How Sifan
Hassan Trains.

Who is Sifan Hassan

Hassan came to the Netherlands as a refugee teenager and started running there. She built her career on the track, from the 1500 m up, and moved into the marathon in 2023 while still racing for track titles. An Achilles injury from a treadmill incident made her withdraw from the London Marathon in April 2026.

How she trains for such a range

• A big aerobic engine. The same base serves the 5000 m and the marathon. She trains long periods at altitude.
• Speed kept all year. She never drops the fast work completely, which is why she can still kick at the end of a marathon.
• Marathon blocks added on top. Long runs and marathon-pace work come in the final weeks before a marathon, not instead of track work.
• Recovery as training. Racing three Olympic events in a week depends on easy days that are truly easy.

What runners moving up can take from it

• Keep some speed. When you move up to the marathon, keep strides and a short faster session. See strides.
• Add the long run gradually. Hassan built marathon work on top of a big base. Follow 10K to marathon.
• Use your 10K to set marathon pace. Predict it honestly with the race time predictor.
• Half first. The half marathon is the natural step in between. See run a strong half marathon.

Sources: World Athletics athlete profile; Olympic results (Tokyo 2021, Paris 2024); London Marathon 2023 and Sydney Marathon 2025 results; London Marathon Events on her 2026 withdrawal.