Mainova Marathon Frankfurt

Sally Kaptich heads the line-up for the elite women’s field for the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on October 30. The Kenyan tops the list of fast athletes with her best of 2:21:06 which she achieved in Berlin three years ago. The race organisers expect around 12,000 participants for the 39th edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon with around 20,000 competitors in total, including events held in conjunction with the main event. This historic race is one of the Elite Label Road Race events, a distinction awarded by World Athletics, the international governing body of the sport. Entries can still be obtained at www.frankfurt-marathon.com Following the recent announcement of the first wave of competitors for the men’s elite field, the organisers have now announced a number of women contenders for the title. Three among this elite group have personal bests under 2:22. With this news the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon, resuming after an enforced interruption of two years because of the Covid pandemic, has gone close to regaining the quality level of its previous women’s elite fields. “With three runners who have already run under 2:22, we have a very strong women’s field on the start line,” said the Race Director Jo Schindler. “We’ve noted the interest shown by top runners in the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. Despite the enforced break because of the pandemic, the race continues to enjoy a strong reputation and runners know that we can offer a course and atmosphere which make setting personal bests a real possibility. Many elite athletes as well as mass runners have broken records or set personal bests in Frankfurt.” Sally Kaptich comes to Frankfurt as an athlete who achieved third place in Berlin in 2019 where the 36-year-old ran what remains her personal best of 2:21:06. The Kenyan, who also has a seventh place in the 10,000m at the 2013 World Championships to her credit and a bronze medal on the road at the World Half Marathon Championships the following year, ran strongly following her Berlin performance to finish fourth in Tokyo with 2:21:42, six months after Berlin. Her fellow Kenyan Helah Kiprop has still more laurels to her credit, as well as a best of 2:21:27. She finished second at the World Championship Marathon in Beijing in 2015 and won marathons in Seoul in 2014 and Tokyo in 2016, the latter being where she ran her personal best. This year Kiprop was back in action and winning the Copenhagen Marathon in 2:24:10. Now 37, she knows the Frankfurt course well, having run what was then her fastest marathon of 2:27:14 in 2014 when she finished fifth. The third runner on the Frankfurt start list with a best of under 2:22 will be Yeshi Chekole. The Ethiopian improved her best to 2:21:17 for third place at the Seville Marathon in February. Also worth noting is her compatriot Meseret Abebayahau. She ran her fastest marathon by over five minutes to finish second in 2:25:18 in Madrid in spring. The improvement was all the more impressive since she had never broken 2:30 previously.

Credit : Frankfurt Marathon This year’s Mainova Frankfurt Marathon had to be cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic, organizers announced. Germany’s oldest city marathon had been scheduled for 25 October. With Frankfurt not going ahead as well it will be the first year since the times of the Second World War that there will be no significant marathon race in Germany. The event organizers together with the State of Hessen and the City of Frankfurt came to the conclusion that it is not possible to stage the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon 2020. “Set against the hardship which this worldwide pandemic has inflicted on people, countries, institutions and business, the cancellation of a sports event is of minor significance,” said Race Director Jo Schindler. The contact and operating regulations imposed by the State of Hessen because of the coronavirus greatly restrict the holding of major events before October 31st, 2020. They are not permitted unless the organizers can ensure social distancing, hygiene regulations and the personal contact data of all involved in the event. “In this respect this also means, for us, the spectators,” explains Jo Schindler. “Unfortunately, with the venue and timing we cannot guarantee with absolute certainty the wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of spectators along a route of 42.195 kilometers running right across Frankfurt.” All runners who entered this year’s Mainova Frankfurt Marathon will have the possibility to move their start into one of the next three years, 2021 to 2023. Another option is to donate the entry fee and become a „Marathon Saviour", helping the small Frankfurt running event company to financially survive this extremely difficult period. Those who choose this option will be named on the webite as well as on a Wall of Honour at the 2021 Marathon and will receive a gold start number for their race in the coming year. In addition 5 Euro of the entry fee retained will be donated to the official charity partner. „We have been working part-time for months and reduced our costs as much as possible. But we have costs to maintain our operation, independent of whether the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon can take place or not. At this point in the process of returning race entries we are dependent upon the solidarity and support of our participants and also our sponsors," explained Jo Schindler. Preparations have already begun for October 31st, 2021. “I am convinced that with a build-up of around 15 months we shall be able to meet the requirements of the State of Hessen,” said Jo Schindler. “I and my team are looking forward greatly to the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon 2021.”

Credit : Frankfurt Marathon Mark Kiptoo and Katharina Steinruck know that the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on Sunday is the most important race of the year in pursuit of their respective goals. The Kenyan Masters world record holder and the leading woman runner among the home contingent aim to exploit the Frankfurt course, renowned for its fast times. Last year Kiptoo, now 43, ran 2:07:50 for a M40 world record and he says he feels capable of improving on that time. Katharina Steinruck has shown excellent form this year after heel surgery and her eyes are on the qualifying time of 2:29:30. Her personal best is currently 2:28:34, set three years ago. Around 14,000 runners are expected on the startline for the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon which is an IAAF Gold Label race, the highest category of road race. It is still possible to enter during the Marathon Expo on Friday and Saturday. Further details can be found at: www.frankfurt-marathon.com Mark Kiptoo credits his longevity with a disciplined attitude not only to training but also his life in general: “What we put into our body, is what will come out. So the training we have been doing means I have confidence the body is capable of going through halfway in 62:30.” That level of performance would put the 43-year-old on course for a major improvement on his age group world best. Kiptoo’s story may well give other late developers hope, though not everyone perhaps has the ability at his level: “I am sure that the reason why I can run so fast these days is because I began late as a runner. It wasn’t until I was 28 that I realised I had talent.” He made his marathon debut at 37 after a solid career on the track and cross-country." His preparation has gone flawlessly: “The key is that I don’t have any physical problems and have also been able to do good speedwork sessions. Age is only a number.” His personal best of 2:06:00 goes back to his pre-Masters days. Frankfurt has been a happy hunting ground for the runner from Eldoret. He made his marathon debut here in 2013 with second place in 2:06:16, just one second behind the winner. A year later he won, aged 38, in 2:06:49, then came last year’s age group world best. Everything points to Katharina Steinruck being in excellent form before she attempts to run the Olympic qualifying time of 2:29:30. After heel surgery in November 2018 she has set a clutch of personal bests recently which have put her on the right course: “I wouldn’t say I am in the form of my life but there has been a clear step forward.” In preparation for the marathon Steinruck has run personal bests of 32:39 for 10km and 1:12:23 for the half marathon. “The Olympic qualifying time is of course my number one goal. However I am also looking for a personal best. To run sub 2:28 would be a dream come true.”