Germany\’s Mockenhaupt opts for 10000m rather than Marathon in Barcelona – European Athletics (EAA) – News

Sabrina Mockenhaupt clocked 69:57 to finish third at the Berlin Half Marathon on Sunday, but the German runner has decided to contest the 10000m at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona this summer instead of the Marathon.

"At the moment I lack the stamina to compete in the championships at the Marathon so I will concentrate on the 10000m this summer with a view to doing an autumn Marathon," reflected Mockenhaupt after the race.

The 29-year-old soldier in the German army, who has a 10000m personal best of 31:14.21 and has run a Marathon in 2:26:22, both marks being set in 2008, has two outings over the longest event on the track planned before she gets to the championships, which will be staged in Barcelona between 26 July and 1 August.

"I'll run the German national championship on 1 May and then compete in the European Cup 10000m. I hope running a few 10000m races will then give me some help with my performance towards the end of the Marathon," she added.

The European Cup 10000m will this year be held in the French city of Marseille on 5 June.

Mockenhaupt has picked up various medals at European Athletics events, including the 2005 SPAR European Cross Country Championships silver medal, spurring her on to try to finally cross the line first in Barcelona.

However, Mockenhaupt admitted that she is still a little behind in her preparations, as demonstrated by being unable to defend the Berlin Half Marathon title she won 12 months ago.

"It was difficult beforehand to be giving an accurate estimate of my form," said Mockenhaupt, who had recently been on a two-month German army training camp.

"Since January, I have only trained twice on the track, and that is simply not enough.  Every day we were up from 6am to 5pm shooting and doing other things such as camping. I was too tired to train most of the time and when I did it was just 30 to 70 kilometres a week, and that was not fast but just slow running. I was so tired, I didn't have any energy," she reflected.

"At least now I know were I am and what work I still have to do, and I can't be too disappointed with the time. Under 70 minutes in these circumstances is not bad," added Mockenhaupt, who is clearly keen to be putting in more miles in the near future.  European Athletics (EAA) – News