STUART Stokes will experience sporting glory before getting back to grass roots level inside a bizarre 24 hours next week.

On Monday night the Bolton athlete will compete against two Kenyan Olympic champions in the Commonwealth Games 3,000m steeplechase in a 60,000-seater stadium.

And then the PE teacher will fly straight home in time to take Year 9 football practice the following day.

The 33-year-old has just returned to top-flight competition this year after retiring from the sport two years ago.

He became demoralised when he failed to make the Great Britain Olympic team for the Beijing Olympics, saying UK Athletics had told him he would not be picked because of his age, even though he was one of only two British athletes to have run the Olympic qualifying time.

He then spent last year preparing for, and taking part in, the UK Ironman which he credits for keeping him in good enough shape to make a comeback to international athletics this year.

Stokes, who recently got a teaching job at Holy Cross High School in Chorley, took a laid-back approach to his return to competitive steeplechase.

But the former long-time British number one quickly found he was in good enough form to take on the best in the country again.

He is once again one of only two runners to get the Commonwealth Games qualifying time, comfortably dipping under the 8mins 39secs on three occasions with 8:34.06 at Solihull on July 10, followed by 8:35.79 at Gateshead the following week, and then 8:33.00 against world class athletes at the London Grand Prix Diamond League meeting at Crystal Palace in August.

His personal best is 8:23.66 which he ran in preparation for what he thought would be his Beijing experience.

Two years earlier he came fifth at the last Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, and four years previous to that he was fourth in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. His preparation for those were, however, far more professional than he has been able to do for these games, due to his teaching commitments.

And he is hoping his Rocky-style training can pay off with one last big performance on the big stage.

“Up to the Crystal Palace race I hadn’t any speed or track work at all,” he said.

“The Commonwealths weren’t until October and I was conscious that I didn’t peak in August.

“Since then I have done a lot more running sessions. But every running session I have done has been before 6am.

“I’ve got this job in a school, and I’ve got a small child, so they take up all my time after early morning.

“Every day I’ve been out at 4.30am running on the hills and roads. And when it comes light at about 5.15am I do my track work.

“I’ve got to show commitment to the job and to the kids at school, so I’m doing a full day’s work today then flying out to India, competing on the Monday, then flying straight back for Year 9 football practice on Tuesday.”

Stokes is relishing the big occasion, but he is under no illusions about his chances.

“There will be the usual Kenyan contenders – two Olympic champions and a Commonwealth champion – and on paper I’m probably ranked about ninth or tenth.

“But when you get to my age at 33 you enjoy the pride of running for your country. If I can finish fastest in the UK it would be an achievement.

“It will be on TV at a good time for the kids at school to watch, and I’m conscious that if I can inspire kids then it’s worthwhile.

“I have enjoyed two Commonwealth Games in the past and I love the big occasion in the big stadium – that’s what you do it for.”