Finnish endurance runner Camilla Richardson has been in a great attack since the beginning of the season. On Saturday night, he ran a new Finnish record of 10,000 meters 31.12.78 in London. Annemari Kiekaran almost 27 years old SE time of 31:40,42 was broken by almost half a minute.
The 29-year-old runner from Esbo IF beat his own old record of 32.19.27 by more than a minute. He ran it last summer at the European Championships in Munich, finishing ninth.
Richardsson describes that the competition was perfect for him. The first 5,000 seas went in 15:37 and the last 5,000 meters in 15:36.
Richardsson said in the Sports Association’s press release that there was a “little panic” during the race. He feared he had started too hard, with the first half at the same pace as in his first 5,000m race of the season.
– It was a steady pace. There were many other women there who ran just the right pace for me. I didn’t have to pull a meter myself, Richardsson tells Urheilu.
Richardsson knew he was in record shape.
– I have done very good training. I knew that Finland’s record is religism. However, I assumed that the end time would be 31:30–31:50. I’m surprised how hard it turned out in the end.
A truly special event
Saturday night’s race was won by Ethiopia Mizan Alem Adane with a blistering time of 29:59.03. It is the top result of the world season. Previously, only 11 female runners had reached under 30 minutes. Richardsson was ninth.
The race was run on the Parliament Hill track in London. The event consists of several 10,000 meter races. The name of the event, Night of the 10,000m PBs, also says a lot. In Finnish, it would be “an evening of 10,000 meter personal records”.
19 of the 36 top women ran their own record. What makes the event so special?
Richardsson says that it is therefore a rare race, that everyone is looking for the fastest possible time. Usually, in the ten-ton races, you only run for placings.
– There are light hares and proper hares. It is intended that there is a fast starting speed. There is a good feeling and so many spectators. The atmosphere is good. Everyone wants to aim for their record, Richardsson enthuses.
The USA won the men’s race Paul Chelimo with his record of 27.12.73. The top of the season is the USA of William Kincaid 27.06.37 from March.
In the men’s B set Eero Saleva ran seventh with a time of 29:24,32. That was less than a second off his record.
At the World Championships, I aimed for 5,000 meters
Despite the amazing record for Finns, Richardsson is not aiming for a place at this summer’s World Championships in Budapest in the 10,000 meters. The WC limit is no less than 30.40, which means that Richardsson should improve his new record by half a minute.
– There are no opportunities for tithing. It’s a direct final, so not that many contestants get there. It’s a bit forced to bet on 5,000 meters.
Richardsson says that he was able to run such a great time for the tenth ton that he does not need to return to that trip again this season.
Now Richardsson is starting a three-week training period. After that, he will compete in Paris in the 5,000 meters that he thought would be his main trip of the summer. Richardsson’s record is 15:16.71, with which he finished tenth in the European Championships in Munich last summer.
– These three weeks are good, because I haven’t had time to do so much so-called speed training. I’ve been doing more 10k pace.
The five-ton Finnish record is Kiekara’s 14:56.22 from 1996. Kiekara feels that his 5,000-meter record is harder than his 10,000-meter record.
However, Richardsson is now hitting so hard that he also has a 5,000m SE time as his goal.
– Viitonen is more sensitive to me when the pace is so fast. I definitely need two or three races to have a good run. Of course I want to run my record. Yes, the goal is to run under 15 minutes this summer. That’s a tough goal.
Do plans change?
Richardsson broke in the EC halls in March Sanda Eriksson with a time of 8:53.60 in SE of the 3,000-meter indoor tracks in the name. In February, he ran a half-marathon with his record of 1.10.08.
Richardsson has had a good period in his career for a long time. Already last summer, he improved his 5,000-meter record by 20 seconds and his 10-meter record by almost a minute.
– I have spoken to my coach (Jukka Keskisalo) with that there is a bit of an identity crisis going on now. Am I now a marathon runner or a 3,000 meter runner? In general, though, for me, they go hand in hand, that if you run a marathon and ten tons, you also run three tons.
Richardsson, who started his career as a hurdler, has spoken about his intention to aim for a marathon. The plan hasn’t changed yet. This could be the last season as a track runner.
Richardsson’s plan has been to run the half-marathon at the 2024 European Championships and the marathon at the Paris Olympics. In the Olympic years, instead of a marathon, a half is run at the European Championships.
– Basically, this is the last track season. But if the 10,000 meters goes this well and the 5,000 meters starts going, you have to think a little about where the possibilities are in next summer’s European Championships. If you run 30.50 at the European Championships, you’re already close to medals.