Jan Frodeno: I could finish a marathon in 2:18
Race Director Jo Schindler and triathlon star Jan Frodeno have an entertaining expert talk / Livestream on the Facebook page of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon
Race Director Jo Schindler won’t convice Jan Frodeno to start at the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon any time soon. „This may sound silly but I’m afraid of the pain“, says the triathlet. Most in the audience had to smile when the heard him say that. Frodeno typically rides his bike 600 kilometres, swims 24 kilometres and rund 100 to 120 kilometres every week. He is defending champion of the Hawaii ironman.
A marathon, says Frodeno who participated a few times a a relay team member is Frankfurt, is probably very painful. As part of the traditional expert talk series in cooperation with ASICS Race Director Jo Schindler and Frodeno gave entertaining insights into what it means to prepare for a big event.
On October 8th Frodeno wants to defend his title in Hawaii, Schindler is in the last organizing stage of the 35th Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. Talking to the host Ralf Scholt, hr sports section editor in chief, Schindler went on about the many details of organizing such a large event. „Even after years there is always some fine-tuning to do.“ His biggest concerns are construction sites along the route especially those neither he nor the City of Frankfurt knows about. And even though Schindler who is in charge of the Frankfurt Marathon since 2002 has an excellent working relationship with the city administration, he says: „There is no business as usual for us.“
That goes for putting together an elite field of runners as well especially in an Olympic year. „But will have an exciting race this year as well. Top runners are the icing on the cake but we work mostly for the average runner for who we roll out the red carpet in the Festhalle.“
Already 12.000 marathon runners have registered for the jubilee edition all together 25.000 participants are expected. Jan Frodeno’s races don’t have these kind of numbers. He explained the importance of a marathon at the end of a triathlon to the audience in the hall and those watching the livestream.
The final sprint, he says, „is a mind thing. Those who want it the most will win. And I want it definitely.“ Indeed, since 2014 Frodeno has won everything in the Ironman world. During his first Ironman race in Frankfurt he had to take 22 walking breaks. „But in between I was really fast.“
He told the audience that during training „I very seldom get into this flow, this meditative state“. He is very much in favor of core stability training because it reduces the stress effects on the body. It took him some time to get used to the more extensive training after he switched to the long distance triathlon.
Asked in what time he thinks he could finish a marathon, Frodeno said: „2:18 hours but that will remain a hypothetical.“
Watch the livestream of this expert talk on the Facebook page of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon.
