Lauf-Ace Konstanze Klosterhalfen suffered a bitter setback at the German Championships in Dresden and will probably miss the upcoming World Cup in Tokyo (September 13th to 21st). The German record holder finished third after 15: 36.77 minutes over the 5000 m – and could hardly hold the performance afterwards.
“I think that’s the only thing that makes me a little bit at the moment that I can’t quite explain it because we are really satisfied with training and I had no injury,” said Klosterhaber: “I was pretty sick now two and a half weeks ago, but you are normally gone.”
The title secured obstacle specialist Lea Meyer in 15: 26.33 minutes ahead of Elena Burkard (15: 27.43).
Stand now Klosterhalfen, who set a German record over the 10 km at the beginning of the season, has no ticket for Tokyo – the qualification period will continue until August 24th. The European Champion of 2022 had already missed the Olympic Games in Paris and the World Cup two years ago in Budapest.
“I had two not so easy years, I was completely physically on the ground,” said Klosterhalfen, who is now training with her old coach Pete Julian: “I now live for training at least in height. I think that also demands a bit of adaptation and yes, at the moment I just have to trust that we are on the right track.” It has to “just click on somehow”.
Klosterhalfen attacks with “Mamas” support
However, Klosterhalfen does not want to give up, instead, instead attack properly in the next few years. “I know that I am not yet finished and I am happy when things are going really well again,” said Klosterhalfen, especially her “mom” she always supported in the difficult time and “told me again every day: it will be fine again.”
Sometimes it is “hard to believe in it. It is always easier said than done,” said Klosterhalfen: “But I never gave up hope. I love running too much for that too.”