Ciara Mageean is getting closer to a return and confirmed September's World Athletics Championships in Tokyo are "the big aim" driving her recovery.
Mageean missed out on the Paris Olympics last summer due to a longstanding ankle issue that ultimately required surgery.
After going under the knife in September, the 32-year-old has had to be disciplined and patient in her recuperation, coming under instructions to stay off her feet for most of the day in the early stages of her rehab.
However there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Mageean is now targeting an important step forward as she sets her sights on the Worlds.
"We're looking at four, five months post-op now," she told RTÉ Radio 1's The Ray D'Arcy Show.
"I went through all the early rehab where I had to keep my foot elevated 50 minutes of every hour. I'd ten minutes where I was able to toddle about and go to the toilet, but the rest of it I'd my foot elevated to keep the swelling down. There was a good few packets of Pringles ate and there was a lot of TV watched.
"When I was allowed I got back training. I had to let the wound completely heal over. Currently now I'm cross-training flat out, I'm training as normal as I can without being able to run.
"I'm not allowed to run just yet. I'm flying to Manchester tomorrow to meet my physio, Chris. He's been my physio for the past number of years. I'm hoping, fingers crossed, that Chris will tell me that I'll be able to run in the next few weeks. (The Worlds) is the big aim."
Mageean was at Tuesday's Lidl National Football League season launch as part of a panel to discuss new research spotlighting the importance of developing and elevating Irish female sporting role models.
In a separate interview with RTÉ Sport's Evanne Ní Chuilinn, the Portaferry woman opened up on the responsibility she feels as a role model for budding athletes.
"It's probably something that whenever people ask there's a little bit of, 'who me?'" said Mageean.
"I think there's a little humility with that but also it is funny because we come into our sport and our focus is to be the best that we can be. We're in that little channel and tunnel vision towards excelling. Sometimes you don't take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
"For me, as I've progressed through the sport, I've had a few opportunities - injury has granted me that - to take a step back and to look and realise there's such an amazing opportunity as an athlete, a huge honour to be able to be that role model for other people, for young children, girls and boys alike, but also grown-ups. We all can be inspired.
"It's a huge honour to be considered a role model. It's something that I honestly take really seriously. Every time I step out there I represent myself, the whole of our nation and every little girl that's following behind me."
