Three top marathons in less than three months is an incredible achievement.
Alisa Vainio is in shock. PASI LEISMA
Amazing is a term affected by inflation in the afternoon press, but an endurance runner Alisa Vainio for the performances of the past months, it is the only correct choice of words.
– I’m completely confused, says Iltalehti’s athletics expert Arto Bryggare.
Even 15 years ago, it was said that a top marathoner could run a maximum of three high-quality 42 kilometers during the same calendar year. In general, the world championships were contested twice per season.
– It was said, the most greedy for money run three marathons, Bryggare reminds.
On September 14 in Tokyo, Alisa Vainio finished fifth in the marathon of the World Championships with a time of 2:28:32. On the fourth day of October in Vantaa, he won the SC marathon (2.23.06). On Sunday, December 7, Valencia was hit by a massive SE 2:20:48.
Three hard marathons in less than three months is an amazing achievement.
– Certainly a partial explanation is that current footwear is kinder to the feet than old running shoes. There will be less impact on the legs than before, Bryggare estimates.
– Recovery monitoring is a significant factor – heart rate monitoring and related technology, the expert adds.
With the help of data, it is possible to monitor the athlete’s condition very precisely.
– We constantly look at the effects of exercise: how the heart reacts to different exercises and how it should react. Then we’ll see how to train optimally.
Vainio has been able to train between his marathons. It has not only been about restorative and competition-preparing training.
– Not only kilometers, but also fast-paced exercises. In order to get the machine in competitive shape again, it requires practice.
Stronger than men
Vainio was fifth at the World Cup marathon in Tokyo. EPA / AOP
Vainio’s SE 2.20.48 would have been the world record until 1998.
– I never would have thought that a Finnish woman would run times in the early 2.20s.
The top result of the men’s marathon domestic season 2025 is 2:20:54.
– Vainio’s preparation for this year has gone quite smoothly. Basic durability is built in folds. He has a versatile sports background – with that, he is like an unnoticeably developed machine that tolerates stress.
The Lappeenranta resident has adopted the new “spring shoes”.
– New running shoe technology and its technology have been accessed. Must have a high step frequency and rolling running. Running must not leak, so muscle endurance must be in order.
More to come
Alisa Vainio was fourth in the new SE time on Sunday in Valencia. Stock photo from the World Cup in Tokyo. Jenni Gästgivar
Valencia has become a new super place for marathon runners, even though it is not part of the Major.
The conditions on Sunday in Spain were optimal for road running. Flat track, gentle turns, snowy weather and air temperature of 13–14 degrees.
– I hoped after the World Cup that Alisa would have focused only on Valencia. He also went to Vantaa, so I thought that Valencia was done for financial reasons, says Bryggare.
– He is his coach Jarmo Viskarin with followed the recovery very closely. It has been established that enough time has passed since the previous competition for the body to recover.
Sunday’s race was won by Kenya Joyciline Jepkosgei at 2.14.00. Earthly Peres Jepchirchir (2.14.43) was second and Belgian Chloe Herbiet (2.20.38) third.
The winning time is the top result in the world this season and the fourth time of all time.
Vainio had seams even for the podium as sacred.
– The Belgian rolled a little better than the Finn at the end.
The expert insists that Sunday’s result will not be the best in Vainio’s career. He is only 28 years old, so he has at least half a dozen top sports years left in the endurance sport.
– In the spring, in good conditions, the time will drop again and the 2.20 ghost limit will be broken, as long as the health is enough. Now it’s worth really closely monitoring the further recovery. There’s no rush now. A person is not a machine, so it is extremely important that Vainio recovers properly.
95 women have run the marathon under 2:20, five of whom are European.
Vainio’s result on Sunday is the eighth best time on the European all-time list.