Camilla Richardsson ran the marathon women’s Finnish record in Valencia. At the same time, Richardsson broke the Paris Olympic limit.
Camilla Richardson ran the marathon women’s Finnish record on Sunday in Valencia. Richardsson ran SE time 2:24:38 and was almost three minutes shorter Alisa Vainio 2.27.26 of the previous SE. Vainio had run his record in February in Seville.
Richardsson also broke the Paris Olympic marathon mark of 2:26.50.
– The Olympic limit was my goal for the day. I am very satisfied. Everything went according to my plans, maybe even better than I planned, a satisfied Richardsson told Urheilu.
Richardsson was already scared from the start that he had started at too fast a pace.
– The idea was to run the half marathon in one hour and 13 minutes, but it went so well that I exceeded that time. Then there was a little panic, since I’m not that used to a marathon runner, that the pace is too fast. I managed to run well until the end, even though my start was faster than planned, Richardsson recounted his amazing race day.
My record improved by six minutes
The 30-year-old Richardsson improved his previous marathon record (2:30:45) by no less than six minutes.
– My previous record came two years ago, when I ran a marathon for the first time. Now I really invested in this competition and I was at a preparation camp in Portugal. I have been able to train really well, Richardsson explained.
However, Richardsson admitted that he did not expect such a big improvement in the record.
– Perhaps a surprisingly big improvement. I knew I could run for 2.26, but now it went even better, Richardsson thought.
At the European Championships, a half-marathon, at the Olympics, a marathon
Jukka Keskisalon coached by Richardsson, the year has been great, as he ran the 10,000 meters Finnish record already in May in London.
The undercutting of the Olympic limit for the marathon practically decided that Richardsson will run the half-marathon at the European Championships in Rome and the marathon at the Olympic Games in Paris.
– I’m on vacation for a couple of days and I’m leaving for South Africa after Christmas, so I won’t be home for very long, Richardsson said.
Keskisalo, who followed his protégé’s run in Valencia, was satisfied with what he saw.
– Camilla was constantly 1-2 seconds ahead of what was planned in the kilometer paces. The run seemed to remain relaxed the whole time, and at no point did it seem to be difficult. It rarely goes this well, Keskisalo said on the website of the Finnish Sports Federation.
Ethiopian Worknesh Degefa ran to victory in Valencia with a time of 2:15:51. Ethiopia’s double victory ensured Almaz Ayana on 2.16.22. Richardsson was 16th in the race. Nina Chydenius interrupted.
The first place in the men’s competition was from Ethiopia Sisay Lemma with a route record of 2.01.48.
Updated at 1:35 p.m.: Camilla Richardsson’s comments supplemented.