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Most runners will remember watching Italian Olympic marathoner Stefano Baldini running through the darkening streets of Athens on his way to a gold medal in the 2004 Olympic Marathon. Since that remarkable victory, where he set a new Marathon-to-Athens record, he has built upon his success. In April of this year, he placed fifth overall in the Flora London Marathon running a PR there (2:07:22). Four months later, he won the 2006 European Marathon Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. Just two weeks ago, Baldini won the famous Giro al Sas 10K in 28:43. He now has his sights set squarely on a marathon that he has run three times already: The ING New York City Marathon. He has had limited success running this race. In 1996, he dropped out; in 1997, he came back to place third, running 2:09:31, and then in 2002 he ran his fastest time on the course (2:09:12), good for fifth place. Now at the age of 35, Baldini will be aiming for the elusive win. He has described himself as being ‘ready’ for this race which he calls the “world’s marathon.”
Stefano lives and trains in Ruberia, Italy. He is from a large family of 11 boys and is the proud father of his 5-year-old daughter, Alessia.
MensRacing.com:
After your fifth place showing in the Great North Run Half-Marathon, you described yourself as 'very disappointed' in that race. You then paced 23K in the Milano City Marathon and described yourself there as 'more confident.' You just won the Giro al Sas and say that you are now 'ready.' What did you do in training in two weeks to improve your fitness so much and to get yourself ready for the ING New York City Marathon ?
Stefano Baldini: During all of September, I did not improve, [particularly] at the Great North Half-Marathon. In October, I had three out of four good training sessions which told me that [my] shape was [getting] better.
MR: In a previous interview, you called the ING New York City Marathon, the 'toughest marathon.' Why?
SB: Because of the course. There is no room for mistakes.
MR: You usually run only two marathons a year. Are you worried about running a third marathon?
SB: No. I am excited. I finished well in London and at the European Championships and so I decided to compete again in the marathon.
MR: You have mentioned that when you run the the ING New York City Marathon you are going to wait until about 25K [First Avenue] before you make a racing decision, seeing what others will do. What is significant about the 25K point in this race? Why wait until then?
SB: Because normally there are pacemakers until [the] Queensboro Bridge and they help a lot. First Avenue is the most important part of the race; This is the point when those in good shape try to go [for the win].
MR: You are 35, the second oldest seeded athlete. Do you feel your age will make a difference (good or bad?) How so? Do you feel any different at 35? Since you won the Olympic medal at a relatively older age, have you had any motivational problems since then?
SB: The gold in Athens has motivated me. I don’t perceive there to be an age problem--if you are in good health, then races like the ING New York City Marathon are exciting.
MR: You are arguably one of the best marathoners at peaking before your major races. How do you approach periodization in your training and racing? Are you influenced by the teachings of Arthur Lydiard?
SB: My coach, Luciano Gigliotti is one of the best. He also coached Gelindo Bordin. He [Gigliotti] knows what to do to prepare a season.
MR: What is the hardest workout that you have ever done?
SB: 45K [27.9 miles] in one session.
MR: In your training, how do you gauge your recovery? How do you know that your body is ready and properly rested for your next workout?
SB: Normally after a workout, I wait 72 hours. [During] this period, I run and workout in a gym.
MR: When you aren't doing a workout, what is the pace of your training runs? How many kilometers are you averaging a week in training? Do you do hill repeats to get ready for the ING New York City Marathon?
SB: I do hills one time a week. My speed during my recovery training depends on the training the day before, but normally I start slow and improve during the session until I am running 3:30 per kilometer [about 5:36 per mile]. My weekly distance is 220 to 240 kilometers [136-149 miles].
MR: Which part of the ING New York City Marathon course do you find the most challenging? Why?
SB:
First Avenue. People attack very hard there. If you can't follow [them there], you will not win.
MR: Do you ever train with a heart rate monitor?
SB: Yes-only in workouts, never in a race.
MR: What kind of interval workouts are you doing?
SB: During my marathon preparation, I usually run sometimes 3,4 or 5 kilometers with 1K slower by 5 to 6 percent for 20 to 25K.
MR: I read that you are the eighth child of a family of 11 [all brothers]. Do any of your brothers run marathons or other races? If yes, how fast do they run them?
SB: My older brothers all ran and Marco [who is 38] ran a 2:16 marathon in 1995.
MR: Is your 5-year-old daughter, Alessia, running yet? Do you have dreams that she will become as good a runner as yourself someday?
SB: She likes to dance which is probably better now [for her.] I want her to do what sports she wants to do.
MR: You have mentioned that you will run in the 2008 Olympics and then retire. What will your plans be after you retire?
SB: I feel like an athlete [still] and don't think about it [retirement], but I do want to stay in the sporting world [when I retire].
Interview conducted October 26, 2006, and posted October 31, 2006.
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