race to age 50 – Mount Everest conquered at home

Endurance runner Laura Manninen49, is an exceptional athlete because he doesn’t really like to compete.

Still, Mannis has the 10,000-meter Finnish championship, three silvers and a bronze in the same distance, and the 5,000-meter WC bronze. Last year, Konkari celebrated the SM gold in the half-marathon and the silver in the marathon.

– It’s terribly difficult to go to the games when I like to be at home and train. I don’t need the games. I train the same, whether I’m competing or not.

In 2020, Manninen ran his half-marathon record of 1:14.01 and clearly broke the result limit of the European Championships in Paris.

The Paris Games were canceled due to the corona virus, but Manninen would not necessarily have jumped into the racing machine anyway.

– I have been in the semis before in the European Championships. It wasn’t a thing for me. I don’t get crackers from it. It doesn’t matter to me if I go somewhere halfway to Vantaa. The motive is that I feel good.

– I don’t know what happens in my body before the Games. I’m powerless all day. I can’t get out of the car to exercise. That’s why going to the Games is difficult. I can’t stand that feeling.

Manninen is still in shock. This winter, he won the 3,000-meter indoor championship bronze and set a record of 9:42.40 on the way.

In the Kaleva Games, he ran fourth in the 10,000 meters.

to the top of Mount Everest

Mannis became a runner by accident. He started the hobby in his thirties with the encouragement of his colleagues, even though he had no previous background in sports.

Manninen, who works in the IT industry, immediately noticed that the sneaker was going.

– I thought this is so easy and wonderful. In my first Kaleva Games, I won the 10,000-meter Finnish championship.

Manninen roared with a one-shot. At the age of 44, he ran a marathon in New York and surprised the commentators of the sports channel Eurosport by leading the race for several kilometers.

In 2020, the avid runner climbed the stair machine at home to the top of Mount Everest. It took almost seven and a half hours to climb 8,848 meters.

– The time passed quickly until six and a half hours. My spouse Checkmate brought me food. The last hour, not God’s season. Every second was that no. It was probably the only sporting performance I’ve ever done. I was so broken.

– It was absurd. I am proud of myself.

Buns and morning workout

Manninen lives with his spouse in Etelä Savo, Hirvensalmi. The couple bought an old public school from the municipality.

There is so much space that the duo’s home has a golf simulator and a huge gym. Manninen has two treadmills and a step machine in the gym.

The Finnish champion trains on the treadmill in the mornings before work.

– I bake rolls every morning and do the warm-up while they are in the oven. Running training is an hour and a half, including warm-ups. I also do abs exercises. I call it lounging, it’s my morning meditation. I love it.

– When it’s enough time, I’ll have breakfast and coffee. I then go upstairs to the remote office.

Mannis does not have a coach. An experienced runner knows that you don’t have to get on the treadmill.

Bread comes to the table from civilian work as well.

– I randomly do what I like. I have some tasty snacks that I sprinkle in among the light ones.

Tips for a beginner

Manninen is a perfect example that starting exercise does not depend on age.

The Finnish champion advises people to go out on the running path to enjoy themselves, not to suffer.

– When you go for a run, you can focus on the moment and not on having to do something. Enjoys movement. That’s where happiness can be found. Go at such a pace that you find the feeling.

– The exerciser doesn’t have to do anything. All you have to do in life is die.

You can start running on a treadmill, in the forest or, for example, with short interval training.

– It can be fun if you don’t think about going for a particular run. Runs up a steep hill and walks down. Interval training is really effective for oxygen uptake. All running develops some part. Do what makes you happy.

Manninen reminds that running was not the only or superior sport.

– Running is by no means heroic. Even animals can run. My husband plays golf. I appreciate it more, it requires head and coordination.

New SE in mind

Manninen turns 50 next year. He plans to compete throughout the spring and summer to get the 50-year-old Finnish records under his name.

The goal is the Kaleva Games and the 10,000 meters.

– The Kaleva Games is the best place to break SE. I have broken the records of 45-year-olds many times.