Andreas Almgren will run his first marathon in New York on Sunday, and the Swedish runner admits his condition going into the race is almost suspiciously good. SVT Nyheter reports that he has been through a series of scenarios in his head and is trying to keep his expectations in check. The race will be shown on SVT.
Almgren has moved beyond a purely Swedish following and is now drawing growing international attention, according to SVT Nyheter. He arrives at the start line in what the broadcaster describes as absolutely top form.
Why it matters
A marathon debut is a step into unknown territory even for an athlete with Almgren's credentials, and his results this year have raised expectations around him. He won world championship gold in the half marathon before travelling to the United States to prepare, and the New York race will be the first real test of how that form holds over 42.2 kilometres.
"Maybe it's hubris"
Almgren does not hide his confidence. He told SVT Nyheter that everything has been building day by day since he arrived in New York, and that he feels strongly motivated.
At the same time he is deliberately leaving himself room to fall short, noting that feeling this good might be overconfidence and that he cannot predict how his body will respond after 35 kilometres.
"It might be hubris," he said to SVT Nyheter, adding that he does not know how his body will react late in the race.
The caution is understandable. Almgren went straight from his half marathon world title to Flagstaff in the United States, where he prepared at altitude, and SVT Nyheter reports that the training block has gone according to plan. A smooth build-up is not the same as a proven marathon, however, and the final seven kilometres are where debutants typically find out what they have.
Studying past editions
Almgren has prepared by watching previous runnings of the New York race and says he is ready for several different race scenarios. He pointed to last year's edition, when the pace stayed slow until around 35 kilometres before Benson Kipruto raised the tempo.
That lesson appears to have shaped his thinking. Almgren told SVT Nyheter that time and placing do not concern him in this race, suggesting his priority is to manage the distance and the course rather than chase a result. Central Park lies five kilometres from the finish, a stretch he will meet for the first time in competition.
What to watch
The race takes place on Sunday and will be broadcast on SVT. The main question is how Almgren's body responds once the leaders pass the 35-kilometre mark, and whether his confidence survives the closing stretch through Central Park.
