We are living in unprecedented times for Finnish women in marathon running. Even before this year, the Finnish record for the marathon was Ritva Melenderin in 1995 ran 2:28:00.
This year, no less than three minutes and 22 seconds have been cut from the SE time. Alisa Vainio ran in Seville in February with his record of 2:27.26. On Sunday Camilla Richardson made an even harder leap, crossing the finish line in 2:24:38.
The time in question would have been enough for the number one time in European statistics in 2013 and 2017.
The toughness of Richardsson’s performance is underlined, among other things, by the fact that it was the second marathon in the career of a runner known as a track runner. He also improved the time he ran two years ago in Valencia by almost six minutes.
At the beginning of his career, Richardsson became known as a 3,000 meter hurdler. On that trip, he experienced three World Cups and one European Championship.
In recent years, as a track runner, he has aimed for the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, where he has set record-breaking speeds. In May, he set a new 10,000 meter Finnish record of 31.12.78.
– In the case of Camilla, that is the continuation she has had for the last two years. It’s going to be sweet times. Endurance running coach and ex-marathoner have the potential to break even bigger at the EC level Tuomo Lehtinen points to Richardsson’s potential in the marathon.
14 years ago seventh in the world statistics
The marathon is going through a really tough phase internationally. For example, in the Valencia marathon, Richardsson’s record time would only finish 16th. Lehtinen doesn’t remember a similar situation.
The wild improvement in marathon times in recent years is reflected in the rankings Richardsson’s record time of 2:24:38 would have been enough for in the world statistics.
20 years ago, the time would have been enough for places 15–20. In the years 2007–2009, Richardsson would have been in the real top rankings.
In 2009, nine would have been enough instead. A couple of years later, with the current Finnish record time, she would have been the seventh best female marathoner in the world statistics. In European statistics, Richardsson would have been number one in 2013, for example.
However, starting in 2019, the level has tightened tremendously. Four years ago, Finland’s record would have been 80 instead.
107 instead of last year. In this year’s statistics, Richardsson can only be found in 111th place, despite his record time.
– The level is very hard, Lehtinen summarizes.
Money moves
Richardsson’s coach and 3,000m hurdles European champion Jukka Keskisalo had communicated to Lehtinen on Sunday that 2:42:00 was enough time for the 2016 women’s Olympic marathon. Now for Paris it is 2:26.50, which Richardsson clearly beat in Valencia.
The strong development is seen to be at least partially due to shoe technology. Lehtinen admits this, but finds an even clearer factor in the phenomenon.
– There (road trips) there is money and interesting competitions. Africa has become such a generation that doesn’t even think about the dream of a track. All focus is on the road.
– Shoe development is one factor that cannot be denied, of course. However, that by no means explains the entire level rise. In general, there are currently more potential entrepreneurs for road sports. Shoe technology does not explain why there are several hundreds of people who fall below the two hour and ten minute mark, Lehtinen reminds.
Read more: Is the incredible record breaking in athletics just thanks to the shoes?
So money is one important factor that draws people to marathons. For example, the marathon can be an important livelihood for many African runners.
– Of course it’s interesting if you set a world record in a marathon, win a big race or are among the top three in a big money marathon. Get a living, which is currently not as easy to get on the track.
– In track running, we are talking about completely different things at the moment. The Diamond League prize money is ten percent of what winning a big international marathon is, says Lehtinen.
Lehtinen estimates that the boom has lasted ten years. Also Kenyan Eliud Kipchogen top stars like have had a big exemplary influence.
A half marathon is also possible
Richardsson said on Sunday that he plans to run a half-marathon at the European Championships in Rome next summer and a marathon at the Paris Olympics.
Top runners run the half marathon less often. In February, Richardsson ran his distance record time of 1.10.08, with which he is 22nd in this year’s European statistics.
Lehtinen believes that Richardson can even develop into a European champion in the half marathon.
– He has been focused on the track, so he has only done individual road runs so far. The half also has a lot of room for development. If he gets to the 1.07.00–1.08.00 level, he will fight for EC medals.
However, Richardsson’s best test seems to be in the field of a full marathon. At the World Championships and the Olympics, the hardest players come from Africa, but at the European level, Richardsson’s ride is enough to compete for medals at best.
– There is no obstacle to that, Lehtinen says.
The last time the Finnish marathon runner has won the prestigious race medals was in 2002. At that time Janne Holmén went to the European Championship.
Marathon EC medalist 2026?
Poland won the gold at last year’s European Championships Aleksandra Lisowska at 2.28.36. Of course, it is difficult to compare value race times due to the tactical element and conditions, among other things.
The marathon will probably be on the program of the European Athletics Championships for the last time in 2026 in Birmingham. Lehtinen believes that Richardsson and Keskisalo have marked the marathon of those games big on their calendars for the coming years.
Richardsson will then be a good 32 years old for a marathon runner.
The marathon will have its own European Championship event in the future, as the first European Running Championships will be held in 2025. The distances of the event include a road race, a half marathon and a marathon.
Richardsson’s suitability for the marathon is supported by his endurance. According to Lehtinen, the head is also in good condition for the rough sport, so to speak. Richardsson does not look for quick wins, but throws himself into the sport as it should be.
– He is inexperienced as a marathon runner, although there is a lot of training ground. However, it would be a great vision for a Finnish woman to break 2:20.00 in a marathon. It’s not impossible when you think about what kind of development he is at, Tuomo Lehtinen estimates.