Charity runner Mark Allison breaks ankle in accident

May 27 2010 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

A MAN bidding to run across America in an epic trek has suffered a huge setback after breaking his ankle in a freak accident.

Mark Allison is halfway through a gruelling two-year training programme aiming to get him in shape to cross America in just 100 days.

But the father-of-one’s progress has been hit with a setback after an accident at the weekend left Mark in hospital needing surgery to his ankle.

His bone snapped during a coast-to-coast trip after a punctured tyre sent him flying from his bike only a few miles near his home in Shotley Bridge, County Durham.

The injury could set his training schedule back months as he battles back to fitness and tries to return to his preparations.

Last night Mark, an employee at Northern Rock, said his first thought was to update his 500 followers on social networking site Twitter.

He said: “I was on the side of the road and I just logged on and let people know. Everyone’s been really supportive and I just felt it was important they got the news.

“I’ve had two pins put in and I’ve been in hospital for a while. I wasn’t going very fast but I was travelling with a group of friends who I do the ride with once a year. We call ourselves the ‘Men of Steel’ but that’s ironic because I’ve proven that wrong. If I have to put the event back by a month then that’s fine. It’s not too important and I know that I can get back to fitness quickly.”