Richard Ringer jogged an easy eight kilometers along the Danube yesterday to warm up for the kick-off evening of the 21st Oberbank Linz Donau Marathon. The European marathon champion from Überlingen on Lake Constance has had tough weeks of training. What the 33-year-old, who wrote German sports history in Munich last summer, is up to, he revealed in the OÖN interview.
OÖN: Hardly anyone had you in mind before the European Athletics Home Championships in August 2022 in Munich, you then ran to gold, the first ever for a German in a marathon. How did you experience that day?
Richard Ringer: It still gives me goosebumps. It was an incredibly emotional day, one that I’ve actually been preparing for for years. In the end, the tens of thousands of people at Odeonsplatz mobilized all the strength I had at my disposal. I put the turbo on again and was able to overtake my Israeli opponent in the final meters. It all hurt, but my head was the strongest that day. Because not everything always went smoothly during the preparation.
What was it specifically?
I twisted my ankle at the training camp in Kenya last winter and had a ten-day break from running. And then, five weeks before the European Championships, an injury in my left foot bothered me. I once had to give up running training for a week, but meanwhile I did a lot of other things, for example many hours of cycling, cross trainer and swimming. For example, I did hill sprints on my road bike. I had the same horrible leg pain again in the EM finish. And from that point of view I was well prepared.
There were many pieces of the puzzle that led to this success. What was the deal with the hat?
It was a really hot day, even though we were lucky with the weather. My mother sewed my own bags into several of my caps, into which you could put crushed ice. I could always exchange them at the refreshment stations. That worked great, I always had a cool head.
What is special about these 42.195 kilometers for you?
The attraction for me is that thousands of people are at the start together, from top runners to amateur runners. Then there is this unique atmosphere when you walk through a city that cannot be compared with anything else.
At peak times they run around 200 kilometers a week, but they also work part-time as controllers. How can all of this be reconciled?
I went straight back to work after the European Championships. For me it’s a great balance and shows me that being able to do this sport isn’t something that should be taken for granted. I appreciate it all the more when I can focus fully on training and regeneration again in direct preparation for a race.
What are your next goals?
I want to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris this spring, preferably right away in Hamburg. I believe that I can achieve something there.
Kick-off for the 21st edition
The kick-off evening has been the traditional starting signal for the countdown to the Linz Danube Marathon for many years. Yesterday, reigning European Champion Richard Ringer was in top form for the 21st edition in the Oberbank Donau Forum. The German top runner gave an insight into his life and training environment. In addition to hundreds of running fans, presenter Elisabeth Eidenberger, OÖN editor-in-chief Susanne Dickstein, Oberbank board member Martin Seiter, Linz Deputy Mayor Karin Hörzing and LIVA coordinator Wolfgang Scheibner (from left) listened intently to Ringer’s explanations.
Dates to note
Running shoe test: Next Friday (2 to 7 p.m.) the running shoe test will take place in the TipsArena. Companies such as Salomon, Hoka, Brooks, ON Running, Polar heart rate monitors and Under Armor will present their products. Shoes can be tested on the track as well as outdoors. All test participants receive a EUR 20 voucher for running shoes at Intersport Winninger.
Lactate test: The Marchtrenker sports doctor Ronald Ecker offers a lactate test as part of the running shoe test with the Upper Austrian Running Competence Center. Registration via email to [email protected] required.
Source: Nachrichten
