This was not an unimportant off-distance race -it was Jakob’s first in the distance he for a long time has claimed is his best. And he chose the most hyped HM in the season, with the record holder, and the world champ together with the best pacer ever. And Jakob chose this race despite having only 36 hours of rest -clearly it was important for him to be in this race (that he knew was set up for WR pace, and not a better suited, random one in a month or two..)
Jakob’s brother Filip, who now officially is Jakob’s coach, said at racing day: “Everybody gets nervous when Jakob is on the starting line!” And he did not add: But of course he has no chance to follow the big guys in their WR pace.
Why didn’t Filip add this sentence I proposed? -Clearly because he and Jakob had a hope..!
Jakob could have chosen a random low key race some time later instead, and stressed that he f.ex would try to do a not all out race, but a progressive one in f.x 61 flat, to gain experience, and to see if he needs to change anything in his training for HM. But I don’t think he ever has had a thought like that; I think he seriously has thought that HM is his best event based on his overall training…
The following would have been fun: Jakob apologising for his disrespect for the distance, and to his so much better competitors , and some words about trying to come back to the event in some years, with a far better and more realistic approach..!