The process of becoming one of the world's best marathon runners is about taking small, small steps forward.
Right now, the direction is going the right way, Suldan Hassan thinks.
It's my second year as a marathon runner and a 14th place might have to suffice, he says.
I feel that I gave myself the chance, I dared to take the initiative and could go for a top placement. I feel that I have the mental part.
”Olympic Games gold”
The 27-year-old, who in his first Olympic Games became 28th in Paris, was long in the top during the 42 kilometer long race in the Tokyo heat but lost at 2.5 miles and finished in 14th place.
A placement that means he leaves the World Championship in Japan with a positive feeling.
And a belief that success in the Los Angeles Olympic Games 2028 is within reach.
It's my big goal, what I'm training for. There I want to be on the podium, there I want to win Olympic Games gold, he says.
I take a few steps every year, so it gets better and better. It will be a fun journey.
”Even faster”
Suldan Hassan's next step in the planning will be to rest, maybe run some shorter race – 10 kilometers or a half marathon – and then step up during the coming season.
Next year I will be even faster. Small steps forward all the time, that's my hope for the next three years.
The finish of the race was dramatic and it required a finish line photo to separate the winner Alphonce Felix Simbu, Tanzania, from the German second place Amanal Petros.
And not to mention that there was a false start in the beginning... You don't have to stress, it's 42 km to run. False start and finish line photo on the same day, talk about drama, says Suldan Hassan.
