A sort ofIt was as if a valve had opened, as if the overpressure had disappeared: about 15,000 participants started the half marathon in Berlin on Sunday, about 6,000 fewer than reported. “It’s not easy to stay in shape for eight months,” Kenyan Joyciline Jepkosgei complained, having been forced to rest because there was no match, this situation is now over thanks to the Berlin organizers.
The 27-year-old showed that she made good use of her time: she completed 21.1 kilometers in 1:05:16 hours, setting a record for the starting and ending points from the Brandenburg Gate to the Victory Column. . Her sponsor allowed Kenyans to avoid training camps during the coronavirus pandemic and continue to pay her bonuses.
The half marathon is not only a relief, but also a preparation for the London Marathon in early October, she said happily on Sunday. She set two world records in the half marathon and made her debut in the New York Marathon in 2019. With this success, she became a popular candidate for England to win the championship.
Schoneborn eighth
Rabea Schöneborn ranked eighth with 1:10:35, behind two other Kenyans Nancy Meto (1:05:21) and Valary Aiyabei (1:07:32), three Ethiopians and Izabela Paszkiewicz from Poland. As a substitute runner for the Olympics, the sister of modern pentathlon Olympic champion Lena Schöneborn participated in the preparations for the Sapporo Marathon, but did not participate in the competition. “I am in good health,” she promised: “I want to run a marathon this fall.” This is likely to be a long-distance run through her hometown of Berlin in five weeks.
In the men’s competition, Philipp Pflieger ranked ninth in 1:03:03 hours, only 12 seconds below the best result at half distance. This week, he will return to Sestrière for altitude training with the old master Renato Canova. Pflieger also wants to show off his performance this fall. “You notice that all the amateurs and hobby runners are waiting to be allowed to participate in the race again,” he said, describing the atmosphere inside and outside the track. Even during the warm-up, when the starting number with his name was still hidden under the jacket, spectators and fans-many of them even running participants-cheered for him and called by his first name.
Many athletes ended a two-year dry period in the half marathon on Sunday. Many amateur runners said that the major road races were cancelled last year and in the spring of 2021. They lacked goals and therefore lacked the motivation to train regularly.
Successful restart
“We can win a big win,” said Mark Milde, the event director of the organization SCC Event GmbH. “We managed to start running again.” However, despite their report on Sunday, 6000 runners were not on the track-because The worry about the coronavirus is still due to lack of training, no one knows. For Felix Kipkoech, who is only 23 years old, this run is also a relief.
After less than 42 minutes from 15 kilometers, he decided to speed up, leaving his Kenyan compatriots Josphat Tanui (second place in 59 minutes and 40 seconds) and Philemon Kiplimo (59 minutes and 54 seconds) behind. His solo in the last 5000 meters from Potsdamer Platz through the middle to the Brandenburg Gate allowed the newcomer to enter the best time of the year with a score of 58:57 minutes and provided a promising opportunity for further participation. Reference. He thinks he is too young to make his debut at the marathon distance. Among the six Kenyans in the top six, he does not like to talk about plans to run 42.195 kilometers in a row.
Nevertheless, the tournament director Mild hopes to sign him on September 26. As the pacemaker of the famous Ethiopian player Kenenisa Bekele, Kipkoech can appreciate the highest discipline of road running and is familiar with the route that attracts the best time and record.
Kipkoech (from Kenya)
Mild seems to be playing just right when dealing with young runners. Due to difficulties with German visas, he is still staying in Kenya this Thursday. With gentle intervention, Kipkoc flew over. On Sunday, after the record-breaking start, the top car lost speed — 10 kilometers in 27 minutes and 46 minutes — and after the pacemaker left headwind, Mild Kipkoc yelled from her bike: “You don’t sweat at all!” The athlete was immediately ready to change the situation.
