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In rethinking, the signs have been there for a while, the unmistakable features of an athlete equipped to go as far as she dares to dream.
An endurance engine that can leave at a harsh pace, then support it; a speed change at the end of the race that can crush the spirit of the rivals in an instant; a curiosity to question his coach about the science of training, coupled with a clever talent for the artistic talent of the race.
Sarah Healy can be a two-time European under-18 champion, the fastest average of 17 years. runner in the world, and igniting all kinds of hopes among the hungry ultra successful Irish athletics, but she remains pleasantly balanced for such an early prodigy.
This, at her age, is perhaps the most important if she has to go far in this sport
In March 2017, at Irish Schools Cross Country in Belfast, this writer was informed by his colleague Feidhlim Kelly to look for an athlete in the middle race of the girls – adding that he
Despite the loss of one of his spiked shoes at the beginning of the race – the kind of glitch that usually sinks the chance of an athlete in heavy conditions underfoot – Healy brushed and away from peers, one foot "
It was the kind of grime that his coach Eoghan Marnell had seen for the first time four years earlier during a 600m U-13 race at Tullamore. Healy was rushed to 200 meters and gave up the race for victory, but something in the way she reacted speaks volumes.
"Even at this age, she remained calm and started tracking down the main group." . "She was incredibly determined to get back on track, catch up with the leaders, and managed to get up for the bronze."
His star is rising ever since, although athletics has proven an acquired taste for Healy, who was brought to Blackrock AC by his mother at the age of nine.
"I did not like it a lot at that time," she says. "But I love him now."
She made headlines last summer at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Gyor, Hungary, where she came back over the weekend to double the 1500m and 3000m Sonia O & # 39. Sullivan, whose daughter Sophie won the silver medal in the 800m, and Ireland's biggest athlete is interested in Healy's career, keeping in touch with her via e-mail in recent months [19659020]. "I think she's fantastic," says O & # Sullivan. "She ran incredible and regardless of being 17 or not, she is just a good athlete."
There is, of course, an obvious caveat in highlighting the achievements of so young, and it is this: they never do it. Whether it's their health, their motivation, or the life itself that bothers them, to have a minor success, it's a bit like that Father Ted's priest who buys 2,000 tickets for the draw: this increases your chances, but does not guarantee anything. O & # 39; Sullivan knows how hard the path ahead is …
"It's a very difficult and very unpredictable step: with girls, their bodies can change, there are many things to do. from different factors like social things and if you are at such a high level, the only way to improve yourself is often to run more, but how do you manage that: run more without spending too much?
must be careful without being too careful. Sarah has probably pbaded this year, but she does not change her plans, so it's a good sign. She has a good coach and she is well advised, so it looks like she has everything under control. "
Healy typically runs between 30 and 50 miles a week, about half the amount of a world-clbad elder, and for many of the year, she still plays hockey with her Holy Child School. Killiney and the Avoca Club
In winter, Marnell is working on the hockey race and believes that combining the two at this age is the perfect recipe for long-term success. "
" Sometimes it means that the running sessions are bumped, but this is preferable to the tiredness of Sarah's sessions. "
" It is common knowledge that early specialization is bad for an athlete. " Sarah is a very accomplished hockey player and at just 17, there is no reason to give up something she likes. "
Marnell points out importance of Healy's family to support his ambitions, and when he s' next year, "With a personal best of 4: 09.25, Healy could run to the Senior European Championships next month if she wanted to, but that's never been the case, then when they will be on it, she will be at Irish College in Killarney, her last summer race coming to Morton Games in Santry next week
The best American colleges are lining up with offers from Scholarships, but Healy will probably not follow this route next year. "I think I'm going to stay here, that's the plan right now," she says, "I could study law or something like that – nothing really athletic anyway."
in her litter, not that she looks too far ahead.
"I would love to go there, but I have not thought about it much.Eoghan always says that he thinks long term."
She started to do gym for the first time this year, even though it was put on ice for his racing season.
"It's very easy, I'm I'm pretty weak," she says with a laugh
at the & # 39; At present, his options seem endless, but if there is a principle that has worked for Healy so far, it's the ultimate sophistication of Leonardo da Vinci. useless comparisons with the wonders of the past, but that does not do any service to an athlete who embarks on a journey that could end just about anywhere.
"That's the nature of the journey. sporting lover of wanting Sonia or Fionnuala, these athletes have brought a lot of joy to the Irish, "says Marnell.
" But Sarah will not be next, she's I'll be Sarah Healy first and you'll get 100pc of her, however far who takes her. "
Irish Independent
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