Arizona Tribune - Dutch track star Hassan mulling marathon switch

"I'm really planning to run marathon," said the Ethiopia-born Hassan.

"I don't know when, but I'm thinking about it, I'm thinking about it every night and every day, whenever I run."

When asked whether she might have a tilt at the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she replied with a laugh: "Why not?"

Hassan, 29, also won bronze in the 1,500m in Tokyo in a remarkable bid for three titles.

That effort, however, took its toll and Hassan has enjoyed a hiatus from the sport, time she said that had been constructively spent learning about her true self.

"In Tokyo I did amazing, but it affected me a lot. This year for me is like a break of a year," Hassan said ahead of Wednesday's 5,000m race, part of the Diamond League finals in Zurich.

"I have to have a very big goal and very big challenge to go forward," she added, describing herself as "curious" to see if she can push her limits for challenges as much mental as physical.

"I've lost a couple of races, which gave me a boost," she said of this season. "I'm in great shape, I'm peaking now."

Much was expected of Hassan at July's world championships in Oregon, but she could only finish sixth in the 5,000m and fourth in the 10,000m.

H.Gonzales--AT