“The worst thing I had to do in training”

After her first marathon in the Austrian record time of 2:30:42 hours in Vienna, Julia Mayer is contesting her first championship race over 42.195 kilometers today at the World Championships in Athletics in Budapest. She trained in the sauna for the heat run, the route was only studied online, every shaded spot is noted. “I’m really happy that I’m running on a route that I don’t know”, said the 30-year-old. The thermometer should climb to 37 degrees in Budapest, at the start time at 7 a.m. (live ORF Sport plus) 24 degrees and more than 70 percent humidity have already been announced. “I’m fine with the heat. I’ve trained a lot in the heat outside, but also in the indoor heat chamber.” Coach Vincent Vermeulen has a room with a sauna oven in Ramsau am Dachstein. “I trained on the treadmill for an hour at 40 degrees, it’s extremely brutal. That’s probably the worst thing I’ve had to go through in training.” The drinking breaks were also simulated. Before the race she will cool down in the bath and with a vest, during the run she will cool down with sponges.

It’s even faster

Mayer switched from soccer to running in 2017 and quickly worked his way up the distances. She started marathon training last December. Previously, during the Corona period, she had run in the Prater Hauptallee without preparation in 2:46:35, but in this regard she does not speak of a real marathon. “I see myself in the middle of the learning process.”

In comparison to the city marathon, for example, no pacemakers are allowed at a World Cup. “Everything is different, we don’t know if the race will start quickly or slowly. We trained all of that. I find it extremely exciting.” It had recently made her nervous that she was going to run against the best in the world and from Europe. But she also knows that she can do a much faster time than 2:30. But that’s not what the championship race is about. “It’s not about times, it’s all about who makes it to the finish.”

Javelin thrower Victoria Hudson’s final ended yesterday after this issue went to press.