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Sponsors and money. Honor and fame. Rivalries and personal goals. Round after round of tournaments and duels in huge stadiums.
There are a lot of factors to consider when Sunday’s half-marathon champion in Rome sets the course for his career over the next few years.
We’ve heard this for years. Many people have long wanted to see the Space Race replace their spikes with shoes suitable for street running, half marathons and marathons.
The protagonist himself is not sure whether this is the right choice.
– I don’t have a marathon plan yet. I’m fully aware that there are a lot of people who want me to try it. Right now, I think track running is fun, street running is fun, and the half marathon is probably an ideal distance for me, but there’s a step from there to the marathon. Grovdahl told NTB and other Norwegian media after Sunday’s half marathon gold that there will be a marathon soon, but the date has not yet been set.
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Versatile
At this point, just 35 hours had passed since she completed the race and won the 5,000m silver medal in the same event.
– How has all this affected your chances as a runner?
– It was a great championship. I’m proud of the combination, that I could win the half marathon, and that I’m also a track athlete. I also think street racing is fun, and that could be the future. This is the marathon I want to run in the long term, but I don’t know if it will be next year, or in two years, or when.
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Street running is big in the running world and Grøvdal’s shoe sponsors are also very keen on street races and marathons.
– There is no pressure from the sponsors. I have every opportunity to compete in the races I want, and there are probably more championships waiting for me. I have no intention of giving up.
– When you won the silver medal on Friday, how many track and field coaches thought you had the best track and field performance ever?
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– Athletics is important to me, but I was always told that I was good at street races and longer distances, and that was because I trained well. But I won a silver medal in the 5,000m, which is a difficult distance, to show that I also have something to offer. That’s why it was a bit difficult for me to switch to the marathon, because once you do that, you’re done on the track, says Isfjorden, who turns 34 next Friday.
Not for the money
Grøvdal hasn’t given up yet.
– I want to practice track running for as long as I can. When I feel like I’ve done my part on track, it will be easier to switch. At the same time, I train equally for both, so it’s not one or the other.
– Is this a real dilemma?
– I wouldn’t spend any time on it right now. The focus has been on the track season. I’ve never run a marathon. If I were to run, it would be in the fall after the season is over. Going all out for a marathon isn’t tempting yet. I love running, and I love running a lot of distance. A marathon is a little too much for one race. It’s just not that interesting to me. I’ll probably never go all out for a marathon. It’ll probably be a combination.
– Financially speaking, what would you gain the most if you changed careers?
– Yes. There is a big difference. I do track races not for the financial reasons. Then I only do street races. Street races and marathons have the most prize money, but you also have to be the best there. You have to be in the top three.
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