Koen Naert will participate in the New York marathon on Sunday, November 5. He will try to match his eighth place from 2017 in 2:13.21. But, everything is focused on the Paris Games. “Clearing work points is the most important thing for me,” he said during a digital press briefing on Thursday.
Although his result in New York six years ago was considered a superb performance, Naert doesn’t remember it very well. “After 30 kilometers, I cramped and walked into Central Park,” he said. “It’s the only time in my career I’ve had to walk. I prefer not to think about it again.”
Will he be in the top eight again this year? “Normally, I can reach the top 8 in every race, but today, the number of competitors is such that it can knock you over,” he admits. “I’m already wearing bib 11 at the start. If I am ninth after a good race, I will also be satisfied, but the most important thing is to take away work points. This way I know what I still need to work on. Running uphill or downhill, for example.”
New York, a journey to prepare for Paris
The choice of New York has a lot to do with the hilly course of next year’s Olympic marathon. “Also in training we try new things,” says Naert. “Power training is different and I have stepped onto the railway bridge outside my door several times during tempo training.”
In addition to being a top athlete, Naert is also a nurse. During his last internship in Kenya, he gave a refresher course on wound care. “I hope to expand this collaboration in the future.”
2023-10-27 09:52:00
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