Konstanze Klosterhalfen took the senior women's silver medal at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Antalya, 21 months after the German took a medal of a similar hue also in Türkiye, over 3000m at the Istanbul 2023 European Athletics Indoor Championships.
But between placing second behind Italy's Nadia Battocletti on Sunday (8) and finishing in the same position behind her compatriot Hanna Klein in March last year, Klosterhalfen has faced one of the most challenging periods of her career, including a time when she could barely run.
Modest expectations in Antalya
Klosterhalfen has been a prolific medallist on the international stage ever since winning 1500m bronze at the 2015 European Athletics U20 Championships, most notably winning the 2022 European Athletics Championships 5000m title at home in Munich and bronze over the same distance at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha.
So, she was understandably thrilled to make a welcome and unexpected return to a championship podium after an absence of almost two years. After the race, Klosterhalfen admitted her goal in Antalya was simply to finish inside the top-10.
“I am super happy it was a perfect race for me. I am relieved and happy, I didn’t expect it,” reflected Klosterhalfen who pushed Battocletti on the final lap until the reigning European 5000m and 10,000m champion pulled away in the closing stages.
It brought a happy ending to an otherwise difficult year which saw her miss the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships - and so was unable to defend the continental title she won on home soil - as well as the Olympic Games.
"I couldn't finish the run"
Her troubles began in winter training, where she was eyeing a big year after missing out on the 2023 World Athletics Championships with a foot injury.
“Training in Ethiopia was actually going super well. Maybe it was too much. It’s pretty hard conditions there and I came back, and the first weeks were okay, but I didn’t feel like this flow like when you come back from altitude.
“After a few weeks I couldn’t even finish easy runs and five-minute kilometres, it was super weird. I went out and I came back by bus because I couldn’t finish the run, and I have never had that before. It wasn’t easy to figure out what it was. Maybe something like a virus, but probably (I was) overtrained,” said Klosterhalfen.
It condemned her to the sidelines to look on as Europe’s best athletes competed in Rome and Paris.
“At first I thought I won’t watch, but it definitely hurt,” she admitted. “Especially Rome, I was excited to go there, it seemed to be a very fun championships. And obviously the Olympic Games in Europe is a big thing too. My family and friends, so many people, had already booked their tickets there.
“But at that point, I had already accepted it. I didn’t want to go there, just to go there. I have been to the Olympics (Rio and Tokyo) and I want to be competitive. I went to Paris, and I watched the 5000m and tried to enjoy it, but of course it hurts.”
It required patience to return to fitness. “I love running so much. But in the summer, I didn’t really have this flow of running. It was very hard and painful. The last (few) months were really nice, I could just focus on my training step by step.
“I loved running again and that was the biggest success probably. Sometimes it is better just to focus on the training and yourself than having the big goals in mind. You have to trust in yourself and the people around you. It wasn’t always easy, but I never doubted that I could come back.”
Inspired by Battocletti
In her absence, Battocletti has shot to prominence, landing a famous double at Roma 2024, getting the Olympic 10,000m silver as well as her first senior title at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships.
Klosterhalfen has drawn inspiration from the Italian’s success.
“I raced for the first time two week ago against her (Cross Internacional de Alcobendas, 24 November where she finished second to Battocletti). But of course, I watched her in Paris, and it’s insane to see what a jump she did in the last two years.
“To know where she was two years ago and now, she has an Olympic medal, it definitely gives me confidence that it could be me. I just need to stay consistent and healthy and then I can be competitive,” she said.
All possibilities open for 2025
Her return to form in Antalya, builds the foundations for what could be a big year ahead with the Apeldoorn 2025 European Indoor Championships, the inaugural European Running Championships in Brussels-Leuven, Madrid 2025 European Athletics Team Championships First Division and the World Athletics Championships all possibilities.
But Klosterhalfen is keeping an open mind. “I don’t really have a plan yet,” she admitted. “We just look week to week, and I feel stronger every week. I would like to do some road races, maybe a short indoor season to get the speed back after more mileage in the winter. But everything with the goal of the summer.”
She has demonstrated her prowess on the roads, most notably winning the Valencia Half Marathon in 2022 in 1:05.41, going third on the European all-time lists.
But the rangy German, who was consigned to a DNF in the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in February when she was hoping to break the 65 minute-barrier, still has unfinished business on the track.
“I am not finished on the track yet,” she said. “The last two years I couldn’t really do anything, and the field has done such a jump in the last few years, so I first need to catch up. But I definitely want to try the roads. I did some races and it’s fun.”
Away from athletics, she is studying for qualifications in sports and journalism, with a view to working in the media. “I would like to go into TV and do something, maybe commentating?”, she smiled after her latest meal-winning exploit.
But before she moves into reporting, Klosterhalfen’s own story still has some way to run.
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics