For the past few days, Sarah Healy has been back doing training runs near her family home in south Dublin. Some locals who recognise the European indoor champion might be mildly surprised at her near-pedestrian pace.
“It’s been pretty bad,” said Healy. “You always forget how quickly you can lose fitness. But it has to be done, giving the body a complete break from running like that for a couple of weeks.”
It’s just three weeks since Healy was in her “best shape ever”. Or at least that’s what all the indications were. In the last countdown to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, the 24-year-old was completing track sessions at a blistering pace previously thought beyond her. Making the 1,500 metres final was the very least of her ambitions.
“To be honest, my last few races before Tokyo didn’t go we
Continue Reading on The Irish Times
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.