We’ve been back from Project Walk for nearly 3 months now and I’m balancing training in hospital with Project Walk training in my old university, Trinity College Dublin. I’m training between 12 and 18 hours per week at the moment and this video shows me getting right back to basics by trying to crawl:
“South Pole Simon” O’Donnell, my trainer and one of my team mates from the South Pole Race 2009, trained with me at Project Walk in California. Now he is training me back home and helping me to push the boundaries of what my paralysed limbs can or can’t do.
Before the South Pole Race we had training videos of sprinting whilst dragging tires behind us and doing hand stand press ups. The sort of stuff that we could brag about. But now it’s about learning how to crawl and I’d imagine the video doesn’t look so good.
My hope is that this type of aggressive physical therapy programme will produce some improvement in my paralysed legs. At best the prize for the current indignity could be walking. And at worst, it will keep me fit and ready for any medical interventions that appear in the years ahead.
Mark, you rock, keep going, just when I need a kick in the ass to move forward, you always tweet. Gary
Sure looks like hard work but with such dedication and enthusiasm I’m putting my money on this taking you much further than across a mat. Keep it up ! Kirstin Conroy
Mark good to see your back home again and close to your family and friends. Glad to see your pushing your boundaries again and hopefully you will get the breakthrough you deserve. My wife Maria met you after the Late Late show and she said you are just the nicest man and she passes on her regards. All the best Liam.
Keep up the fight Mark, you’re a genuine inspiration.
Hi Mark,
I’ve been thinking about you a lot recently. You’re a total inspiration!
Stay strong,
Gillian
It sounds so feeble as I truly don’t think there’s anything that sums this up but you are truly an inspirational young man and possess something much more impressive and deeper than willpower alone. I dont know you at all but ive doubt that if you believe you’ll walk again, you will.
All the best with your recovery.