalty encourages defences to break the laws even more.
He’s asking for simplicity not complexity
What’s complex about it? Ball goes to ground, 1,2,3,4,5. No turn over, no counter ruck, so Defending team out, back 1 metre.
thats rugby league mate