Alexander Sorokinas, who has been recognized as the world’s best ultra runner for the second year in a row and has broken five world records, will aim for a new world record. Some of the best European athletes, as well as running professionals from Africa and Japan, will participate in the 100-kilometer run that we are organizing in Vilnius on May 14. The athlete reveals how the preparation goes and what psychological challenges he faces.
A. Sorokinas was recognized as the world’s best ultrarunner three times in his career. Last year, the athlete ran a total of almost 12 thousand. kilometers and breaking world records, which added 3 records to his account. The athlete does not hide that he will try to achieve the record in his native land for the first time, and this causes considerable excitement.
“On May 14 in Vilnius, I will try to improve the world record, the time of which is currently 6 hours and 5 minutes. I am extremely honored to run in my hometown, which is celebrating its 700th birthday this year. I won’t lie, trying to set a record in Lithuania scares me much more, because it can be done abroad without attracting much attention. However, it is necessary to challenge ourselves, because that’s the only way we improve”, the athlete says.
Running was a hobby
A. Sorokinas says that 4-5 years ago he would not have thought that he would become a professional athlete and world record holder.
“Running was my hobby, but I didn’t have a goal to make a living from it, I was still working a regular job in 2019. But gradually my results started getting better, sponsors appeared and it became my main activity. I wouldn’t say exactly when I became a professional, because it happened very naturally. I want to emphasize that I have a big team behind me, but I wouldn’t have achieved such results with them,” says the runner.
The athlete enjoys his work, even though it causes physical and psychological challenges on a daily basis. According to him, the biggest risks are heavy loads and injuries.
“If you manage to avoid injuries while preparing for the competition, the next challenge is morale. The few weeks leading up to the competition are usually the hardest. I am an introvert, and before the competition I need to appear in public more often, give interviews – this is quite a challenge for me. I often feel hesitant and self-doubt as I approach the competition because I know the challenges are coming. At that time, you feel fear – like before an exam: even though you are prepared, you are still worried that you might fail. However, when the competition is over, there is euphoria that can last for several weeks”, says A. Sorokinas.
Preparation is extremely important
The record holder reveals that responsible preparation for competitions is the most important part of professional sports: “To be a good athlete, you need to devote a lot of time to it. When preparing for a competition, I have several training sessions a day and run about 40-50 kilometers, I also follow my sleep rhythm and eat a balanced diet. The days become pretty much the same: I sleep, eat and run.”
The runner was preparing for the upcoming competition at a sports camp in America, where he kept a little distance, trained intensively every day and gained morale. According to the athlete, technical preparation is equally important.
“When running long distances, it is extremely important to choose high-quality clothing that must be not only comfortable, but also functional. When you’re running 10 kilometers, clothing can have disadvantages because the run won’t last long. When running long distances, which can last 24 hours, even the smallest inconveniences can mess with your mind. If the clothes rub or press the seams, you will only think about this during the whole run”, says the athlete.
The runner who was chosen as the best athlete of last year and broke five world records, begins to cooperate with the active leisure brand “Audimas”. The brand has created a unique, long-distance running shirt for the athlete, which he will wear in pursuit of the world record.
Audimas Brand director HardySchulz says that it is a great honor to contribute to the athletes who make Lithuania famous: “The opportunity to cooperate with athletes like A. Sorokinas is extraordinary, his determination and results not only make Lithuania famous, but also inspire those around him. We created a special T-shirt for Aleksandr, which evaporates moisture very quickly, creates a barely perceptible feeling of wear and does not rub or irritate the skin. We believe that comfortable and functional clothing is one of the components of a successful result.”
Meanwhile, A. Sorokina states that it is extremely important for him to work with a Lithuanian brand: “Wearing this shirt is extremely important for me, because I want to represent my country fully in the competition. I believe that with “Audimas” we will run another hundred kilometers”.
Ultra running is a battle with yourself
The runner says that ultra running requires not only physical but also psychological preparation.
“Long-distance running is a battle with yourself. This requires a great and responsible physical preparation, but it is important to remain strong psychologically as the competition progresses. If the run lasts a day, the body is already tired and automatically moves forward, and that’s why psychological endurance is the most important,” says the athlete.
The athlete admits that after reaching the first record, other emotions than he expected flooded: “While running through training, I thought what would happen if I reached the record – I would raise my hands and scream with happiness. When I reached the record, I thought that the work was done and that was it. I even felt a bit of emptiness, so I immediately started looking for new goals and opportunities to keep up the bar. After all, there is no point in living without purpose and motivation.”
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– 2024-04-15 05:16:55
