His victory at Sunday’s Prague Marathon was a big surprise for the athletic public. Martin Edlman, a pupil of Slavia Prague, improved his personal record by two and a half minutes, and in an interview with iROZHLAS.cz he also revealed how much he enjoyed the fact that his brother Tomáš was able to accompany him to the podium on the bronze rung. What will be the celebration of the first championship win?
Prague
20:10 May 6, 2024
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Martin Edlman finished for the marathon title of the champion of the Republic | Photo: Ondřej Deml | Source: ČTK
Martin Edlman as the winner of the Prague Marathon and champion of the Czech Republic for 2024 in a time of 2:22:19. How does that sound to you?
It sounds great. I didn’t even think it could ever happen. Many years ago I won a medal in the 3000 meter steeplechase, but I did not imagine this.
The Prague marathon belonged to the Ethiopians, the fastest of the Czechs and the national champion is Martin Edlman
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When you looked at the start list before the race, did you want to focus on the position or the time?
I was definitely running out of time. I found the start list quite full. I didn’t think I could place myself in the front positions. I ran for a time, which I eventually showed.
Did everything work as expected in the preparation before the race?
The preparation went better than before the December race in Valencia, where I ran 2 hours, twenty-four minutes and fifty-five seconds. Preparation for Prague went well because I stayed healthy. At the same time, the track in Prague is more demanding, so I thought that I would be satisfied with any personal record and if it was suitable, then run some 2 hours and 23 minutes.
Preparation in Livigno
Did you and coach Martin Cvetler make any significant changes in the preparation before the race in Prague?
There was no change, but the main thing was that, after a long time, I managed to train for two or three months without being injured.
How long were you at the training camp in the high mountains of Livigno, where you got in shape?
We were there for sixteen days before the race and came back on Friday. Before that, we were there ten days before the republican half-marathon championship, which was run at the beginning of April in Pardubice.
At the half-marathon in Pardubice, you ran a time of 1:12:05, which was almost an intermediate time in the marathon. Where did such form come from on Sunday?
We arrived in Pardubice tired. I didn’t want to hold it in there, but it didn’t have a spark. At the training camp before the Pardubice half-marathon, we trained until the last day, so it was tiring.
During the final training session before the Prague Marathon, did you run a training session that indicated great form?
The fastest pace we ran there was around 3:30 per kilometer. Exceptionally, my brother and I got below this limit. During the hardest training, we completed a thirty-kilometer staggered run, where we ran ten kilometers at a pace of four minutes, then ten kilometers at 3:50 and ten at 3:40. It was running beautifully, so it showed me that it could work. I didn’t run such a good training before winter Valencia.
What was coach Martin Cvetler’s first reaction to your Sunday triumph?
He was excited and surprised. We only called each other because he was spending time at the cottage. He watched the race on TV.
Who gave you instructions during the race when the coach wasn’t there?
The track in Prague is good in that you always have an overview. He passes opponents in Podolí and Smíchov. I always knew how the guys in front of me were doing. Absolutely no one reported losses or intermediate times to me.
Brothers on the podium
In the exciting battle for second to fourth place among Czech runners, your brother Tomáš finally won the bronze medal. How did you watch the balanced battle?
I had absolutely no idea he could get this far. I only started to perceive it when I saw how he finished against Patrik Vebr. Of course I was rooting for him a lot. The medals will certainly please, it’s just a pity that it didn’t work out for the second place as well.
You have completed three marathons in the last year. How did they differ the most?
As the first official marathon, I take last year’s Prague, when I struggled quite a bit. At that time, I had little training for it, because I finished the race at a pace of 4:00/km. This year I remembered the places where I went “to the flowers” last year. I had a great run in the Valencia marathon and on Sunday. It was always with a slower first half.
The training in Kenya helped me to personal records. I will definitely return there soon, says runner Vebr
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How was your mid-track split on Sunday?
I think we got there in 1:12:15.
What was going through your head when you got to the 37th kilometer in the first position ahead of the main competitor Patrik Vebre?
I thought I couldn’t run with him on the hook. I had to go right in front of him so as not to show any weakness. I tried to keep my pace. Suddenly it was a surprising feeling. When I gradually overtook the Czech boys, another one always appeared. When I suddenly saw Patrik, I was relatively surprised. It drove me forward quite a bit. I was also pleased that I overtook Matúš Hujsa from Slovakia at the fortieth kilometer. It was nice to manage the Czech-Slovak duel as well.
What did the top Czech endurance team say about your unexpected victory?
Jirka Homoláč was quite surprised when he asked me where I finished. When I told him I finished first, he couldn’t believe it. I overtook Jirka at the 25th kilometer and at that time I was in seventh position among the Czechs. That was funny.
How did your training group Cvéťa group react to the triumph?
Overall, I was surprised by the number of messages and congratulations. Everyone was surprised and excited.
Was there a more significant celebration after the race?
So far, just a decent toast at work. I will celebrate it with a hike in the Dolomites.
Does yesterday’s win change your racing plans for the rest of 2024?
Nothing changes. My brother and I are planning to go to the 50th Berlin Marathon in the fall and then do it again in Valencia in December.
Ondřej Váchal
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