For steeplechase runner Lea Meyer, the year comes to an end with the start of the Trier New Year’s Eve Run. A turbulent season lies behind the surprise Vice European Champion from Munich – in which she learned a lot.
For once, Lea Meyer took it easy on the holidays. The steeplechase runner only completed one daily training session instead of the usual two during her visit home in Löningen, Lower Saxony, to have more time for her parents and sister on the holidays.
Season with ups and downs
A turbulent year lies behind the 25-year-old. In the athleticsWorld Championships in Eugene (Oregon/USA) in July, Meyer fell headfirst into the obstacle ditch, got up and bravely finished the race. Just a few weeks later, she thrilled the spectators at the European Championships in Munich’s Olympic Stadium when she surprisingly won the silver medal in the 3,000m steeplechase in a curated race.
“New Year’s Eve runs are part of it for me”
Lea Meyer is not planning a quiet end to the year. After returning from the high-altitude training camp in South Africa in mid-December, the 25-year-old is looking forward to starting the Trier New Year’s Eve Run (December 31, 2022), in which she took part in 2019. “For me it’s somehow part of New Year’s Eve. I’ve always done New Year’s Eve runs before. And now it’s great, I can see what happened at the training camp.”
Big difference between track and road racing
In Trier, the 3,000 meter steeplechaser will start over 5 kilometers, a distance that is actually too long for her in the stadium. “I’m an absolute head person, but for me it’s a world of difference whether I’m running on the track or the road. I go in with a different attitude, so the 5 kilometers in Trier are perfect. It’s not that long. “
Success still not processed
A turbulent year ends for Lea Meyer with the New Year’s Eve run in Trier. A lot has happened since winning the silver medal on August 20th. Meyer has not yet properly processed the success of Munich. “There just wasn’t the time for it, it will take a while. I’ve only watched the race twice.”
Not much has changed for the runner from ASV Köln, who will start for TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen from January 1, 2023, in everyday life, only receiving fan mail was new to her. “The training starts all over again, only people look at me differently now, there is a different interest in me than before.”
“I surprised myself”
Lea Meyer sums up the year 2022 with these words “emotional roller coaster ride” together – and draws strength from it. “The death of my coach Henning von Papen at the beginning of the year, the fall at the World Cup, the corona infection shortly before the European Championships. I learned that I have a very strong head and was surprised by myself. I felt different met, that made me mature.” Your most important finding: “Often the way is not easy, but you have to stay calm and not go crazy.”
injury cured
Even after the European Championships in Munich, the rollercoaster ride continued: At the last meeting of the season in Brussels, the silver medalist fell again and tore a ligament and fractured her ankle. The injury has now healed and she has been able to train without restrictions for the last 4 weeks.
Lea Meyer injured in the 3000 meter steeplechase in Brussels.
At the World Cup in the final
For 2023, Lea Meyer wishes for a quieter and injury-free season, at the World Championships in Athletics next year in Budapest (19-27 August 2023) she would like to reach the final. “I’m looking forward to the new season and I’m hugely motivated.” The student teacher can do without another emotional roller coaster ride like this year.
