Marathon man Cairess back firing on all cylinders ahead of Tokyo World Athletics Championships

Emile Cairess’ World Athletics Championships preparations have included 40-degree hot baths and an infection from an insect sting.

The Bradford native is gearing up for a return to the marathon distance after an ankle tendon injury forced him to pull out of the London Marathon in April.

Cairess, who was fourth in the Olympics last year, has been back firing on all cylinders since February apart from a brief reduction in his training after a sting from an insect.

“I’m in good shape, I have been training well, and I am looking forward to it,” the 27-year-old said.“I missed basically January and February with training, but since then, it has been very consistent.“I had a little problem in July with an infection from a bite or a sting, I don’t know what it was.

“It was in York, I think I got stung, and my elbow just swelled up, the redness started expanding, and I had to take antibiotics. I think I just got really unlucky with whatever bit me or stung me.

“It cost me a couple of sessions and only easy runs but apart from that, the last seven months have been very consistent, and I think I am in good shape and ready to go.

“The injury that caused me to miss London was a long time ago now and is definitely in the past.”

Cairess had been slated to lead British involvement at the London Marathon, but pulled out of the start list in February.

The Leeds City athlete was hoping to improve on his third-place finish at the same race in 2024.

He followed that result with a stunning fourth place on his Olympic debut, the best British performance over 26.2 miles in two decades.

Cairess has not raced the marathon distance since that day in Paris but was crowned British 10,000m champion in June.

He will now take to Tokyo’s streets as the only British representative in the marathon, which takes place on 15 September.

Conditions in Tokyo will likely be hot and humid, with the marathon races beginning at 8am to stave off the worst of the heat.

“I’ve been doing saunas for the last six months, and I am doing some heat bath preparations at the moment at Leeds Beckett University with the Talent Hub, so I feel like I will be as prepared as I can be for the heat,” he said at a Novuna-backed British camp – with the company financing the ambitions of millions across the UK, from helping business grow and individuals plan for the future, to backing British Athletics on the global stage.

“The bath is set for 40 degrees, you stay in it for 40-45 minutes, the physiologist checks your temperature every five minutes, and you want to keep it inside a certain range.

“They are not the most enjoyable, it is quite nice for about 5 minutes, and then it is pretty hot, but it is necessary, so I have to do them.

“I’ve not raced in conditions like Tokyo before, so I can’t guarantee that I will cope with them, but I feel like I have given myself the best chance to cope with them, so hopefully I do.”

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