Thea Heim, the fast cover girl in front of the Main skyline
Created: 10/28/2022, 8:01 p.m
By: Wolfgang Stauner
"Run the skyline" is the motto on Sunday: Thea Heim runs her first marathon in Frankfurt after a three-year break.
© Hoka
Thea Heim travels to the Frankfurt Marathon with a best 10 km time and has her sights set on the top 15 in a European elite field.
Berlin/Sachsenkam – The "Grand 10" in Berlin is the largest and most famous 10 km road run in Germany.
Like the Berlin Marathon, it passes the Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column;
crossing the animal park is particularly varied.
But like all running events in Berlin, one characteristic is in the foreground: It is a fast, flat route.
Just five weeks ago, Eliud Kipchoge set a new marathon world record on the asphalt of the German capital (2:01:09 h).
A good reason for Thea Heim to undergo a form test in preparation for the highlight of the season, the Frankfurt Marathon.
“I always wanted to run in Berlin.
But Corona prevented it in the end.
Now was a good time to run the course,” said Heim, looking forward to her Grand 10 debut in the capital.
Heim and Radko with personal best times over 10 km
A top-class field of 13 top runners also guaranteed fast times.
In addition to Heim, her training partner Mariia Radko also took part in the running event for the first time.
In a very windy 13 degrees, 3000 runners set out in front of the Charlottenburg Palace.
"They should be a little more cautious for the first five kilometers and then keep up the pace in the second part if there is a headwind," said trainer Norman Feiler as the route to take.
The two athletes were able to implement the project perfectly.
While Thea Heim was seventh after five kilometers, she worked her way up the field in the second half.
Despite an extensive training week with more than 160 kilometers, the woman from Saxony ran a sensational second in a new personal best time of 33:40 minutes across the finish line at Charlottenburg Palace.
Feiler assessed the two five-kilometer splits: "16:52 and 16:48 minutes - I'm more than satisfied with that.
The classification of the race and the result confirm the great shape Thea is in at the moment.”
Best time over 10 km in Berlin: Mariia Radko.
© Talent Team ENF
The Ukrainian Mariia Radko (25), who has been at home in Geretsried since April and has already won the Blomberglauf, the Hohenburger Schlosslauf and the Grazer Halbmarathon, also achieved a new personal best of 35:55 minutes (previously 36:21 min .).
“Masha has developed very well.
I think she will continue to make progress,” coach Feiler is certain, who was particularly impressed by the victory in Graz (1:18:55 h).
First marathon after a three-year Corona break
After the successful performance test in Berlin, the highlight of the season is now on Sunday.
After a three-year Corona break, the 30-year-old from Saxony will run a marathon again for the first time when the motto from 10 a.m. is: "Run the skyline".
But the Frankfurt Marathon is also something special for the long-distance runner in two respects: Thea Heim is the cover girl of the competition.
Your shoe outfitter "Hoka" is the main sponsor of the mega event in the Main metropolis for the first time and put the top athlete in the right light at a photo shoot - Heim's likeness now adorns thousands of posters.
Top field with 25 elite runners
However, Heim will hardly keep an eye on it on the course, because she has to prove herself in one of the top-class marathon fields in Europe: 25 elite runners from ten nations are at the start.
Even if Heim is the only non-professional athlete in the extended top field, she wants to improve on her best time from 2019 in Hamburg (2:36.10 h).
“I am really looking forward to the marathon.
The atmosphere is unbelievable,” says Heim, looking forward to the race.
Coach Feiler sets the goal: “Of course I'm hoping for a best time.
But the top runners have a 2:17 on it.
A place in the top 15 would be great for Thea.”
Live on TV:
HR broadcasts the marathon from 9.55 a.m.
