Ski stars are a familiar sight on athletics.
- Krista Pärmäkoski was fourth in the Kaleva Games.
- Iltalehti expert Arto Bryggare compared Pärmäkoski and Therese Johaug as runners.
- The difference between the duo is significant.
Finnish ski star Krista Pärmäkoski34, just five seconds from the Finnish Championship medal at the Kaleva Games last weekend at 5,000 meters.
Pärmäkoski told Yle that “the medal would have been super-superhonomy”.
It was not the first time that a skier living in Kuortane was seen on athletics. Earlier in the summer, a multiple Olympic and World Championship medalist ran 3,000 meters at 9.50.63.
Pärmäkoski is by no means the only top skier who has also performed in athletics competitions during his active career.
Also the Norwegian super skier Therese Johaug competed in his career in individual YU Games.
The Norwegian Hirmu has run ten kilometers, of which he also has the Norwegian Championship in 2019, and longer distances. Pärmäkoski, on the other hand, has run 3,000 and 5,000 meters this summer.
In the twenties, the top of Ikaalinen also competed at 800 meters.
Distinction
Although Pärmäkoski and Johaug have not run the same distances, there are comparable differences in their results.
– Krista is more of a muscle type in structure. Johaug is an oxygen machine with a huge oxygen uptake. They have different qualities that make it difficult to compare them, Iltalehti’s expert Arto Bryggare begins.
Krista Pärmäkoski finished fourth in the Kaleva Games. Tomi Natri / All Over Press
However, from the point of view of athletics, there are ultimately big differences between the duo.
– On the running side, the difference is quite significant for Johaug. He would be the top runner of Finland at ten. He is a tough class as a runner at European level, and his time is really tough.
“Krista is not on the same level as a runner,” Bryggare analyzes.
Bryggare compares Johaug as a runner to a Finnish skiing.
– men’s side Harri Kirvesniemi There are no other level runners in skiers in the world. Harri was also very strong as a runner.
The background is affected
The oxygen machine Johaug has come from skiing for long running trips, Pärmäkoski shorter. Bryggare does not see that it is easier for one to penetrate the skiing side.
– It depends a lot on what is a childhood sports background. If there is a run below, then there is no problem. If the run is in a racing sport with more effective running, less, it will determine the time, which is easier.
Skiers are still running a lot in their training, but there has also been another form of training.
– Nowadays, when skiing goes in free style, cycling seems to be more of a basic training season, where muscle groups are closer to skating than running.
Therese Johaug has won the Norwegian championship at 10,000 meters. AOP/EPA
According to Bryggare, the run serves more traditional style skiing than skating.
An expert mentions as an example Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemiwhich was not only a good traditional skier but also a national team runner.
– Before, the skiers had a solid athletics background. Yes, it determines what you have done in your youth. From Krista you see that she hasn’t raced a lot. Free skiing is reflected in the running step. It’s not very airplane. It shows the body structure. Runners are light, especially for long journeys. Krista is more of a bouquet of muscles.
Welcome trend
Bryggare sees as a very positive thing that skiers are attending athletics competitions.
– It’s great that Krista came to run from Vito and challenge our runners. It shows him the ability to throw himself into the game. I really appreciate it. He is a very versatile endurance athlete.
According to Bryggare, one former queen of Finland in Finland might have the real potential to be a tough factor in running.
– Kaisa Mäkäräinen could be even harder. His physique is well suited for running. I bet he has a good performance even in the running.