Press Release - Frankfurt Marathon - 10/24/19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                  Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on Sunday:
 
            Mark Kiptoo goes hunting for Masters World Record, 
            Katharina Steinruck chases Olympic qualifying time
 
Mark Kiptoo and Katharina Steinruck know that the Mainova Frankfurt 
Marathon on Sunday is the most important race of the year in pursuit of 
their respective goals. The Kenyan Masters world record holder and the 
leading woman runner among the home contingent aim to exploit the Frankfurt 
course, renowned for its fast times. Last year Kiptoo, now 43, ran 2:07:50 
for a M40 world record and he says he feels capable of improving on that 
time. Katharina Steinruck has shown excellent form this year after heel 
surgery and her eyes are on the qualifying time of 2:29:30. Her personal 
best is currently 2:28:34, set three years ago.
 
Around 14,000 runners are expected on the startline for the Mainova 
Frankfurt Marathon which is an IAAF Gold Label race, the highest category 
of road race. It is still possible to enter during the Marathon Expo on 
Friday and Saturday. Further details can be found at: 
www.frankfurt-marathon.com 
 
Mark Kiptoo credits his longevity with a disciplined attitude not only to 
training but also his life in general: "What we put into our body, is what 
will come out. So the training we have been doing means I have confidence 
the body is capable of going through halfway in 62:30." That level of 
performance would put the 43-year-old on course for a major improvement on 
his age group world best.
 
Kiptoo's story may well give other late developers hope, though not 
everyone perhaps has the ability at his level: "I am sure that the reason 
why I can run so fast these days is because I began late as a runner. It 
wasn't until I was 28 that I realised I had talent." He made his marathon 
debut at 37 after a solid career on the track and cross-country." His 
preparation has gone flawlessly: "The key is that I don't have any physical 
problems and have also been able to do good speedwork sessions. Age is only 
a number." His personal best of 2:06:00 goes back to his pre-Masters days.
 
Frankfurt has been a happy hunting ground for the runner from Eldoret. He 
made his marathon debut here in 2013 with second place in 2:06:16, just one 
second behind the winner. A year later he won, aged 38, in 2:06:49, then 
came last year's age group world best. 
 
Everything points to Katharina Steinruck being in excellent form before she 
attempts to run the Olympic qualifying time of 2:29:30. After heel surgery 
in November 2018 she has set a clutch of personal bests recently which have 
put her on the right course: "I wouldn't say I am in the form of my life 
but there has been a clear step forward." In preparation for the marathon 
Steinruck has run personal bests of 32:39 for 10km and 1:12:23 for the half 
marathon. "The Olympic qualifying time is of course my number one goal. 
However I am also looking for a personal best. To run sub 2:28 would be a 
dream come true." 
 
More Information and online entry are available at: 
www.frankfurt-marathon.com  

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