"I really wanted to prove it!" - Robert Farken in an interview
He is the fastest German 1500m runner of all time and also made a global splash with his sixth-place finish at the World Championships in Tokyo. We caught up with Robert Farken at On Labs Berlin right after the final at the Berlin Marathon - relaxed, reflective, and, as always, looking ahead.
Words: Lukas Motschmann
Photos: Florian Kurrasch & On
Congratulations Robert, sixth place at a World Championship – what was your first thought after crossing the finish line?
"Satisfaction. I'm just glad the plan worked out - with all the sacrifices I made. At the beginning of the year, I swapped my long-time home in Leipzig for Boulder, Colorado, to train here under Dathan Ritzenhain at the OAC. The fact that this is now being directly rewarded with the greatest success of my career shows me that I did everything right."
"The pressure was much greater in the semifinals. When it became clear after some discussion that I was in the final, I perhaps wanted to prove even more that I deserved it."
- Robert Farken
Tokyo, World Cup final - sounds like a time for another tattoo. Do you already have one, or is there even room for one?
"There's room, and I'm also considering getting one at my tattoo artist's - I just need a suitable design. Luckily, I'll have a bit more time in the next few days to think about it in peace."
You were initially eliminated in the semifinals and were only awarded a spot in the final afterward. On TV, you couldn't explain your slow final meters. What did you do differently in the final than in the semifinals?
"The pressure was much greater in the semifinals. When it became clear, after some discussion, that I was in the final, I perhaps wanted to prove even more that I deserved it."
The discussion is about Cole Hocker's disqualification, who knocked you off-kilter while overtaking on the home stretch. Did you hear about that before the final?
"Yes, I noticed that, and it didn't leave me untouched. I even said in the interview that the scuffle wasn't the reason for my elimination -although, looking back at the pictures, I see it differently. The decision came from World Athletics. At first, I thought for a long time that I didn't deserve to be in the final. But then I made the decision: Now more than ever. Almost symptomatically, I was in a similar position to Cole on the home stretch when he overtook me, and I deliberately ran past him on the outside - to show how it's done."
“I’m very explosive and have a powerful stride - the spike rewards that even more.”
- Robert Farken
In the final, you ran in the new Cloudboom Strike LS from On. What makes the spike so special?
"I especially like the responsiveness. I'm very explosive and have a powerful stride - the spike rewards that even more. With the Lightspray technology, I like how snug it fits my foot. I even wear it a size smaller than my running shoes. Then it feels like it's truly a part of my foot."
We're currently walking through On Labs Berlin as part of the Berlin Marathon. Are your legs itching to start your run on the street?
"To be honest, I've been itching to do it for a while. A few years ago, I paced a friend at the Berlin Marathon. I also train a lot with Joe Klecker, who will be making his marathon debut in New York this November. I think the natural progression will eventually lead to me running on the road, too. But for now, I'm still too curious about my potential over 1500 meters. I have a lot of respect for everyone who takes on the marathon - it's a whole different challenge."
If you had to spontaneously run a marathon tomorrow – what would you be capable of?
"We talked about it jokingly in training. A realistic time of around 2:20-2:25 would be out of the blue. Far from elite times. But if I ever really attempt a (half) marathon, it will only be with full focus. Half-heartedness is not my thing."
Now the offseason begins. What are you most looking forward to?
"Honestly, just being alone and enjoying the peace and quiet. I'm going to Denmark for a few days to unwind. But I'm also looking forward to hard training again. The last few weeks have been really tough. Finding the balance between hard training and fresh legs in the constant stress isn't always easy."
And the last question: What is your goal for next year?
"It's important for me to continue to establish myself at this world-class level. I want to remain a fixture in the finals. Then a slip-up to the top can happen. I've already beaten Nader, the current world champion, a few times this season. That gives me the motivation to know I'm on the right track."
