German running hope Konstanze Klosterhalfen before the EM: "The bond with Germany has strengthened"

Created: 08/14/2022Updated: 08/14/2022 13:57

By: Nico-Marius Schmitz, Philipp Kessler

In good shape: Konstanze Klosterhalfen.

© Michael Kappeler

Konstanze Klosterhalfen dares the double start.

At the European Championships in Munich, the 25-year-old attacks over the 10,000 m and 5,000 m.

The native of Bonn took the time for an interview with our newspaper.

At the Diamond League Meeting in Poland you reported back with a strong performance.

How important was that for Munich?

Konstanze Klosterhalfen: 

This feeling of having strength in me again and being competitive was very important to me.

That definitely gave me confidence for Munich.

It was quite good to have a race load again.

It was also relatively quick at the back, which is always good for championship races.

You have decided to run the 5,000 and 10,000 meters.

Why?

Klosterhalfen:

 I've always wanted to try a double start.

Now is a good time to do so in front of a home crowd.

The last few weeks have been really good in terms of training.

My coach was happy.

But even before the World Championships in Eugene, I actually had a good feeling...

What goals have you set for the European Championships in Munich?

Klosterhalfen:

 I'm generally in a better situation than before the World Cup, when I had to take another break from training.

In general, I would like to break away from this pure result thinking and stay with myself and the races.

It's going to be tough and demanding.

But I hope I can leave with a smile.

Looking forward to Munich: Konstanze Klosterhalfen.

© Photo: Red Bull

You once said that when you run, it feels like you're flying.

How do you imagine the flights through the Munich Olympic Stadium against a home backdrop?

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Klosterhalfen:

 That's always the best feeling.

I lost that a bit in the middle of the season or in Eugene.

If you can think in the race, it's never a good sign.

I hope that I can find my way back to that feeling in Munich.

With the support of the home crowd it can be good.

I'm really looking forward to it. 

You've already mentioned the World Cup, you were eliminated in the heat.

You said it was the hardest round of your life and you were at a loss.

Do you now have an explanation for this?

Klosterhalfen: 

It's not forgotten.

In retrospect, I think the competition came too soon after my corona infection.

I missed the two weeks that I had to sit out beforehand.

I also probably still had some of the infection stuck in my body.

But that's sorted out as much as possible now.

It's all the better that we now have Munich and that the feeling can turn positive again.

After bad races, the critics quickly resurface.

If things are going very well for you, it is often said that such performances cannot be possible and that they are above your performance limit.

How do you deal with that?

Klosterhalfen:

 These extremes happen really fast.

Ever since there has been a little more publicity about me, I've always tried to ignore outside opinion.

Sure, that's not always easy, especially when you're worrying about things yourself or going through a difficult injury period.

But I'm fine with just hiding it.

How do you hide that?

Klosterhalfen:

 It's not always easy.

You also get what is written about you.

Especially in the social networks.

I try to focus on what the people I care about think about me.

If you listen to that, you can also let the others talk more.

Outsiders never know what's really going on.

Sometimes it's quite funny when something is reported that even I didn't know about.

In Germany you get the feeling that you can please a few people even though you are considered a talent of the century. 

Klosterhalfen:

 There are always negative voices.

But I always get positive feedback.

I think we found a pretty good balance between not making each other too scarce because I'm far away in the US and training and competing.

In general, my ties to Germany have even strengthened.

Home has always been important to me.

I was and will always be welcomed with open arms in Germany.

I really appreciate that and I am very grateful for that. 

You have lived and trained in the USA for years.

Because training in Germany at this level would not be possible?

Klosterhalfen:

 I trained with my youth coach in Germany until the end of 2018 and we did a great job.

But then it was time to take the next step and develop myself further.

There are also great training groups in Germany.

But it's hard to find good training partners at the highest international level.

Then I got the opportunity to go to the USA and train in what was then known as the Oregon Project.

I found the best conditions there.

There was the best team in the field of running with athletes who were successful all over the world.

I am very grateful for being able to take this step.

To what extent did this experience change you personally?

Klosterhalfen:

 It was like jumping into cold water.

I had a lot of people who helped me.

But in everyday life I was on my own.

There have been many situations in which I have grown.

It also strengthened my character.

I grew at that step.

What does a training day look like for you?

Klosterhalfen:

 In the last few weeks we've been able to return to our old patterns because I've been doing quite well physically so far.

It hasn't been that easy for the past two years.

We often had to train alternatively.

I now train twice a day, then there are two strength units per week.

Then there are physiotherapeutic treatments.

In the end, every day is packed with training (laughs). 

A tight program.

What you find difficult is not exercising for a day.

Klosterhalfen:

 I still have to work on that.

My coach wrote to me on Thursday that I should finally relax.

This is super difficult for me.

Especially when you're tense like now before the competitions.

I'm trying to work on it.

Because relaxation is just as much a part of it as stress.

Everyone can only train hard.

But taking it easy is difficult.

Does your flute help you switch off?

Klosterhalfen: 

I gave it back to my family in Germany because I was so seldom in Portland.

I'm looking forward to that when I'm back home.

But I always manage to find a balance.

In the afternoon I went kayaking on the river. 

But that is also active.

A day on the couch would probably not be for you?

Klosterhalfen:

 I could stand it on a lounger in the sun.

But I also let myself drift on the river from time to time (laughs).

Interview: Philipp Kessler and Nico-Marius Schmitz