FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mainova Frankfurt Marathon:
Valary Aiyabei thinks world record is possible in Frankfurt
Mental Strength played key role in her Course Record
in Mainova Frankfurt Marathon
You can have physical talent as an athlete but is that enough? Long term
followers of track and field will remember the oft cited quote by Sebastian
Coe in his competitive days when the current IAAF president, was asked a
question along the lines of: "What's the most important part of your
athletic armoury?" The response of the double Olympic champion at 1500m and
world record holder was: "The top nine inches." His view was, it's what in
the head that counts.
Valary Aiyabei of Kenya, the newly crowned women's champion and course
record holder of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon, certainly has physical
talent. Running 2:19:10 and, in the early stages of her solo run to victory
in the Festhalle, startlingly inside world record pace, shows you have to
be a special runner. Going through the first 5 km in 15:38 was astounding,
pointing to a finishing time, admittedly far in the distance, of inside
2:12 which would have been a staggering improvement on Brigid Kosgei's
world record of 2:14:04, set only two weeks previously in Chicago.
What made Aiyabei go out so fast? There've been occasional examples of
runners "showboating", wanting to look good only to fade as in Greek
mythology when Icarus and his father dared to venture too close to the sun.
But speaking barely minutes after crossing the finish line on the
Festhalle's red carpet, Valary Aiyabei reflected in matter of fact style:
"I started fast because I thought I could hang on later when I slowed
down." This response would suggest a marathon novice but that the Kenyan
definitely is not. The Frankfurt win was her third marathon of the year
after third place in Nagoya in Japan in 2:23:01 in early March, followed by
winning the Eldoret title on home ground with 2:27:19 in late April.
Talking later in more relaxed circumstances after the victory press
conference on Sunday, it became clear that Aiyabei's strong belief in her
capabilities has also been boosted by Brigid Kosgei's world record. The
latter carved 81 seconds off Paula Radcliffe's world record which had stood
for 16 years. The impression Valary Aiyabei gave in Frankfurt was that
there are other women, albeit from a select talent pool, who believe they
can follow suit: "The world record is possible if you train well and focus
on the race, everything is possible. I think it is possible because when I
was running those splits for a 2:14 finishing time, I felt comfortable."
She did slow down but though she spoke of having to "struggle and fight",
looked comfortable running at what eventually was 2:19 finishing tempo and
kept more than a minute between herself and a group of high quality
pursuers. There was an edge to her voice when she reflected on another
reason for going out so hard: "My plan was to run a PB because my personal
best had stood for so long." Aiyabei had run 2:20:53 for third place in
Berlin two years ago. She can certainly reflect on a mission accomplished
but Valary Aiyabei issued another declaration, expressing her delight at
the reception from the Frankfurt fans: "I believe the women's world record
can be run here. Yes, and I think I can do it!" Next year's Mainova
Frankfurt Marathon will take place on 25th October.
The day also brought good news for the two leading European women who both
comfortably achieved the Olympic qualifying time by running inside 2:29:30.
The Briton Steph Twell finished as top European in eighth place with an
impressive personal best of 2:26:40, improving by almost four minutes in
her second marathon. She also broke the 22 year-old Scottish marathon
record of Liz McColgan, who ran 2:26:52 back in 1997 in London. "Yes, I
feel I am much more of a marathon runner now," said Stephanie Twell.
Germany's Katharina Steinruck also made big inroads on her best time of
2:27:26 to achieve the qualifying time for Tokyo: "It was a great race for
me and I felt really good. Breaking the Olympic standard by more than two
minutes makes me very happy. I hope this is good enough to secure
nomination."
More Information is available at: www.frankfurt-marathon.com
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