Ronan Foolkes Evening Echo Article

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FOOLKES EYES 800M MOVE

To most Irish athletics fans, talented Togher man Ronan Foolkes is somewhat of an unknown. But not for much longer, writes Eoghan Murphy, as the Cork hurdler is planning a move to the middle-distances which he hopes will inevitably lead to the realisation of his dream, to become Olympic champion.

In an interview conducted exclusively with the Evening Echo, Foolkes revealed the moment he realised his destiny as a middle distance star. "It was while training with the Mon(North Monastery) in Gran Canaria this Easter that I finally acknowledged my potential as an 800 metre runner." exclaimed the former Schools' 400metre hurdles champion. "For years my teammates have marvelled at my physique, telling me that naturally I was suited to the longer distances."

Not that the determained Foolkes paid any attention to that talk, instead focusing on his preferred event, the long hurdles, an event in which he earned international honours at the prestigious U23 international in Derby last year. However, while in the Canaries for a stint of warm weather training, a session he completed accompanied by distance man Mark Hanrahan finally showed this future star his mercurial talent at middle distance running.

"It was the seventh day over in Gran Canaria" recalled Foolkes, "and we were all beginning to feel the strain of the intense workload. I had intended on just working on some plyos when Mark sked me to jump in with him for a few 800s. Needless to say Mark was operating at around 2:05 per interval so I decided to jump in for just one, telling him I'd lead" I passed the 400m mark in 55seconds flat, miles clear, and just coasted the last lap for an incredibly easy 1:54". Remarkably, Foolkes then proceeded to complete another three repititions, all under 1:56. "I can't explain it really" quipped the popular Ballincollig man. "Maybe it was just meant to be."

Foolkes completed three futher sessions geared towards 800m running in the Canaries, under the supervision of Br.John Dooley, and upon returning has, with the help of some familiar faces on the Cork athletics scene, embarked on a mission to be the greatest 2-lap runner EVER.

"Training has just been incredible. I run 7 miles at pace each morning, and then have my various interval sessions in the evenings. I usually have weights or plyometrics each afternoon followed by an easy 30-minute jog. I'm getting a lot of support from the guys around here who pace my sessions for me, particularly Ciarán ó Lionáird and John Shine, who have sacrificed their own promising careers to help me. I often ask them why they are willing to act so selflessly, you know, but i suppose they realise they are simply less talented than me"

Never short of confidence, Foolkes makes his debut in the middle-distances over 1500m at Leevale Open Sports next weekend, following which he will travel to Dublin for his eagerly awaited debut at the half-mile. "I won't be expecting much in the first few races" he explained, "I would be happy with 3:42 and 1:48, to begin with. It's early days yet you know, but long term I see myself as the next great white middle-distance runner. Coe and Ovett proved it could be done, as has Brozakovskiy, and I see myself as the natural successor to these great competitors. This summer I want obviously to win the European U23s and achieve the qualifying standard for Helsinki(The World Athletics Championships). Realistically I believe a medal in Finland at senior level is out of my reach, but you just never know, and the experience will help me in my long quest for gold in Bejing(at the Olympics)"

So, as a new track season prepares to unfold, a new star is ready, it seems, to step into the limelight. We shall no doubt be hearing a lot more
about the shy, yet confident Togher man who plans, in time, to become the greatest ever over the legendary half-mile distance. Remember the name; Ronan Foolkes. You will be hearing it a lot more over the coming months and years as finally, it seems we have an athlete capable of starting a new era of Irish distance dominance.

08/04/05

ecksor

Good luck to the guy, he obviously has talent going by his hurdles results and those training times are very good. Without wanting to knock his ambition, it might be wise to get a few races under his belt before talking in public about being the greatest ever.

Common Sense

I've never heard of this guy. I looked at the end of the article and saw the dateline was 8/4/05 - should that not have 1/4/05. After all this guy's name is Ronan FOOLkes. Just asked.

ecksor

Indeed, but there's a wealth of information out there that you could have checked without having to ask.

He was 2nd in the U/23 and national senior 400m hurdles events last year.

Common Sense

OK Eksor - but the purpose of a chat board is to chat - and it was in the spirit of chatting that I asked the question. For some reason, the article had a real spoof ring to it. If I met you in a pub and start to chat with you about athletics would you expect me to have exhausted all research before asking a question.

ecksor

Well, I don't know if I'd consider this a chat board, but it certainly isn't a pub where access to information is often limited or non-existant. I don't expect you to exhaust all research. All I did was check the first page of google results, which is really the bare minimum rather than being exhaustive. It doesn't particularly bother me if you post questions about things that you could find out for yourself in 30 seconds (not on this forum anyway), it was just a suggestion to help you find out such information in a more efficient manner.

Off-topic aside about the nature of pub discussion. With the introduction of wireless hotspots into many pubs, some groups of people are finding that instead of annoying and time-wasting arguments continuing on and on and on, it's often convenient to settle something immediately by consulting an online reference before moving onto the next topic of discussion.

Squirrel

Good luck to him, but does he not sound just a little bit cocky

ma gimp wrote:

particularly Ciarán ó Lionáird and John Shine, who have sacrificed their own promising careers to help me. I often ask them why they are willing to act so selflessly, you know, but i suppose they realise they are simply less talented than me

I mean, who says that about their training partners, in the press. We all say it in our training group, but going public like that with 2 of the countries most promising young stars is a bit dodgy

Common Sense

ecksor wrote:

Well, I don't know if I'd consider this a chat board, but it certainly isn't a pub where access to information is often limited or non-existant. I don't expect you to exhaust all research. All I did was check the first page of google results, which is really the bare minimum rather than being exhaustive. It doesn't particularly bother me if you post questions about things that you could find out for yourself in 30 seconds (not on this forum anyway), it was just a suggestion to help you find out such information in a more efficient manner.

Off-topic aside about the nature of pub discussion. With the introduction of wireless hotspots into many pubs, some groups of people are finding that instead of annoying and time-wasting arguments continuing on and on and on, it's often convenient to settle something immediately by consulting an online reference before moving onto the next topic of discussion.

Point taken, Ecksor. Like Squirrel I just found the cockiness of the whole interview and his comments about his training partners a bit 'spoofish'. In event I wish him all the best. And best wishes to you too, Ecksor - if we ever do meet in a pub I hope we'll share a pint and some good chat.

ecksor

Oh, I agree that it sounds like a wind up alright, just not from that point of view.

I might take you up on that offer sometime, and I'd even leave my laptop out of it.

nickcave

I know Ronan. I'm in his club, but I think he's having a laugh. He does 400's out on the track, but 4 x 800 each in 1:56 would be a big step for him. It could have happened though, and well done Ronan if it did, great running. He's not a world-class runner, and he'll never run a 3:42 1500. He's probably taking the piss there, especially since he doesn't train with O'Lionaird and Shine. He just doesn't like them because they're Leevale's 2 most promising young runners. Maybe he did do those miraculous sessions in the Canaries, but he's just having a laugh, believe me. I like the guy, but Olympic gold? yeah...

Wish I got the Echo though. Sounds like a hilarious article.

ecksor

Well, this might be a hoax by someone else entirely. Can someone confirm that that article was actually printed in the echo? I looked at their website and didn't see it, but couldn't see a way of searching back a few days either.

RedBranchKnight

I must admit I got the distinct impression that this was an Aprils Fool prank but having read the thread it does seem more like a hoax. Nice to watch his "progress" during season. Maybe we should all print out the article and attach it to our fridge doors and look at it again when four Olympiads have passed......
more seriously I am a bit disturbed by this thought that pub arguments can now be settled by simply going into the corner of the pub and going online. As I am 52 and a lifelong non drinker I find that my sole purpose in being in a bar is to pick arguments with total strangers....another depressing "victory" for the internet

LegacyUser

this guy is amazing!