Foto: Keystone

Following Rio (2016) and Tokyo (2021), Fabienne Schlumpf participated in her third Olympic Games in Paris. The 34-year-old from the Zurich highlands achieved an excellent 16th place and was the fourth-fastest European in a time of 2:28:10 on this extremely demanding course, with over 400 metres of elevation.

For your 7th marathon in Paris, everything came together once again. Can you give us an insight into your experience and how you were feeling?

I'm really happy and grateful that everything came together again on the day. I felt really well prepared and in the best marathon form of my life. Despite that, there was no guarantee of a successful competition. I was able to implement everything as planned before and during the race, and there's a large team of people behind me to thank for that. 

Looking back, what was the key to this successful race?

The heat and challenging course were the two aspects that differed from a fast city marathon. I prepared specifically for these two factors in training. The heat reduces performance, which is why it's extremely important to pace yourself and keep your body cool. That worked well for me. I also replicated the elevation profile beforehand in training.

The autumn marathons are right around the corner. What are your tips for amateur runners over the next two months?

I'd recommend planning a marathon at least three months in advance and giving yourself enough time to prepare. Consistent training is really important and if you often have issues with injuries, you can easily replace endurance sessions with cycling or swimming. Mix up your daily training routine with shorter or longer sessions, flat and elevated routes, and by switching between faster and slower runs. 

Do you have an insider tip you would be willing to share with us?

I don’t have an insider tip as such. My success is the result of many years of training and hard work. I try to optimise all areas that can positively impact my athletic performance. Actually, I do have one insider tip: running is easier if you're passionate and enjoy what you're doing.