POLLOCK Paul

Ireland
Athletics
25 Jun 1986
35
Male
HOLYWOOD
 
Great Britain
GREAT BRITAIN

Events and Medals

Discipline Event Rank Medal
ATH Athletics Men's Marathon 71

Schedule

Change
Start Time Location Event Status
Sapporo Odori Park
Men's Marathon Final
Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

:
Olympic Games
YearLocationMarathon
2016Rio de Janeiro, BRA32nd (2:16:24)

World Athletics Championships
YearLocationMarathon
2013Moscow, RUS21st (2:16:42)

European Championships
YearLocationMarathonMarathon Team
2018Berlin, GER47th (2:23:26)6th (6:53:55)

World Half Marathon Championships
RankEventYearLocationResult
21Half Marathon Team2018Valencia, ESP3:14:44
77Half Marathon2018Valencia, ESP1:04:29


Legend
SF - Semifinal, QF - Quarterfinal, 1R - 1st Round, Qual. - Qualification, QR - Qualification Round, DNF - Did Not Finish, DNS - Did Not Start, DQ - Disqualified, NM - No Mark, [Relay athlete without time] - Did not run in final
:
Athlete, Doctor
:
Medicine - Queen's University Belfast, Great Britain
:
Wife Sophie, one son [2019]
:
English
:
Annadale Striders [Belfast, GBR]
:
Andrew Hobdell [personal], GBR
:
During his career he has suffered multiple stress fractures. (irishnews.com, 01 May 2020)

A foot injury forced him to miss the London Marathon in April 2016. (bbc.com, 18 Apr 2016)

He suffered a hip injury in late 2014. (athleticsni.org, 05 Dec 2014)

In June 2014 cellulitis altered his ankle mechanics, causing stress throughout his leg and into his back. This caused his back to seize up, pinching a nerve. He consulted chiropractors and after treatment he was able to run pain-free the following day. (paulpollock.blogspot.co.uk, 15 Jun 2014)

In early 2012 he sustained a serious knee injury while on a training run. He required surgery, and was out of action until May 2012. (bbc.co.uk, 15 Jun 2013; belfasttelegraph.co.uk, 13 Jul 2016)
:
He took up running at age 19 after his brother Conor "forced" him to take part in a 5km race. Despite not having ever trained, he won the race. (themoscownews.com, 19 Aug 2013; therunningreview.com, 21 Oct 2013)
:
After he won a race with no training, his brother insisted he join Abbey Athletics Club in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and told him he should not waste his talent. "I hated it for the first few months, being sick between sessions." (themoscownews.com, 19 Aug 2013)
:
To compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (irishnews.com, 01 May 2020)
:
His first coach Bobby Rea. (therunningreview.com, 21 Oct 2013)
:
"Even though the road may be long, your will must be longer." (ppmarathon.com, 31 May 2016)

General Interest

General
OCCUPATION
He is an accident and emergency [A&E] doctor in Harrogate, England, and is able to make his own work schedule to fit around training and competitions. "One of the main benefits of working in a hospital, and working in A&E, is that you can adapt to new things very quickly and change your plans around at short notice. Any time I'm home [in Northern Ireland] I do a few shifts at the Royal Victoria Hospital [Belfast]." In 2013 he gave up full-time work as a junior doctor at the Royal Victoria Hospital when he decided to focus on training for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Injury had ended his chances of competing at the 2012 Games in London. "My parents went ballistic when I told them I quit my job. They thought I was mad to give up the security of a good job to go back to having no money and training all the time. But I'd regret it if I didn't try again." (irishnews.com, 01 May 2020; themoscownews.com, 19 Aug 2013; bbc.co.uk, 06 Aug 2013; belfasttelegraph.co.uk, 13 Jul 2016)

Legend
:
Gold Medal Event
:
Silver Medal Event
:
Bronze Medal Event
Content 1 (removed through CDN)
Content 2 (removed through CDN).
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