Mustafe Muuse eyes end of track career after European Championships 10,000m

Endurance runner Mustafe Muuse finished 18th in the European Championships 10,000 meters in Birmingham with a time of 29:17.11, a performance that has him contemplating the end of his track career.

“

Honestly, I have to think about how my career continues.

"Honestly, I have to think about how my career continues," Muuse stated. He expressed a strong belief in his potential for road racing, citing his "good genes and gifts for the road." Muuse noted that he is "infinitely good" at road running and that it would be foolish to delay a transition. He already holds the Finnish record for the 10k on the road, set in January with a time of 27:50.

“

I am infinitely good at road running. It would be foolish to wait many years for a transfer.

Muuse explained that he has continued track running primarily to fulfill a promise to break Lasse Virén's Finnish record of 5,000 meters. "I won't leave the track until that's done. Then it's time to move on," he said. Beyond that, he is interested in the half marathon and marathon, with a goal of competing in the marathon at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Road races also offer greater financial rewards compared to track events, fueled by the running boom among fitness enthusiasts and the associated shoe market.

“

I won't leave the track until that's done. Then it's time to move on.

Despite not achieving his desired result in the European Championships, Muuse took responsibility for his performance, refusing to blame external factors. "Perkele, I ran to the finish with Finnish grit," he declared. "It would be typical Finnish athlete talk to start complaining to the media. I came here myself and walked onto the track. No one forced me there at gunpoint." He also defended his earlier criticism of cross-country skiing, emphasizing the demanding nature of endurance running.

“

Perkele, I ran to the finish with Finnish grit. It would be typical Finnish athlete talk to start complaining to the media. I came here myself and walked onto the track. No one forced me there at gunpoint.