Sifan Hassan takes London her way and reveals her training secret: The Secret to Her Success

On April 23, 2023, Sifan Hassan made historical past, profitable the London Marathon in her debut marathon. The reality is that this: the 2023 London discipline was one of many hardest ever assembled in race historical past. Hassan used a singular technique to win, and that is sensible, as she is a singular athlete. 

Stuart Weir wrote this piece on Sifan simply after the marathon. I missed it, however I believe it even resonates now greater than within the week after the race. Sifan Hassan is anticipated to compete in Budapest 2023 and Paris 2024; simply what’s going to she do in each? 

Sifan Hassan provides one other title.

Simply days after Hellen Obiri gained the Boston Marathon, Sifan Hassan, one other “monitor” athlete, gained London.  With world-record holder Brigid Kosgei, Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir, earlier London champion Yalamzerf Yehualaw plus the peerless Genzebe Dibaba within the discipline, the annual declare to have assembled the strongest discipline ever appeared justified this 12 months.  

Hassan didn’t run the traditional marathon race, stopping twice to stretch her left leg throughout the first half of the race.  She dropped 20 seconds off the lead however regularly made up the gap to win by 4 seconds from Alemu Megertu. 

Hassan commented afterward: “I’ve no phrases. My leg was bothering me; I had a hip drawback per week in the past. I forgot to tape it this morning. I ended and stretched, they usually disappeared, however I began feeling good after 10K. I can’t consider I’ve completed, not to mention gained. I can’t consider I’ve completed a marathon. I used to be so scared for the marathon. I put lots of strain on myself. I’m so silly to play this sort of sport. What was I considering, operating a marathon? I by no means cry, however this morning I used to be crying!”

Her preparation has additionally not been classical with the requirement to watch the Muslim quick throughout Ramadan.  She was quoted in The Instances earlier than the race, “With fasting for the entire month, I don’t know what that’s going to do to my physique”.

There’s a poignant human story behind her, arriving within the Netherlands as a refugee from Ethiopia in her teenagers, residing in a kids’s dwelling.  It must be talked about that her later affiliation with the now disgraced Alberto Salazar raised eyebrows.  However it additionally should be mentioned that Hassan has by no means been proven responsible of any private wrongdoing.  It additionally ought to be mentioned that Hassan isn’t one other African operating for a European nation because the flag of comfort.  She has lived within the Netherlands for 15 years, has been a Dutch citizen for 10, and speaks the language.  She is a powerful human being who has overcome nice difficulties and triumphed.

Whereas I’ve watched her run many occasions, I can not say that I do know her personally.  However I’ve definitely admired her from afar.  She gained bronze medals on the 2015 (1500m) and 2017 (5000m) World Championships.  On the 2019 Doha World Championship, she accomplished a powerful, if considerably uncommon, double by profitable the 1500m and the ten,000m.

Not content material with that, she went for the triple on the Tokyo Olympics.  That concerned operating a prelim of the 1500m on the morning of the night 5000m ultimate.  The plan had been for a runner of her expertise to ease by means of the 1500 prelim utilizing as little as potential vitality.  The plan labored properly till she tripped at the beginning of the ultimate lap, picked herself up, closed the hole, and certified for the following spherical earlier than taking gold that night within the 5000m. 

She summed up her day: “I can’t consider it. I used all my vitality this morning, and I used to be sort of drained. I couldn’t consider what occurred. It was horrible after I tripped. I felt horrible afterward and by no means thought I’d be the Olympic champion. “It has been a tremendous day. After I fell down and needed to soar up, I felt like I used to be utilizing a lot vitality. I couldn’t consider the sentiments in my legs. All of the vitality appeared to go away me. Earlier than the race right here, I didn’t even care. I used to be so drained. I used to be so scared I wasn’t going to do it.”

In Tokyo, she had gained the 10K and the 5K and brought bronze within the 1500! Being in Tokyo within the midst of Covid was an excellent privilege.  Being within the stadium to see that tremendous 1500m prelim was near the spotlight of the Video games.

RunBlogRun can now reveal her secret.  She mentioned in Tokyo: “With out espresso, I’d by no means be an Olympic champion. I wanted all of the caffeine”.

Overlook all of your coaching blogs, Larry.  Simply inform them to drink espresso!