Endurance runner Eemil Helander’s plans for the season that started were renewed, when the ankle he broke last year still can’t stand the steeplechase. On smooth trips, Helander believes he will be competing already in June.
by Eemil Helander last summer was unlucky. The Jyväskylä native broke his left ankle in the season’s first 3,000-meter steeplechase at the end of May. This year, he was supposed to compete in obstacles for the first time at the Nordic championships on the last weekend of May, but this time the super talent of endurance running didn’t even make it to the starting line.
The same left ankle hurt during training, when Helander tried crossing the water barrier for the first time since the accident a year ago.
– I came down from the water obstacle normally and in a good position. Nothing was broken, but the ankle collected fluid and was painful, Helander describes.
Descending a water obstacle puts more strain on the ankle than dry obstacles, from which one descends to a flat surface. Helander has been running dry obstacles in training as usual, but he has decided to give up obstacle races this summer.
– There would be a big risk that I would injure my ankle again. The only reasonable solution is not to run obstacles, because I don’t want to hit my head on the wall, the runner reasons.
EC hopes at 5,000 meters
The unsuccessful obstacle training was followed by a week’s break from running. Now Helander is jogging again, but the hardest strokes with spikes have yet to be tried. However, the runner is hopeful that he would be seen at the Games already in June. Luckily for Helander, 5,000 meters has always been a strong side sport for him, which has already run in 13:45,49 this season.
– Steeplechase has been the main event, but I like 5,000 meters just as much, Helander describes.
Originally, Helander’s main goal of the season was to grab a medal in the steeplechase at the under-23 European Championships. If he had been healthy, he would have had realistic opportunities for that. Now the goals have been moved to 5,000 meters, which Helander is eighth in this season’s European under-23 statistics.
– Based on previous years, I think that 1:30 p.m. with a good grip is enough for the top fight. It’s quite possible for me, Helander reflects.
In the fall, the place of the report
Helander has another summer in a row without steeplechas ahead of him. In the fall, he thinks together with his coach Ari Nummelan with whether it is worth investing in them in the future. Another option would be to focus on smooth track trips, but the runner, who recently turned 22, is not yet ready for that.
– The ankle could be made to work through repetitions. Now the problem is that there are no repetitions, since I haven’t practiced the water obstacle once since May of last year. At this point in the season, I can no longer practice the water obstacle every day, Helander thinks.
– However, in no way have I ruled out obstacles in my entire career, he adds.
The young runner is otherwise optimistic. Even though the main trip was forced to change and there was a training break at the beginning of the competition season, Helander sees no reason to despair.
– I am absolutely sure that I will still run hard this summer, he concludes.