Cross-Country Skiing: Therese Johaug Targets Half Marathon – Alisa Vainio's Coach Assesses Her Potential

Cross-country skiing icon Therese Johaug has set an ambitious goal for herself: to complete the Copenhagen Half Marathon in under 1 hour and 10 minutes this September. Now 38 years old and a mother of two, Johaug's target time is only slightly slower than the Finnish national record of 1:09:28, recently set by Alisa Vainio.

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Johaug has run a 10k on the road in 32.43, based on which a 1.10 half marathon will be tight. But if the course was slow in the road race, the time would give some indication that a half marathon could go under 1.11 for her.

Johaug's personal best in the half marathon currently stands at 1:11:27, achieved before she concluded her professional skiing career after the World Championships two winters ago. The question on many minds is whether her goal is realistic. Jarmo Viskari, Alisa Vainio's coach, offered his insights.

Viskari noted that Johaug's 10-kilometer road race time of 32:43 suggests that breaking 1:10 in the half marathon will be challenging. However, he conceded that if the course was slow, her time could indicate a potential to run under 1:11. "She would have to succeed quite well, and the course would have to be fast," Viskari stated.

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She would have to succeed quite well, and the course would have to be fast.

Comparing Johaug to other Finnish athletes, Viskari mentioned Nina Chydenius, who achieved a similar half marathon time to Johaug's personal best. He speculated that Johaug's endurance base might be stronger, potentially allowing her to outperform Chydenius. He also drew parallels with former skier Susanna Saapunki, whose 10k time was slower than Johaug's, but whose half marathon performance was closer to Johaug's target. Viskari highlighted differences in running technique between skiers and runners, noting that while skiers possess strong power in their hip region, runners generally exhibit better elasticity and efficiency in their stride. He also pointed out that increased blood volume after childbirth can temporarily enhance oxygen uptake, a factor that might benefit Johaug.

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If we look at Susanna Saapunki, who is a former skier, we are a bit closer in the assessment.