For a man who is used to preparing for a new season pounding the tarmac, spending the last few weeks in water hasnt been easy. Swimming has been a major part of Mark Englishs return to fitness since a foot injury (thanks to running over a pothole) forced his withdrawal from the World Indoor Championships in March.The 23-year-old Sky Academy Sports Scholar and 800m runner opens up about his season preparation and love affair with athletics.... .Im optimistic about the summer. The challenge since the injury has been finding ways to keep fit so when I return to training properly I can focus on finding my rhythm again.Im hungrier than ever to put on my spikes and leave the swimming goggles behind. I have a 600m race planned for Birmingham on June 6 but Ill need to see how the injury progresses.I really hope I can race in Amsterdam at the European Championships, but it isnt the priority. The Olympics come first, and I wont do anything that would put my race preparations for Rio in jeopardy.Fighting back to fitness got me thinking about what makes my sport so great. So I wrote a few words..... Sebastian Coe beats fierce rival Steve Ovett in the 1500m final at the 1980 Moscow Olympics 1. RIVALRIESThe IAAF and meet directors are really trying to promote head-to-heads this year and it is needed if they want to return to the Seb Coe vs Steve Ovett and Linford Christie vs Carl Lewis days.Essentially, its about creating the right story around it and allowing people to naturally choose sides.Take the Coe-Ovett rivalry. This was pitted as a good boy vs bad boy rivalry. The public were intrigued because they were a Coe or an Ovett fan. Similarly, you were a Linford Christie or Carl Lewis fan.And its no surprise to watch these showdowns and see packed-out stadiums. Last year, we saw huge interest in Usain Bolt vs Justin Gatlin in Beijing. Everyone loves a good ol showdown.2. DRAMAAnything can and does happen. Even the overwhelming favourites have a capacity to bottle and its an irresistible sight to watch. Take John Treacys victory over Ovett - otherwise known as that arrogance personified video on YouTube.The mud lark Treacy out-leans a celebrating Ovett who clearly thought he had the race sewn up. Youd be hard pressed to pick a better video to teach someone that it aint over till its over.3. THE PAIN IS RELATABLEI have to put my hands up and admit that before I was 10, I wouldnt run more than a mile. I wondered what the point was.Grabbing a football and using jumpers as goalposts seemed more fun than running around in circles. But then I had to run cross-country and experienced a whole new world of pain.Then came the fun run 5k and 10k races at local Turkey Trots. After grinding my way through those races, I could only imagine what marathoners had to put their bodies through on a daily basis.From then on, I went from switching the channel when a marathon came on, to empathising with the pain, focus and the slog. And those who have run any of these races will know what Im on about. Irelands David Gillick overcame the fashion conscious Bastian Swillims to be 2007 European indoor champion 4. NATIONAL GLORYTheres a huge surge of national pride anytime someone does well on the big stage. I know I felt incredibly proud watching David Gillick (400m) and hurdler Derval ORourke winning their indoor titles over the years. The arenas can be viewed as proving grounds, where nations seek to get one up on each other.I remember very well when Gillick beat the German athlete Bastian Swillims (donning a very eccentric one-piece suit) to win the European indoors in 2006.5. SIZES FOR EVERYONE Athletics is a sport that caters for all sizes.Its fascinating to walk around the dining hall at a Diamond League meeting and note the difference between the lean marathoners and the muscled shot-putters. No other sport has such a vast array of sizes.6. SUMMER MEETSA few of my mates came along to the Morton Games two years ago. This is an athletics meeting held in July in Santry, Dublin. They werent regulars at athletics meets but they thoroughly enjoyed it.From the exciting commentary trackside to great weather and track records - its a great place to chill in the summer. You dont even need to fully understand athletics to enjoy watching it.Im sure if I went to watch an NFL game, I wouldnt have a Scooby Doo what was going on, but Id still have a great time munching on some popcorn - its a well-sold package.Athletics could do even more to package itself along these lines, but meets like the Morton Games lead the way when it comes to entertainment and carnival-type atmospheres. Usain Bolt storms to victory for Jamaica at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia 7. RELAYSThe best sporting event I have ever been to without doubt has been the Penn Relays. Its the oldest and largest track meet in the United States. Its a mixture of high school, college, university and elite events, attracting 15,000 competitors over five days.The atmosphere is fascinating. The crowd usually tops 10,000 on the final day, many of them Jamaican. And when the USA vs the World relays begin, theres huge passion. Everyone loves getting behind a team.Invariably, there will be at least one race where the leader is hunted down over the last few strides. Its a refreshing reminder of whats beautiful about relays in general - displays of pure desire, guts and pride.WHATS COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS19 - 27 MAY: Savannah Marshall, World Championships in Kazakhstan22 - 30 MAY: Sam Oldham, Europan Gymnastics Championships in Switzerland Also See: About the Scholarship Meet the athletes Blogs Videos Galleries Wholesale Adidas NMD China . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. Red Adidas NMD China .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park. http://www.cheapadidasnmdchinastore.com/ . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. Adidas NMD China 2018 Outlet . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. Grey Adidas NMD China . Reigning world champion Eve Muirhead of Scotland opened with a 12-2 rout of Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in a battle of teams bound for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Michigan States 10-10 tie against Notre Dame in 1966 is a relic, part of an era before overtime came to college football.Theres something endearingly quaint about it, though. And while fans arent exactly clamoring for more ties, here are a few famous ones -- across all sports -- that earned their place in history:SEPT. 23, 1908: CHICAGO CUBS 1, NEW YORK GIANTS 1Yes, a crucial baseball game can end in a tie, especially if it descends into chaos. The Giants appeared to have won on a ninth-inning hit, and fans poured onto the field, but umpire Hank ODay ruled that runner Fred Merkle -- who started the play on first -- hadnt run to second as required. The run didnt count, and the game ended in a tie. When it was replayed, the Cubs won, and they took the pennant by one game over New York.NOV. 9, 1946: ARMY 0, NOTRE DAME 0This was football, not soccer, and the scoreless draw was actually one of the most memorable games of its era. It featured four Heisman Trophy winners, and top-ranked Army was unable to break through against the second-ranked Irish at Yankee Stadium.NOV. 23, 1968: HARVARD 29, YALE 29The headline of Harvards student newspaper -- Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 -- said it best. The Crimson erased a 29-13 deficit by scoring 16 points in the final 42 seconds.NOV. 24, 1973: MICHIGAN 10, OHIO STATE 10Theyre still bitter about this one in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines and Buckeyes were both unbeaten when this game ended deadlocked, so the Big Tens athletic directors voted to decide who went to the Rose Bowl. Ohio State was the choice. Its a wonder the league didnt adopt an overtime format immediately afterward.DEC. 31, 1975: CSKA MOSCOW 3, MONTREAL CANADIENS 3Soviet goaltender Vladislav Tretiak was sensational in this international clash at Montreals Forum, and the Canadiens settled for a tie despite badly outshooting the visitors. Soviet star Boris Mikhailov: On a club level, it was probably the best game ever played .NOV. 8, 1980: GEORGIA TECH 3, NOTRE DAME 3In the midst of its wworst season in 46 years, Georgia Tech somehow stunned No.dddddddddddd 1 Notre Dame 3-3 and ended the national championship hopes for the Irish. Notre Dame was 7-0 and had outscored its previous three opponents 88-6 before the tie.JAN. 1, 1988: AUBURN 16, SYRACUSE 16Auburn coach Pat Dye caused an uproar when the Tigers kicked a 30-yard field goal in the final seconds to spoil Syracuses shot at a 12-0 season. Dye stood by his decision: If they wanted to win, they should have blocked the field goal.AUG. 26, 1990: COLORADO 31, TENNESSEE 31The first Pigskin Classic -- a neutral-site showcase game early in the season -- was the start to Colorados championship season. The Buffaloes began the year 1-1-1 before running off 10 straight wins and beating Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl to claim the AP national title.SEPT. 10, 1993: DRAW BETWEEN JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ AND PERNELL WHITAKERChavez was 87-0 coming into the fight, but he barely remained undefeated with a draw against Whitaker. Its a win for me because the public will decide, Whitaker said.NOV. 26, 1994: FLORIDA 31, FLORIDA STATE 31Steve Spurriers Gators led 31-3 before Florida State stormed back with a dazzling rally. The Seminoles picked up where they left off when the teams met in the Sugar Bowl that season, beating Florida 23-17.JULY 9, 2002: AMERICAN LEAGUE 7, NATIONAL LEAGUE 7Fans were furious when this All-Star game was halted after 11 innings because the teams ran out of pitchers. It had been a terrific game, too, highlighted by Torii Hunters spectacular catch robbing Barry Bonds of a home run.NOV. 16, 2008: CINCINNATI BENGALS 13, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 13This utterly forgettable matchup is remembered because Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb said afterward he didnt know a game could end in a tie.No worries, Donovan. It doesnt happen often.---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Online Stitched Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Outlet College Jerseys For Sale Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys For Sale Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '