Podcast Guest “It's a long road” is long distance runner Noora Honkala.
Noora was born in Finland in 1992 and in recent years has risen to the top of the world ultra-distance scene.
In 2014 at the age of just 22 she ran our own Spartathlon in a time of 35:34 making her the youngest woman ever to run the race. In this race in 2023 she finished second with an amazing time of 23h:23min:03sec.
.
He holds three National records, at 50 km with a time of 3:23:43, at 100 miles with a time of 14:06:56 and at 24 hours with 246,496 km. Noora is considered an elite long-distance runner with many races and accolades, having finished the Comrades Marathon in 6:25 and competing in the 24-hour world championships with a best performance of 246km in 2022 in Loutraki.
With Noora Honkala we will have an interesting discussion, after we will refer to moments of her sports career, she will talk to us about Greece, her diet, her future plans and also about other equally interesting topics both around her personal life and and from run in general.
Podcast Interview Highlights “It's a long road” with Noora Honkala.
12:37 Noora for those who don't know, you are from Finland but live permanently in Greece. Is that correct?
13:05 Why did you move out of Finland, and when?
14:03 So, let's go back to where it all started. Can you please tell us when you started running?
15:34 How did endurance racing come into your life? What made you ultra-runner?
18:10 Now, let's go to a race I know marked your career as an Ultra runner and actually in a few days you will run this prestigious race again. I am talking about Spartathlon of course. How many times have you run Spartathlon, and do you remember when was the first time?
19:05 Noora there is a huge improvement in your performance running the Spartathlon, because what I can see is that the first time you ran the race in 2014 you did 35 hours and 34 min and after 10 years you improved this time by almost 9 hours! What's behind this huge improvement? I mean too many hours of training?
20:50 Last year in 2023 you were second on this race but what makes it incredible is that all first three women you smashed the race record which was kept from 2017.
21:50 What do you love more about this race and makes you run it so many times?
23:30 How many times have you run the Comrades Marathon?
25:00 Do you prefer the down run or the up run?
26:15 Will you also go next year?
26:28 I know that a few years ago you had a very serious surgery. Do you want to tell us some things about this?
30:10 How is your daily routine? Do you train every day?
31:55 In relation to your training, do you think the diversity made you a better runner?
33:28 How many kilometers do you usually run each week?
34:35 Do you follow a specific nutrition plan? What do you usually eat on a daily basis?
35:40 Do you listen to music when you run?
36:27 Which is your favorite place to run?
38:05 Do you ever get injured?
38:57 First 24h run you did 173km, next one 183 km, then 194 km, then 208 km, then 221 km and in 2022 in Loutraki in Greece you did 246km which is a National Record, is that correct?
40:52 You've also participated in several 24h World Championships. How is non-stop running for 24 hours? Did you ever have hard times during the races?
42:14 Mentally do you get tired or thinking to quit?
43:49 Who supports you during the races?
44:43 Which are the main characteristics an ultra-runner should have? Is the discipline? The consistency? The hard work? Something else or a combination?
46:19 How do you deal with pain during a race?
47:03 What is your personal biggest challenge while running long distances? What is it that you have to do to get better at, or to learn better, to do more?
47:57 What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?
49:10 Do you use gels during a long distance race or do you prefer eating food?
50:17 As a runner which would you consider as the major weakness and strength at the same time?
52:12 What is one thing you have learned about yourself through ultra-running?
53:07 Why do you run 100 km instead of a 40?
53:54 What motivates you to keep running?
54:53 Do you have any hobbies? How do you spend your free time?
55:47 Have you ever entered a race and said “I think I might just take it easy”?
57:11 What's next for you?
57:17 Before we close this episode do you want to say something last to all Greek Runners who listen to this Podcast?
Noora Honkala
https://noorahonkala.com/
Facebook
Instagram
######################
DONATIONS TO THE PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF THE HOSPITAL
####################
DADIA TRAIL RUN – DADIA MOUNTAIN RACE
######################
Buy a book
Free shipping using the word olaeinaidromos
#################################
You can find the Podcast t-shirts through the site www.olaeinaidromos.gr or from the following link:
T-shirt – Everything Is Road
Sleeveless Road T-Shirt – Everything is Road
T-shirts are All Over Print, you will each be able to have your own name on the back, while the material used will be the best for runners, with technology Dry-Fit and Cool Max.
————————-
Everything is a road:
Facebook Page
Instagram
website: https://olaeinaidromos.gr