Our 3 top German runners took part in the 36th edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. Especially, Gabius and Heinig by their impressive performances.
“I couldn’t lift up my arms anymore when crossing the finish.”
Arne Gabius: Germany champion and 6th place finisher in 2 hours 9 min. and 59 sec.
How did the birth of your son Frederik Bosse shortly before the marathon affect you?
It fit perfectly, since it was 3 days beforehand. On the night from Wednesday to Thursday, we were in the hospital. On Thursday, I didn’t train. I purposely do this in training in the marathon week, so that I leave one day free without training. The birth of my son was an extra motivation. During the race, I was so focused, I didn’t have time to think about anything else.
How was your third marathon in Frankfurt?
It really hard with the headwinds and by the last part of the race I had problems with my left quadricep. I risked everything, so that I could try and reach a time of under 2 hours and 10 mins. I’m quite happy that I reached my goal. The last couple of kilometers were really hard and I was really tired and quite emotional at the finish.
What plans do you have for 2018?
I will run a spring marathon. That’s what I’d like to do. I want to go to my training camp together with my family and just want to travel around. Especially, in the first year with my child, I want have as much time possible together. I am also planning a marathon in the fall. When it fits and I’m recovered, I can imagine that I will run the 10.000 meters by the European Championships in Berlin. I am a distance runner and track and field are a collection from different disciplines. Why shouldn’t I run the 25 rounds in a fully-packed Olympia stadium?
“There have been many tears of joy running down my cheeks”
Katharina Heinig: German champion and 8th place finisher 2 hours 29 min. 29 sec.
How were your first moments as German champion when you crossed the finished?
I was over excited, I never imagined that this would happen. This is when the tears of joy, started to roll down my cheeks. Because of this I cheered. Also, because of the time: I was stayed under 2 hours and 30 min. I had no more energy, but because of the euphoric feeling and the spectators along the course, I was able to force myself to push myself for the thank you round in the convention hall.
Your own feeling about that run itself?
It was a superb group, with whom I was underway with. That pacemakers did a fantastic job. It was a blockbuster run and in the end very hard. In the city the excitement and took control – and the run in the convention center was absolutely crazy.
How are you looking forward to the European Championships 2018 in Berlin?
It is of course a goal of mine, to reach the normal A-class from 2 hours and 32 min. I already reached that goal. With the German title, this as the crown to top it off, I am ready for the European Championships. This eases my nerves quite a bit, that my hard work paid off so that I received the qualification for the European Championships. There will be a lot of younger athletes that have in mind: I can do that too.
“My daughter told me in the morning, that I would place second”
Fate Tola: German runner up and 9th place total finisher 2 hours 30 min. and 12 sec.
How do you feel about placing second by the Germany Championships and with your race in total?
Around kilometer 30, I couldn’t keep up the tempo anymore. The wind was quite strong and I had no power left. I am however, still quite satisfied with my results: I am seconds by the German Championships and I qualified for the European Champions norm, everything is just fine. My daughter told me before the race, that I would place second. The finishing stretch was wonderful in front of all of the spectators. Of course, I wanted to win, but that is not always possible.
How was your training for Frankfurt?
My preparation was very good. I trained like I always trained, together with my husband Musa. It was already my third marathon this year. The timing was close to the Olympics in London, but I was really motivated and I had a great memory about the marathon in Frankfurt from the previous year.
What are your future plans?
I need to take at least a one-month break. And next year I will run by the European Championships in Berlin.
The time before Christmas is a calorie-full sinning time. You go to the Christmas markets and you just can’t get by without drinking a mulled wine or a punch. Not only that but there’s more than enough sweets that you can find there. Does an endurance athlete have to resist these urges or is a little bit of sinning allowed?
There is no forbidden food
According to a study from the US from New Yorker Skidmore College, that took place over a 12-week timespan, the eating habits and weight changes were observed. The participants should eat only low fat and protein rich products, they also were allowed to eat what they wanted on the last day of the week and how much they wanted to eat. On the average, the participants lost 5 kilos of their starting weight. Psychologically, the “Cheat Day”, a day in which you can eat what you like, does have positive effects. Because while the participants ate at the beginning of the period still quite unrestrained, most were satisfied a few weeks already after additional portion or seconds. Towards the end many used “Cheat Day” only now and then or even left it out completely.
The negative side of this diet strategy
Even this type of dieting has its dangers. Take a look at the list of the eating disorders, if you do this type of strategy, you’ll might stay by “Binge Eating Disorder”. This is the eating disorder, in which the person has periodically the need to eat massive amounts of food with the loss of the control about how much one is eating. On the opposite side to Bulimia, there is no solution this to problem. By having a so-called, “Cheat Day”, is the way to binge eating no so far and can lead to even more bad eating habits.
Facts:
Whoever takes the occasional time out of his or her day to eat healthy and an low-calorie dieting, doesn’t need to worry about gaining weight. Feasting by the Christmas season in full-throttle can be enjoyed and eating the delicious foods and sinning without having a conscious is also okay, just as long as it doesn’t become a habit. Whoever actively wants to make it through the Christmas season with a nutritional strategie such as the so-called, “Cheat Days”, should stay away from the eating orgies, because the way to an eating disorder is not so far away.
