Coscoran looking ahead to a bright 2022

For most athletes competing at the Olympic Games is the pinnacle of their careers, but for Star of the Sea AC's Andrew Coscoran last summer's impressive showing Tokyo games made him hungry for more.

The Balbriggan man, who runs for Meath Athletics and the Star of the Sea club, achieved a rare feat for an Irish runner when he qualified for the semi-finals of the 1500m in Tokyo and he missed out on a place in the final by just one second.

Just a few weeks ago Coscoran proved his value as a cross-country athlete too when he went close to medalling as part of the Ireland mixed relay team with Ciara Mageean, Luke McCann and Síofra Cléirigh Büttner at the European Cross-Country Championships in Dublin.

Instead of putting his spikes up and enjoying the festivities Coscoran is "full steam ahead" focused on what he hopes will be a massive 2022 where he intends to compete at the European and World Championships as well as several major indoor competitions.

"I don't think I'll rest and recover, we'll just continue to build and get the training done. There's a big indoor season coming ahead and a lot of ranking points on the table or a chance to run 'A' standards to qualify for World and Europeans," he said at the launch of the Irish Life Health 'Runuary' programme.

Coscoran also confirmed that he will look to open his season with the Millrose Games which begin on 29th January in New York, before prospective races in Birmingham and Metz.

"There's a lot of competition coming next year as well. World Indoors and then straight out to Europeans, Worlds and World University Games.

"At the moment, we're definitely looking at World Outdoors as a huge competition and then we'll see what else we fit in to the schedule, but we should probably be targeting as many competitions as possible."

So just how pleased was Coscoran with his 2021 exploits?

"For me, it's been a huge breakthrough year. I've got to places I didn't think I would and it's kind of given me a platform now and opportunity to strive for higher," he said.

"Being there in the middle of it in the semi-finals (at the Olympic Games), you just observe everyone and see everyone is human at the end of the day.

"Everyone does the same thing, they put their runners on and go for a run and get consistency in training and that's how they get good. That is how you can get to that level so you kind of see that it is doable.

"We'll be aiming for big performances this year coming. Last year proved that we can be competitive up the top so this year with another year of training behind me and another year of experience at a high level, we're aiming for finals - and depending on the competition - maybe even a medal here or there going forward," concluded the Star of the Sea athlete.

RUNUARY

Coscoran launched the Irish Life Health Runuary alongside running legend Sonia O’Sullivan, to support all levels of runners, to run January and not let it run them.

Research has shown that the popularity of running soared during the height of restrictions but the number of people out running and jogging regularly since society started to reopen has steadily declined (2021 Irish Sports Monitor).

Irish Life Health want to support people to get back into that healthy habit because running is for life, not just for lockdown!

Irish Life Health has teamed up with Athletics Ireland to help runners in the New Year to get back into the routine of running again.

Starting on 1st January, it encourages runners from beginners to the more experienced to commit to a challenging but realistic running programme to help them reach their personal goals with a target distance of 5km, 5-miles or 10-miles to be completed on 31st January.

"There are programme options available from training three, four or five days a week, building up to completing a selected targeted distance of 5km, 5-miles or 10-miles on Monday January 31st. Runners can select a ‘First Timer’ or a ‘Run a Faster’ programme across all the distances,” said Coscoran.

While Sonia O'Sullivan added: “Running has always been a huge part of my life. While the intensity and volume of training has changed since the peak of my competitive days, I still feel the benefit and joy from running a couple of times a week.

"I’m delighted to be partnering with Irish Life Health on this initiative and I would encourage runners to sign up to Runuary to help them build a consistent running practice.

"By making the habit of running a goal you’ll feel really satisfied with what you have accomplished by the end of the four-week challenge."

There is a specialist team who will support runners when they sign up to the programme including a performance sports psychologist, physiotherapist, nutritionist and Athletics Ireland qualified running coach.

They will also be provided with coaching expertise in the Irish Life Health Runuary Facebook group which will offer them encouragement and advice to keep them moving through their miles.

Entry is free of charge and runners can sign up now at irishlifehealth.ie/runuary.