The Frankfurt Marathon is one of the most impressive marathons in Europe with a beautiful history. I’ve visited it nearly a dozen times and thought the course gave runners a great tour of the historic parts of Frankfurt, Germany. The organization is top notch, one of the best I’ve seen in the world, and the Frankfurt Marathon staff is impressive.
If you want to run a marathon in Germany, please check out the Frankfurt Marathon. That’s great.
Negasa, Kiptanui, Masai and Abayechu look for new momentum in Frankfurt
A group of athletes who have previously achieved world-class results in various events are looking to use the fast course of the Frankfurt Marathon in Mainova to give their careers a new boost. Runners targeting fast times include Ethiopia’s Herpasa Negasa, who was eighth fastest at the 2019 Dubai Marathon, and Kenya’s 2009 world champion Lynette Masai in the 10,000m. The 41st edition of the Frankfurt Marathon in Mainova on October 27 is a road race of the world’s elite label of athletics. Organizers expect more than 25,000 athletes at their event, including about 12,000 marathon runners. Applications are still being accepted www.frankfurt-marathon.com
“We’re looking forward to another top-class race that may bring some surprises. After scoring the fastest combined win in our race history last year, we’re excited to see what’s possible on October 27th,” said race director Joe Schindler.
Herpasa Negasa progressed to Dubai Marathon 2019 as the Ethiopian finished runner-up in a world-class time of 2:03:40. Two years ago, he posted another perfect time in Seoul, where he ran 2:04:49 and finished second once again. Now the 30-year-old intends to reach those levels again. Herpasa Negasa belongs to what is currently probably the most important marathon training group in the world. Coached by Gemedu Dedefo in Addis Ababa, Olympic champion Tamirat Tola and current Boston winner Sisay Lemma are among his coaching partners.
Eric Kiptanui will be among Herpasa Negasa’s strongest competitors. As a rookie, he immediately became one of the fastest half marathoners of 2018. First, the Kenyan competed in the Lisbon Half Marathon, then in Berlin he ran a course record of 58:42 that still stands today. During the Corona lockdown, he won one of the very few top marathon races in Siena, Italy in 2021 in 2:05:47. Despite acceptable results at Chicago 2021 (3rd) and Boston 2022 (5th), he was still unable to better his time from Siena. After a weaker year in 2023, the 34-year-old wants to return to Frankfurt.
For Lynette Massa, the Frankfurt Marathon in Mainova could be one of her last chances and her best to make a late breakthrough in the marathon. The 34-year-old has been the world champion in the 10,000 meters since 2009 and won an Olympic bronze medal in the distance in 2008. Between 2009 and 2011, she won three silver medals at the highly competitive World Championships. However, after a good debut of 2:23:46 in Amsterdam 2018 (without the benefit of new shoe technology), he was unable to build on this performance. Lynette Massai is looking to finally break her PB in Frankfurt.
Tigist Abayechu will be among the favorites on October 27. The 30-year-old Ethiopian smashed her best of 2:18:03 from two years ago to finish third. After an injury layoff, she returned this March with a 9th place finish in Tokyo. Tigist Abayechu will now look to cross the line first in the Frankfurt indoor finish at the Festhalle.
More information and online registration is available at: www.frankfurt-marathon.com
Sailor / photorun.net
