World marathon silver medalist Judith Korir keen to better performance at next year's World Champs

Judith Korir is looking to improve her performance in next year’s edition of the World Championships in Budapest.

The 2019 Venice Marathon champion placed second in 2:18:20 in the last edition of the global show in Oregon, USA. 

She said she identified her major setbacks during the global championships and she has been working on them in readiness for the next year's edition.

“I am looking forward to next year’s World Championships and this time, I want to win gold. I had issues with my speed and endurance. I did not have much experience but so far, I have learned a few ropes. If I get a chance to run any major marathon, I’ll also take it up,” Korir said.

Korir has had a good season which kicked off with a win at the Paris Marathon (2:19:48), a second-place finish at the World Championships, and a fourth-place finish at the London Marathon (2:18:43) this month.

She expressed her excitement about her achievements and said she was happy to end her season on a high.

At the London Marathon, Korir was supposed to be a pacemaker but later joined the elite field at the last minute after Brigid Kosgei withdrew due to an injury.

Korir said she was not really prepared for London but decided to challenge herself.

“I am happy to end my season well and I feel good. In London, I had earlier been assigned the role of pacemaker and I hadn’t trained for the whole marathon. Being my first major, I decided to challenge myself. I believe the race has helped prepare me for other major races ahead,” she said.

The 2020 Izmir Marathon champion added that she looks up to women’s marathon record holder Brigid Kosgei.

“Kosgei is disciplined and she is also a good adviser. She also helps us during training sessions,” she said, adding that her husband who is also her pacemaker, Michael Douglas, and her coach Erick Maiyo have played key roles in her success. 

Korir recalled she started running during her high school days at Mokwo Girls Secondary School. She said when she completed school in 2013, she did not receive enough support and therefore decided to take a break.

She resumed serious training in 2017 at Kaptagat before relocating to the Kapsait Training Camp in 2018 and she has been there to date.

posted Thursday October 13th
by Abigael Wuafula