After the European record at the Valencia half marathon, almost two weeks of vacation followed. Or... maybe vacation was in order. Andreas Almgren did find things that he normally doesn't prioritize over training - including a trip to New York and an athletics-related stay in Frankfurt - but the training had to be carried out anyway.
"I don't want to start from scratch," he says.
The running star, who is forgoing indoor competitions, has a clear plan for the upcoming season. To succeed, 2026 needs to resemble 2025 in a couple of key details:
+ Damage-free.
+ Healthy.
"When you get continuity, you also get results," he says.
“Tough task”
What is the 30-year-old aiming for?
For Almgren himself, the answer is simple.
"It's a tough task, but if you've won a World Championships medal, it feels stupid not to try for gold."
During the winter and spring, there will be some road races, and the summer's big goal is the European Championships in Birmingham, Great Britain, August 10-16.
"It's mainly 10,000 meters there. It's about trying to go for gold. It's not the easiest thing, considering Jimmy Gressier of France is the reigning world champion."
“Best season ever”
Andreas Almgren himself came third in the World Championships in Tokyo. Through a tactical choice, he made it through the sprint and became the first Swedish long-distance runner to win a medal at a world championship.
And that wasn't the only thing he succeeded in doing over the past year.
Almgren set Swedish and European records.
"It feels a bit unrealistic that I've managed to achieve so much, but at the same time I know what training I've done, and the results I've gotten aren't illogical."
"It's without a doubt my best season ever; there's no denying it. There were very few duds."
He quickly lists his few failures: the cramping sensation in the 5,000-meter race at the Diamond League competition in Monaco and the powerless 5,000-meter race at the Tokyo World Championships.
"There's not much to complain about, if you think about it. I'm very proud that I managed to do it."
Anders Wallin/TT
Facts: Andreas Almgren
TT
Born: June 12, 1995 (age 30) in Sollentuna.
Club: Tureberg.
Selected personal records: 26:52.87 in 10,000 m (Swedish record), 26:53 in 10 km road (European record), 12:44.27 in 5,000 m (European record), 13:05 in 5 km road (Swedish record), 58:41 in half marathon (European record), 7:31.42 in 3,000 m (Swedish record), 3:32.00 in 1,500 m, 1:45.59 in 800 m.
Current: Took a historic World Championships bronze in Tokyo last season and is aiming for higher honors next season; that will mainly involve 10,000 meters at the European Championships this summer.
