Running News Daily

Ugandan Solomon Mutai breaks Venice Marathon course record

Solomon Mutai is a happy man after beating his fellow African elite competitors to win the Venice Marathon in Italy on Sunday.

The experienced Ugandan gifted himself a day after his 30th birthday by posting a winning time of two hours, eight minutes and 10 seconds at the World Athletics Bronze Label Road Race.

“It was good and challenging,” Mutai said hours after his race. He became the ninth different nationality to conquer the course in Venice after breaking away from Kenyan Emmanuel Naibei and Ethiopian Abebe Tefese.

And the victory produced emotions out of the 2018 Commonwealth silver medallist. Upon crossing the tape, Mutai spread his arms wide and knelt down after being humbled by the feat.

“I am happy because it was not an easy race because there were too many bridges,” he said of the course difficulty.

This marks Mutai’s first win since winning his debut 42km race at the 2013 Mombasa Marathon in Kenya and it came with not only a personal best (PB) but also a new course record.

Also, this is Mutai’s best performance post Covid-19 pandemic since he took third place at the Vienna Marathon in Austria with the old PB of 2:08:25. 

Previously, he did not complete the Xiamen Marathon in Tuscany, Italy in early 2021 thereby missing out on selection to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. 

When he finished third at the Istanbul Marathon in Turkey last November, it came after a time of 2:10:25 after countering hilly terrain towards the finish.

And early in April, Mutai could only post 2:11:01 in sixth place at the Enschede Marathon in the Netherlands.

On Sunday, Mutai was redefined and even better focused, thereby lowering his PB and also beat the previous course record mark of 2:08:13 set by Kenyan John Komen.

Mutai, a bronze medallist at the 2015 Beijing World Championships in China, was quiet in the mix, the lead group crossing through the 21km mark at 1:03:56.

After 30km, it was down to Mutai and Naibei but when they reached the Liberty Bridge some 4km ahead, Mutai made his move.

He pulled away in style, going around the River Sette Martiri to glory with Naibei clocking 2:09:41 while Tefese coming third in 2:09:54.

Mutai now moves third on the list of male marathoners in search of the three available tickets to the Budapest World Athletics Championships set for next August in Hungary.

Hot and humid slowed Kandie and Klosterhalfen in Valencia

Kenyan's world half marathon silver medallist Kibiwott Kandie and Germany's Konstanze Klosterhalfen captured the victories at the Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP – a World Athletics Elite Label road race – on Sunday (23).

Kandie, who broke the world record here two years ago, effectively ended the race in the 14th kilometre to finish like a train in 58:10, while half marathon debutante Klosterhalfen made her move in the last kilometre, winning in 1:05:41.

Likely due to the unseasonably high temperature (17C) and 75% humidity, the men’s race kicked off slower than expected. Led by pacemakers, the leading group went through the opening 5km in 13:56, right on schedule for a 58:40 finishing time with all the main favourites such as Kandie, Sabastian Sawe, last year's third-placed Daniel Mateiko, Rodgers Kwemoi, Ethiopia's two-time world indoor 3000m champion Yomif Kejelcha and his compatriot Tadese Worku, who was making his debut over the distance.

Ten men remained in the lead group by the 10km checkpoint, which was reached in 27:51 to virtually rule out a sub-58-minute final clocking.

The key movement came shortly after the 13th kilometre when Kandie broke away with incredible ease to gradually open a sizeable gap over Mateiko, Kejelcha and Worku. After a swift 14th kilometre of 2:39, the 26-year-old Kenyan maintained his speed to reach 15km  in 41:17, having covered the previous 5km segment in 13:26. By then he had built a ten-second margin over the chasing trio.

Despite a decrease in pace in the closing stages, Kandie continued to increase his lead and he had a 23-second margin by 20km. He romped home unopposed in a season’s best of 58:10, the third fastest time in the world this year. Taking advantage of his track pedigree and speed, Kejelcha managed to finish ahead of Mateiko to grab the runner-up spot in 58:32 and fulfil his pre-race target of breaking the Ethiopian record. Mateiko completed the podium eight seconds behind Kejelcha while debutant Worku finished in 58:47.

“I have been preparing so hard for this race over the last two months and that effort has paid off today,” said Kandie. “Despite the humidity, I felt great throughout and decided to increase the pace after midway, I'm quite satisfied with my performance.”

The women’s race was of a similar high standard with the first three athletes finishing in 66 minutes or quicker.

Perfectly paced by Kenya's Jeremiah Cheserek, the main group went through the opening 5km and 10km checkpoints in 15:29 and 31:08 respectively, slightly inside 1:05 finishing pace. The eight-woman lead pack included Klosterhalfen, Kenya's world 10,000m bronze medallist Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi, Vicoty Chepngeno, Agnes Ngolo and Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa and Tsigie Gebreselama.

There were no major changes over the following 5km section, which was covered in 15:35, but with two kilometres remaining, only Klosterhalfen, Feysa and Gebreselama were left at the front. In the closing stages, the 25-year-old German managed to open up a gap on her rivals to win in 1:05:41 while Gebreselama set a PB four seconds in arrears and Feysa came third in 1:06:00.

“I'm both surprised and delighted with what I've managed today and definitely I'll try to improve on my time next time and hopefully break the German record,” said Klosterhalfen, the European champion and 2019 world bronze medallist over 5000m. “I chose Valencia because of the fast times set over the previous years and my decision proved to be right today.”

Leading results

Women1 Konstanze Klosterhalfen (GER) 1:05:412 Tsigie Gebreselama (ETH) 1:05:453 Hawi Feysa (ETH) 1:06:004 Agnes Ngolo (KEN) 1:06:385 Margaret Chelimo (KEN) 1:06:506 Magdalena Sahuri (KEN) 1:07:077 Irine Kimais (KEN) 1:07:108 Purity Komen (KEN) 1:07:279 Yasemin Can (TUR) 1:07:4510 Vicoty Chepngeno (KEN) 1:07:54

Men1 Kibiwott Kandie (KEN) 58:102 Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 58:323 Daniel Mateiko (KEN) 58:404 Tadese Worku (ETH) 58:475 Kennedy Kimutai (KEN) 59:046 Sabastian Sawe (KEN) 59:237 Ronald Kirui (KEN) 1:00:108 Isaac Kipkemboi (KEN) 1:00:119 Edward Cheserek (KEN) 1:00:1310 Weldon Langat (KEN) 1:00:28

Kibiwott Kandie wins the Valencia Half Marathon in 58:11

Kenya’s Kibiwott Kandie is the new Valencia Half Marathon champion.

Kandie on Sunday reclaimed the title he lost last year after crossing the finish line in 58:11 ahead of Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha.

Kibiwott missed his earlier personal best of 57:32 which was a world record time he set in 2020 before Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo lowered it by one second at the 2021 Lisbon Half Marathon.

Kejelcha clocked 58:32, while another Kenyan Daniel Mateiko was third in 58:40.

Kennedy Kimutai (59:04), Sebastian Kimaru (59:23), Ronald Kiprotich (1:00:10) Isaac Kipkemboi (1:00:12), Edward Kimutai (1:00:14), and Weldon Kirui (1:00:28) were in fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and 10 positions respectively.

The women’s race was won by European 5000m champion, German Konstanze Klosterhalfen who clocked 65:41 on her debut.

Kenyans missed the podium positions with Kapsabet-based Margaret Chelimo finishing fourth in 1:06:50.

Irene Kimais (1:07:12), Purity Komen (1:07:29), Vicoty Chepngeno (1:07:55) and Dorcas Kimeli (1:08:17) were sixth, seventh, ninth and 10th.

Ethiopians Tsigie Gebreselama (1:05:46) and Hawi Feysa Gejia (1:06:00) placed second and third respectively.

Anti-doping: AK warns complicit coaches, officials

Athletics Kenya has warned coaches and games teachers who condone doping, sexual and gender-based violence among young athletes of dire consequences.

Speaking on Friday on the first day of a two-day AK seminar that brought together trainers and games teachers from primary and secondary schools from the Central region in Nyeri town, Athletics Kenya’s Vice President in charge of competitions Paul Mutwii told coaches to promote clean sport and warned those found culpable of dire consequences.

He said coaches will be held liable  should their athletes fail drug tests.

“We are the handlers of these runners. Can we find out who is out to spoil the reputation of our sportsmen and women?” he said.

Over 30 Kenyan athletes have been flagged down for various doping offences this year alone.

Speaking at the same forum, AK Chief Administrative Officer Susan Kamau urged trainers to encourage athletes to go through the Kenya Doctors Network to ensure they take the right medication when sick.

Kenyan Mary Keitany to be inducted into New York Marathon Hall of Fame

Women's only World marathon record holder Mary Keitany will be inducted into the 2022 New York Road Races Hall of Fame in USA on November 4.

The ceremony will come two days before this year's New York Marathon which will take place on November 6.

Keitany told Nation Sport that it is a big honour for her to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in New York.

The legendary long distance runner thanked her fans in New York who cheered her on during the races.

“I’m glad I have been listed for the induction into the Hall of Fame. I started my marathon career in New York and after retirement, I’m happy I will be going back to be honoured,” said Keitany.

In her first race in New York in 2010, Keitany was in third place after clocking 2:29:01. She finished third again the following year, but improved her time to 2:23:38.

Keitany went back to New York Marathon in 2014 where won in 2:25:07 before defending her title in the 2015 and 2016 editions.

She finished second in 2017, then reclaimed her title in 2018 before announcing her retirement from road racing after her second place finish the following year.

"My first experience in major races was London Marathon when I was tasked to pace Lorna Kiplagat, Gete Wami and the rest of the team, I remember I had been asked by the race organiser and the management to pace the normal 21km but I exceeded to 26km just to test my body which was responding well at that time," said Keitany.

That would be the turning point for Keitany, who was by then a half marathon specialist. When she returned to training in 2009 after one-year maternity leave, her eyes were fixed on the full marathon.

She won the London Marathon in 2011.

Kenya's Ibrahim Hussein was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year with the Class of 21 which included Americans Gary Muhrcke and Shalane Flanagan, Scotswoman Liz McColgan and Australian Kurt Fearnley.

Two-time Rotterdam Marathon champion banned three years for EPO

The 2016 and 2019 Rotterdam Marathon champion, Marius Kipserem, was given a three-year doping ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit on Thursday for the use of erythropoietin (EPO), which is a breach of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules.

The 34-year-old becomes the 15th Kenyan athlete to receive a doping-related sanction since July. Kipserem was also one of Eliud Kipchoge’s 41 pacers at the INEOS-1:59 Challenge in 2019. He has a personal best of 2:04:04 from the 2021 Rotterdam Marathon, where he was the runner-up. 

According to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), Kipserem’s urine sample collected in an out-of-competition test conducted on Aug. 17 in Kapsabet, Kenya tested positive for EPO, a hormone that promotes red blood cell production, which improves endurance.

All of Kipserem’s results have been disqualified dating to Aug. 17. He last ran at the 2022 Blackmores Sydney Marathon in Australia on Sept. 18, where he placed sixth in 2:13:40. Kipserem trains with Rosa e Associati, Nike-sponsored training group in Kenya, alongside half-marathon world record holder Jacob Kiplimo and 2021 Chicago champion Seifu Tura. Lawrence Chrono and Emmanuel Saina, who both received doping bans this year, were also part of the group. 

Kipserem is the third INEOS-1:59 pacer to recieve a doping ban. Philemon Kacheran and Alex Korio were the first two athletes from the challenge to be handed bans from the AIU. 

Kipserem’s ban comes just days after two other Kenyan athletes were suspended by the AIU for doping-related charges. He is the fifth Kenyan athlete to receive sanctions in the last 30 days and the 52nd Kenyan who is currently serving a suspension. 

According to Kenyan newspaper The Standard, Athletics Kenya held an anti-doping educational forum alongside the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) on Tuesday in Eldoret. The ADAK called upon Athletics Kenya and government agencies to partner with them and educate athletes on the dangers and prevention of doping. 

Kenyan Sally Kaptich leads star-studded field for Frankfurt Marathon

Sally Kaptich heads the line-up for the elite women's field for the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on October 30. 

She tops the list of fast athletes with her best of 2:21:06 which she achieved in Berlin three years ago.

Kaptich comes to Frankfurt after finishing third in Berlin in 2019, where the 36-year-old ran what is currently her personal best of 2:21:06.

She was also seventh in the 10,000m at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, Russia and won a bronze medal at the World Half Marathon Championships the following year. She placed fourth in Tokyo Marathon in 2:21:42, six months after Berlin.

Her fellow Kenyan Helah Kiprop with a personal best of 2:21:27 will also be a contender. 

She finished second at the World Championship Marathon in Beijing in 2015 and won marathons in Seoul in 2014 and Tokyo in 2016, the latter being where she ran her personal best.

This year, Kiprop was back in action, winning the Copenhagen Marathon in 2:24:10. Now 37, she knows the Frankfurt course well, having run what was then her fastest marathon of 2:27:14 in 2014 when she finished fifth

The Kenyan duo will be up against Ethiopian Yeshi Chekole. The Ethiopian improved her best to 2:21:17 for third place at the Seville Marathon in February. Also worth noting is her compatriot Meseret Abebayahau.

She ran her fastest marathon by over five minutes to finish second in 2:25:18 in Madrid in spring. The improvement was impressive since she had never broken 2:30 previously.

In the men's category, Martin Kosgey will spearhead Kenya's quest for glory in the event. He finished second in 2016 and 2018 and fourth in 2017 and 2019. 

The 33-year-old also set his personal best of 2:06:41 in 2018. The Frankfurt Marathon on October 30th will be his first race in a year. In 2021, the Kenyan performed well with a second-place finish in 2:06:56 at Eindhoven. 

Kosgey faces a stern test in the shape of Ethiopian Betesefa Getahun who has personal best of 2:05:28

Lelisa Desisa, Vicoty Chepngeno, Molly Seidel, Molly Huddle Running 2022 BAA Half

The Boston Athletic Association today announced the professional field for the 2022 B.A.A. Half Marathon, presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, to be held on Sunday, November 13.

Two-time Boston Marathon champions Lelisa Desisa and Daniel Romanchuk return, while 2021 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist Molly Seidel and two-time Olympian Molly Huddle lead the American charge. Seven women who’ve run under 1:07:30 and nine men with lifetime bests under 1:01:30 will compete on the roads of Boston.

The B.A.A. Half Marathon will be run for the first time in-person since 2019, beginning and finishing in Boston’s Franklin Park. The event begins at 8:00 a.m. with a field of nearly 9,000 participants. Open registration is already sold out, however entries remain available through presenting sponsor Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund.

Seidel, a former Boston resident, will make her B.A.A. Half Marathon debut as she returns to racing. The 2:24:42 marathoner and former NCAA champion at Notre Dame finished fifth at the 2018 B.A.A. 5K and 10th at the 2019 B.A.A. 10K.

Huddle, a 28-time USA national champion, will race at the B.A.A. Half eight years after placing third in 2014. B.A.A. High Performance team member Erika Kemp –a two-time USA national champion at 20K and 15K— will also compete among the strong American field, fresh off a win at the Boston 10K for Women on October 8.

“The B.A.A. Half Marathon is always a fun fall event, and I’m eager to race again through Boston with hopes of returning to the podium,” said Huddle.

The international women’s contingent is led by 2022 Houston Half Marathon winner Vicoty Chepngeno of Kenya, who owns the fastest lifetime best (1:05:03), though is followed closely by Ethiopia’s Bosena Mulatie (1:05:46). Mulatie was eighth at the 2022 World Athletics Championships 10,000m in Oregon over the summer. Other athletes with world championships experience include Kenya’s Margaret Wangari and Cynthia Limo, and British duo Jess Piasecki and Calli Thackery. Wangari earned a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games Marathon, and placed fifth at the B.A.A. Half Marathon in 2018. Limo is the 2016 World Half Marathon Championships silver medalist.

On the men’s side, Desisa, winner of the Boston Marathon in 2013 and 2015, owns a pair of B.A.A. Half Marathon titles from 2013 and 2014, as well as the event record (1:00:34). The Ethiopian fan favorite is also the event record holder (1:00:34), and considers Boston his second home.

“Boston holds a special place in my heart and I’m excited to return again to race in the B.A.A. Half Marathon, where I have had great success before,” said Desisa. “I hope to run very well again!”

Kenyans Josphat Tanui (59:22) and Shadrack Kimining (59:27) have the two fastest personal bests in the field, which includes five men who have run under one hour for the half marathon. Geoffrey Koech, the 2022 Cardiff Half winner, and Ethiopian Tsegay Kidanu, 11th at the Copenhagen Half Marathon, are competing, as is Morocco’s Zouhair Talbi, the third-place finisher at the 2022 B.A.A. 5K. The top American entrant is Teshome Mekonen, who formerly represented Ethiopia internationally, has run 1:00:02, and won this year’s Brooklyn Half.

Daniel Romanchuk, two-time Boston Marathon wheelchair division champion and 2019 B.A.A. 10K winner, looks to win his first B.A.A. Half title, joined by Boston Marathon top-20 finishers Hermin Garic, Dustin Stallberg and Velera Jacob Allen. Jenna Fesemyer and Yen Hoang, both 2021 Paralympians for Team USA, will race as well. Fesemyer won this year’s B.A.A. 5K.

“I’m very much looking forward to racing the B.A.A. Half Marathon for the first time,” said Romanchuk, who finished runner-up at the Chicago Marathon on October 9. “I’ve raced the Boston Marathon, B.A.A. 5K, and B.A.A. 10K, and am excited to add the Half Marathon. I can’t wait to be back in Boston.”

For the first time, the B.A.A. Half Marathon course will be World Para Athletics certified, eligible for world or national records to be set by Para athletes. Marko Cheseto Lemtukei (T62), Brian Reynolds (T62), and Jacky Hunt-Broersma (T64) each have Boston Marathon Para Athletics Divisions experience and are eligible for prize money.

No reprieve as two more Kenyans suspended for doping

Athletes Integrity Unit (AIU), the body formed by World Athletics to combat doping in the sport, Tuesday provisionally suspended Ibrahim Mukunga Wachira and Kenneth Kiprop Renju for the use of banned substances.

Mukunga, who won a half marathon race in Estonia in socks in 2017, has been suspended for the use of prohibited Norandrosterone, while the national 10,000m champion Renju got nabbed for the use of Methasterone.

Renju is the most successful of the duo, besides winning the national title on April 27 this year, he also won Lille 10km race on March 27 in France, Prague Half Marathon on April 2 in the Czech Republic and Lisbon Half Marathon on May 22 in Portugal.

He started the season with a third place finish at Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon on February 19 in the United Arab Emirates.

Mukunga and Renju’s ban comes only four days after the 2021 Boston Marathon champion, Diana Kipyokei and her compatriot Betty Wilson Lempus were suspended for using banned substances.

Kipyokei and Lempus’ suspension came only three days after Kenyan marathon runners Mark Kangogo and Philemon Kacheran were banned for doping.

Kacheran, who was been banned for three years on Monday last week, was hounded out from Team Kenya that was already in Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games held July 28 to August 8 in the British second  capital city.

Kacheran’s ban came six days after compatriot Lawrence Cherono, the 2019 Chicago and Boston marathon champion, was prevented from competing in the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, also for a doping offence.

Besides Kacheran, three other Kenyans were banned from taking part at the Commonwealth Games due to doping.

They were female marathoners Stella Barsosio, Changwony and 1,500m runner Kumari Taki.

Close to 30 Kenyans athletes have been flagged down for various doping offences. The list could grow since more cases that are yet to be revealed are at the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK).

In 2016, the country was placed in category A of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) compliance watch list.

Mokoka retains title, Dinke breaks record in Cape Town

Defending champion Stephen Mokoka claimed a third win in the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, a World Athletics Elite Label road race, while Meseret Dinke broke the race record to win the women’s event on Sunday (16).

Multiple South African champion Mokoka broke the tape in 2:09:59, two seconds faster than his winning 2:10:01 last year and the fourth-fastest winning time in the race’s history. Second place went to Ethiopian Derseh Kindie in 2:11:27, with his compatriot Dagnachew Adere outsprinting Kenya’s Raymond Kipchumba Choge to take third place, 2:11:55 to 2:11:56.

“This was a tough, tough course,” said Mokoka. “Normally at 25km you start enjoying a marathon, but at 28km today, we climbed that hill in District Six and it got really hard for a while, but overall I really enjoyed the race.”

Mokoka ran a world 50km record of 2:40:13 in Gqeberha in March, a record that CJ Albertson took to 2:38:43 eight days ago. Asked what his Cape Town Marathon win means, Mokoka added: “I am delighted to win in Cape Town for a third time. I have won races overseas, too, but this is still special. Records are meant to be broken, but titles stay forever, and this win means more to me than just running a fast time. It’s also about the memories of our runs.”

In the women’s race, Dinke of Ethiopia took top honours in 2:24:04, smashing the 2:25:44 event record run in 2021 by Lydia Simiyu and also improving her personal best of 2:25:12. Second over the line was Tecla Kirongo in 2:27:57, also setting a PB, with her Kenyan compatriot Judith Cherono taking third in 2:30:34.

“I enjoyed the race thoroughly, but unfortunately I had to do it by myself,” said Dinke. “When you run by yourself it is so difficult to control your pacing, but I managed. If everything had been perfect, I had hoped to run a 2:20 or 2:21. The course was a little tougher than other international races, but I was running within myself, and felt confident that I could keep a consistent pace until the end.”

Leading results

Women

1 Meseret Dinke (ETH) 2:24:04

2 Tecla Kirongo (KEN) 2:27:57

3 Judith Cherono (KEN) 2:30:34

4 Zinashwork Yenew (ETH) 2:34:03

5 Webalem Bazanew (ETH) 2:34:24

Men

1 Stephen Mokoka (RSA) 2:09:59

2 Derseh Kindie (ETH) 2:11:27

3 Dagnachew Adera (ETH) 2:11:55

4 Raymond Kipchumba Choge (KEN) 2:11:56

5 Samuel Moloi (RSA) 2:14:39.

Commonwealth 10,000m silver medalist Irene Cheptai took the honors at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon

Cheptai claims Vedanta Half Marathon title  a World Athletics Elite Label Race when she crossed the line in a new personal best time of 1:06:42 on Sunday.

By contrast, the women’s race was a one-woman show from the halfway mark. A group of 10 women went through 5km in 15:40 and, despite a slowing down the pace over the next five kilometers, there were still six together at 10km, which they covered in 31:42.

However, Cheptai made a decisive move just after 12 kilometers and was never headed before reducing her personal best by one second.

Cheptai finished more than a minute in front of Ethiopia’s World 5000m bronze medalist Dawit Seyaum, who finished second in 1:08:02, while Stella Chesang set a Ugandan record of 1:08:11 in third place. Another Kenyan in the race was Faith Chepkoech who placed ninth in 1:10:34.

In the men’s race, Ethiopia’s Chala Regasa won the race in 1:00:30 edging out Felix Kipkoech to second place in 1:00:33. Debutant Boki Diriba, the Ethiopian U20 5000m champion, settled for third place in 1:00:34.

Other Kenyans in the race were Joshua Belet, Moses Koech and Michael Kamau who placed fourth (1:00:43), sixth (1:00:56) and seventh (1:01:02) respectively.

Regasa, 25, came out on top of a thrilling three-man battle over the final kilometre on a misty morning in the Indian capital, sprinting away from Kipkoech and Diriba with 400m to go to take the US $27,000 first prize.

A relatively sedate early pace in the men’s race saw a large group of the elite international field go through 5km in 14:21 and then 10km in 28:48.

This meant that the course record— 58:53 set by Ethiopia’s Amedework Walelegn in 2020—was unlikely to be challenged despite the classy field with 11 men who had run under one hour and who had gathered to contest one of the world’s leading half marathon races.

Koech made a noticeable surge just before the 12km checkpoint and was accompanied by Kipkoech, who was frequent to the fore of the main group but couldn’t shake off any of the main contenders.

Nine men were still in contention as 15km was passed in 43:22, guaranteeing a thrilling finale over the final quarter of the race. Shortly after 15km, Kipkoech increased the tempo which splintered the leading pack as one-by-one runners drifted away from the front.

One of the first to be detached was Ethiopia’s two-time world 5000m champion Muktar Edris, who came home eighth. By 19km, the leading group was reduced to just four men, with Kipkoech still doing the majority of the work.

Regasa and Diriba, both looking comfortable, watched Kipkoech's every move, with Belet also gamely hanging on before having to relinquish his place on the podium just before 20km.

The leading trio passed 20km in 57:31 and dueled almost all the way to the finish line at the famous Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Antonina Kwambai of Kenya wins TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Antonina Kwambai, 30, of Kenya, won Sunday’s TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2:23:22, a personal best and her first time racing in Toronto, after overtaking all of the leaders late in the race. 

Defending champion and course record holder Magdalyne Masai of Kenya had dropped well back and was presumed out of the race for the podium before coming back to take the lead in the final 10K of the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sunday; but ultimately Masai ran out of gas, relinquishing the lead with less than 5 km left, and ultimately the remaining podium positions.

Kenya’s Ruth Chebitok finished second, in 2:23:58, and Gelete Burka of Ethiopia was third, in 2:24:31. (Burka set the Canadian soil record with her win at the Ottawa Marathon in 2018, which was broken by Masai in 2019; she had been hoping to run Ottawa again this year, but had passport issues.)

Kwambai’s previous PB was 2:24:20 from the Siena Marathon in 2021. 

Masai’s husband, Jake Robertson of New Zealand, ran the Amsterdam Marathon earlier on Sunday. The couple have a year-old child (also named Jake); this is Masai’s first marathon since giving birth last year.

The men’s race was won by Yihunilign Adane of Ethiopia.

Ayana runs fastest ever women's marathon debut with 2:17:20 in Amsterdam

Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana ran 2:17:20 to achieve the fastest ever women's marathon debut and win a high-quality clash at the TCS Amsterdam Marathon, a World Athletics Elite Platinum Label road race, on Sunday (16).

Setting a Dutch all-comers’ record, Ayana won the head-to-head against her fellow global track gold medallist and compatriot Genzebe Dibaba, who was also making her marathon debut, while Tsegaye Getachew made it an Ethiopian double, winning the men’s race in a PB of 2:04:49.

The women’s race in Amsterdam featured a trio of notable debutants and despite going up against some more experienced opponents when it comes to marathon running, the spotlight was on Ayana, Dibaba and their compatriot Tsehay Gemechu.

Ayana won world 5000m gold in 2015 and the world 10,000m title in 2017 as well as Olympic 10,000m gold in a world record in 2016, while Dibaba set the world 1500m record in 2015, going on to win the world title in that event later that year. Gemechu, meanwhile, finished fourth in the 5000m at the 2019 World Championships and they all formed part of the lead women’s group that followed male pacemakers through 5km in 16:13 and 10km in 32:43. They remained to the fore through the halfway point, passed in 1:09:26, and then started to break away from the group, going through 25km in 1:22:06 and 30km in 1:38:04.

Gemechu managed to hold on until 33km but was dropped by Ayana and Dibaba a short while later, Ayana a stride ahead as she reached 35km in 1:54:01.

Looking untroubled, Ayana eased away from Dibaba and was half a minute clear at 40km, passed in 2:10:07. She continued to push on and grew her advantage to 45 seconds by the finish, clocking 2:17:20 to beat the previous fastest ever women’s marathon debut time of 2:17:23 achieved by Yalemzerf Yehualaw in Hamburg in April.

The performance puts Ayana seventh on the women's world marathon all-time list, while Dibaba is now in the world marathon all-time top 20 thanks to her 2:18:05 run for second place.

Gemechu also dipped under 2:19, clocking 2:18:59 to finish third, while Eritrea’s Nasnet Amanuel ran 2:22:45 to finish fourth on her debut. Bahrain’s 2017 world champion Rose Chelimo finished fifth in 2:23:12.

While Ayana broke away over the final 5km of the women’s race, Getachew waited until the last 2km to make his move.Content to sit back in the lead pack, the 25-year-old passed 5km in 14:33 and 10km in 29:12 before reaching half way in 1:01:54. It was Kenya’s Josphat Boit who took over at the front when the pacemakers stepped aside at 30km, that point passed in 1:28:06, and 35km was reached in 1:43:09. But the pace soon proved too much for Boit, as Ethiopia’s Bazezew Asmare pushed ahead to lead a breakaway group of five.

Still feeling good as they reached 40km in 1:58:23, Getachew kicked and no one could challenge him. Kenya’s Titus Kipruto gave chase, with Asmare just behind them, but Getachew had the strength to stride clear, celebrating on his way to the finish line, which he crossed in 2:04:49. Kipruto held on for second place, five seconds back, while Asmare was a further three seconds behind him, finishing third in 2:04:57.

Kenya’s Abraham Kiptoo was fourth in 2:05:04 and Ethiopia’s Huseydin Mohamed fifth on his marathon debut in 2:05:05 as the top nine all finished under 2:06.

“The competition was very good, the spectators were great and there was a great atmosphere out on the course,” said Getachew after the biggest marathon win of his career so far, following previous victories in Riyadh, Izmir and Dalian.

“I was just very pleased. I felt very good in the last 5km as we went into the park, and especially as we left the park with 2km to go.”

Kipruto comes second as Ethiopians dominate Amsterdam Marathon

Kenyan Titus Kipruto on Sunday finished second as neighboring rivals Ethiopia dominated both the men's and women’s races in the 2022 Amsterdam Marathon.

Kipruto clocked 2:04:54 to finish second behind Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Getachew who clocked 2:04:49 to win the race.  The men’s race saw the top 10 slots split between Kenyans and Ethiopians.   

Kenyans Abraham Kiptoo finished fourth (2:05:04), Cyprian Kotut sixth (2:05:15), Laban Korir eighth (2:05:41), and Josephat Boit 10th (2:06:34) as the remaining slots went to the Ethiopians.  In the women's race, Ethiopian track greats Almaz Ayana, Genzebe Dibaba and Tsehay Gemechu completed a sweep all on their debuts.  

2016 Olympic Gold medalist Almaz Ayana ripped the Course Record on her debut, winning in 2:17:20.  Genzebe Dibaba who is also the 1500m World Record holder on the track came second also on her marathon debut, clocking 2:18:05.  

Tsehay Gemechu, also on her debut, completed the Ethiopian sweep after clocking 2:18:59.  

Celestine Chepchirchir was the only Kenyan in the top 10 as she finished seventh in 2:26:50. 

Peter Mburu clocks 29:38.2 10k at the 14th KATA monthly Time Trial

In the absence of KATA's Peter Mwaniki and Peter Wanyoike (both competing in Italy) another Peter took over the driver's seat during the 14th edition of Kenyan Athletics Training Academy (KATA) on Saturday.

Peter Mburu is the new champion of the 10Km Trial that saw half of KATA Athletes improving their Personal Records.

Mburu, who has been struggling with an injury since May, timed 29:38.2, bettering his previous 30:13.8 with the ever-green Zachariah Kirika finishing second in a new Personal Best of 29:44.5, chopping off 10 seconds from his April’s 29:54.4 Personal Best.  

The monthly time-trial that took place near Thika on a 5Km loop with 22 participants, saw half of KATA Athletes register their personal best times as they step up their training for Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon at the end of the month where most of them will compete in 21km and 10Km respectively.

KATA's 60-year-old Charles Ndirang’u clocked 39:50 which is 83.8% age-graded.   

The next time-trial will take place on the track November 19 at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Track, and will include the 5,000m as well as 10,000m.  

            Full Results:

name, bib, age, time

1. Peter Mburu            98     26   29:38.2

2. Zachariah Kirika      210    20    29:44.5

3. Erick Mutuku           66      20   29:55.6

4. John Kuria                72      26  30:06.6          

5. Raphael Gacheru    81      22   30:43.2

6. Evans Kiguru            85      27   31:12.9

7. Eston Mugo             70      29   31:37.6

8. Fredrick Kiprotich   500    23   32:36.0

9. Anthony Mukundi  80      36    33:23.4

10. Paul Ng’ang’a         443     44  34:18.2

11. John Mutiso           127     18    35:45.1

12. Simpson Njoroge   217    38     36:03.6

13. Joseph Wanjiru        -       36     37:05.8

14. Susan Njeri             20      36     38:01.1

15. Caren Chepkemoi  94     19     39:43.0

16. Charles Ndirang’u  82     60    39:50.0

17. Kellen Waithera   100     35     39:50.5

18. Peter Mukundi    78        27     43:41.1

19. Hannah Njeri        95       23     52:29.0

Three global title winners ready to clash in Amsterdam

The TCS Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday (16) will bring together three winners of global titles. Almaz Ayana and Genzebe Dibaba will be making their marathon debuts at the World Athletics Elite Platinum Label road race, while 2017 world champion Rose Chelimo is also in the field.

The incredibly deep men’s field, meanwhile, includes nine men with PBs faster than 2:06, led by 2016 Boston Marathon champion Lemi Berhanu.

Ayana and Dibaba, who won the world 5000m and 1500m titles respectively back in 2015, have battled injuries in recent years but have still managed to make a promising transition to the roads. Ayana, the 2016 Olympic 10,000m champion, clocked 1:07:12 on her half marathon debut when winning in New Delhi in 2017. And since returning this year after a three-year break, she has placed fifth in Madrid in 1:08:22 and third at the Great North Run in 1:07:10.

Dibaba, meanwhile, hasn’t raced on the roads since 2020, but her performances then were impressive. The world 1500m record-holder won the Valencia Half Marathon on her debut at the distance in 1:05:18, then three weeks later won over 5km in Barcelona.

The Ethiopian duo have never raced one another on the roads, but they have clashed 12 times on the track. Dibaba has the upper hand, 8-4, but Ayana won their more significant duels, including the 2015 World Championships, 2015 Diamond League Final, and 2014 African Championships.

The marathon is another beast entirely, though, and experience can count for a lot. Chelimo has plenty of experience on the roads, having won 2017 world gold and 2019 world silver, but the 33-year-old from Bahrain has always been more of a championship performer than a big city marathon runner. Her most recent marathon was in Rotterdam earlier this year, where she placed 19th in 2:44:22.

Celestine Chepchirchir is a late addition to the field, following her withdrawal from last week’s Chicago Marathon. The Kenyan set a PB of 2:20:10 in Seoul earlier this year, making her the fastest entrant for this weekend’s race.

Ayana and Dibaba aren’t the only notable marathon debutants lining up in Amsterdam. Their compatriot Tsehay Gemechu, the fourth-place finisher over 5000m at the 2019 World Championships, has a strong record at the half marathon and heads to the Dutch city in good form. A two-time winner in New Delhi and Lisbon, Gemechu recently reduced her half marathon PB to 1:05:01 when finishing second to Yalemzerf Yehualaw in Antrim.

Fellow Ethiopian Azmera Gebru will be returning to Amsterdam, following her third-place finishes there in 2018 and 2019. Compatriot Gebeyanesh Ayele also returns, following her fourth-place finish last year, while Sintayehu Tilahun could be one to watch, following her recent PBs over the half marathon (1:07:41) and marathon (2:22:19).

After nine successive men’s victories in Amsterdam, Kenya’s winning streak came to an end last year. But Cybrian Kotut hopes to kick-start the trend on Sunday.

The 30-year-old has won his past three marathons, his most recent victory coming in April in Hamburg, where he set a lifetime best of 2:04:47. The Kenyan challenge is strengthened by the likes of Titus Kipruto, who won this year’s Milan Marathon in a PB of 2:05:05, Norbert Kigen, runner-up in Amsterdam in 2017 and winner in Prague earlier this year, and Laban Korir, who will be making his sixth appearance in Amsterdam.

But 2016 Boston Marathon champion Lemi Berhanu leads a strong Ethiopian contingent. Berhanu’s PB of 2:04:33 dates back to 2016, but his runner-up place in Boston last year shows he is still competitive.

He will be joined on the startline by compatriots Tsegaye Getachew, winner in Riyadh earlier this year and owner of a 2:05:11 PB, Adeladlew Mamo, who ran 2:05:12 on his marathon debut earlier this year, and 2:05:52 performer Adugna Takele.

Other contenders in the field include Eritrea’s Afewerki Berhane, Japan’s Shuho Dairokuno, and marathon debutant Victor Chumo.

Leading entries

WomenCelestine Chepchirchir (KEN) 2:20:10Azmera Gebru (ETH) 2:20:48Gebeyanesh Ayele (ETH) 2:21:22Sintayehu Tilahun (ETH) 2:22:19Rose Chelimo (BRN) 2:24:14Fikrte Wereta (ETH) 2:26:15Almaz Ayana (ETH) debutGenzebe Dibaba (ETH) debutTsehay Gemechu (ETH) debut

MenLemi Berhanu (ETH) 2:04:33Cybrian Kotut (KEN) 2:04:47Titus Kipruto (KEN) 2:05:05Tsegaye Getachew (ETH) 2:05:11Adeladlew Mamo (ETH) 2:05:12Norbert Kigen (KEN) 2:05:13Afewerki Berhane (ERI) 2:05:22Adugna Takele (ETH) 2:05:52Laban Korir (KEN) 2:05:54Masreshe Bere (ETH) 2:06:44Abraham Kiptoo (KEN) 2:06:59Shuho Dairokuno (JPN) 2:07:12Bazezew Asmare (ETH) 2:07:13Josphat Boit (KEN) 2:07:20Godadaw Belachew (ISR) 2:07:54Yuki Sato (JPN) 2:08:17Jake Robertson (NZL) 2:08:26Akira Tomiyasu (JPN) 2:08:55Deribe Tefera (ETH) 2:09:15Bekele Muluneh (ETH) 2:09:51Khalid Choukoud (NED) 2:09:55Victor Chumo (KEN) debutHuseydin Mohamed (ETH) debut

Ethiopia’s two-time 5000m world champion, Muktar Edris eyes course record at Delhi Half Marathon

Muktar Edris, has set his sights on breaking the course record at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, scheduled to be held on a beautifully laid out race route here on Sunday. Edris, whose summer season was derailed by an untimely calf injury, has landed in India with a target of producing the fastest half-marathon time ever seen in the country and beating the course record of 58:53 set by his compatriot Amedework Walelegn in 2020.

It would earn him a $12,000 bonus in addition to a winner’s cheque of $27,000.

Edris had made an impressive debut in Delhi in 2020 and finished fourth on that occasion with a timing of 59:04. The 28-year-old improved his personal best in the Spanish city of Valencia 12 months ago to 58:40 to make him the fastest runner in the 17th edition of the World Athletics Elite Label Race, which is one of the world’s most prestigious races over the distance.

“Sunday will be only my third half marathon but I will certainly try for the course record. I am now back in good shape. I ran well [over 5000m on the track] at the Diamond League in Rome in the summer but had some calf problems after another race in Paris. When I went to Eugene [to defend his world title], I didn’t get a good result but now everything is much better,” commented Edris at the pre-race press conference.

Just two weeks ago, Edris had his first race since the World Athletics Championships in July and got a morale-boosting 10km win on the roads in Trento, Italy over a high-quality field.

Among Edris’s challengers on Sunday will be Kenya’s Felix Kipkoech and Ethiopia’s Chala Regasa, the second and third fastest men in the field with personal bests of 58:57 and 59:10, respectively.In the elite women’s section, Kenya’s Irine Cheptai – already a winner in India at this year’s TCS World 10K Bengaluru in May – revealed that she would soon end her track career to focus on marathons.“Next year, I want to run my first marathon and so this race is a preparation for that,” said the 2017 world cross country champion and the fastest woman in the international elite field with a personal best of 66:43.

Cheptai’s main rival will be Ethiopia’s Lemlem Hailu, the 2022 world indoor 3000m champion, who will be making her debut over the distance having never run further than four miles before.

Isuzu to release limited-edition Eliud Kipchoge vehicle

he world’s fastest marathoner, Eliud Kipchoge, has teamed up with the Japanese auto company Isuzu to release a limited edition “Eliud Kipchoge 1:59 Isuzu D-Max” double cabin pickup truck in honour of the two-time Olympic champion.The name of the vehicle comes from Kipchoge’s run at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Austria on Oct. 12, 2019, where he became the first man in history to run a marathon in under two hours, covering the Vienna course in 1:59:41.

The special limited edition of the vehicle will see a symbolic 159 units produced to celebrate Kipchoge’s achievements. Kipchoge will have the honour of driving out the first of the special edition vehicle bearing plate number 001.

Kipchoge broke his previous (official) marathon world record two weeks ago at the Berlin Marathon, running 2:01:09 to take the win in the German capital.According to Isuzu East Africa managing director Rita Kavashe, the company has seen an increase in market share by 50 per cent with their single-cabin pickup truck in eastern Africa since beginning their partnership with Kipchoge in 2017. “Isuzu embraced me before all these achievements.

They have been with me all this time in training,” Kipchoge said to the Nation.Although the Isuzu D-Max is still under production, proceeds from vehicle sales will support the Eliud Kipchoge Library in his hometown of Kapsisiywa, Kenya.

New York City Marathon: Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir out, Keira D’Amato in

Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir withdrew from defending her New York City Marathon title on Nov. 6, citing an unspecified injury.

Keira D’Amato, the second-fastest American female marathoner in history, was also added to the field in Friday’s announcement.

Jepchirchir, 29, is the only person to win the Olympic, Boston and New York City Marathons in a career, doing so in a nine-month span in 2021 and 2022. She won New York City last November in 2:22:39, prevailing by five seconds over countrywoman Viola Cheptoo.

D’Amato, a 37-year-old mother of two, broke a 16-year-old American record in the women’s marathon on Jan. 16 by clocking 2:19:12 in Houston. Emily Sisson took the record last Sunday in Chicago in 2:18:29.

D’Amato, who went nearly a decade between competitive races after a middle-distance stint at American University, will make her New York City Marathon debut six weeks after running the Berlin Marathon in 2:21:48.

Elkanah Kibet also withdrew from the Nov. 6 race, a year after he was the top finisher among American male runners in fourth place. Kibet, a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, received orders to report overseas, according to the New York Road Runners.

Other race headliners include: 2018 Boston Marathon winner Des Linden and world champions Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia and Edna Kiplagat of Kenya for the women. And two-time Olympic medalist Galen Rupp, defending champion Albert Korir of Kenya, reigning Boston Marathon champion Evans Chebet, Olympic silver medalist Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands and 2020 London Marathon winner Shura Kitata for the men.

2021 Boston Marathon champion Diana Kipyokei suspended for doping violations

2021 Boston Marathon Diana Kipyokei, along with another Kenyan athlete, Betty Wilson Lempus (winner of the Harmonie Mutuelle Semi de Paris in September 2021) have been provisionally suspended for doping violations, including testing positive for prohibited substances and for tampering or attempting to tamper with the investigation.

Kipyokei tested positive for a metabolite of triamcinolone acetonide on Oct. 11, 2021, following her victory at Boston. Lempus tested positive for the same drug after her race in Paris on Sept. 5, but was initially cleared, based on her explanation for the positive test.

She has now been charged with providing false information.

Triamcinolone acetonide is prohibited under WADA’s category S9: glucocorticoids. In a press release, the Athletics Integrity Unit explains that glucocorticoids are sometimes used for therapeutic purposes but are prohibited in competition because they may enhance performance; athletes who test positive who cannot produce a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) are guilty of a doping violation and subject to suspension.

The press release goes on to state that 10 Kenyan athletes have tested positive for this substance between 2021 and 2022–a marked increase from previous years, including yesterday’s announcement of the suspension of Sierre Zinal winner Mark Kangogo for three years. 

Thousands of Kenyan runners dream about becoming a professional runner but most can not find the support needed to make it happen. Their conditioning fades as does their dream.

Most Kenyans under the age of 25 or so who run seriously are not doing it as recreation or for health reasons, they run because they think they have the ability to be a professional runner.  A career where they can win enough prize money to provide for themselves and their family.

In the United States most runners of all ages run for recreation and or for health reasons.  Most Americans do not even know a runner can make a living, a very good living from running races. The sport of professional running did not start until 1986 officially.   

There are as many as 80,000 Kenyans who feel they have the talent to make it as a pro runner.  Some have made it but most have not.  Many feel they have the talent to become the next Eliud Kipchoge, the most well-known marathoner in history.

(First photo) Some of over 100 athletes who have trained at KATA since 2019.  Charles (red shirt) is one of the top 60-69 runner in all of Kenya and has been part of the KATA since the beginning.

Eliud is their hero, and everyone knows Eliud is earning millions of dollars for his efforts and well deserved too.  He has lowered the world record to 2:01:09 and he thinks he can run even faster. 

The professional sport of running as become very competitive. Gone are the days where a man could run a half marathon in one hour and five minutes or a woman one hour eleven minutes and expect to win the race.    

Maybe these times are still fast enough to win a race that does not offer prize money or very little but not races that pay out several thousand of dollars to their winners.

(Second photo) Coach Joseph going over a recent workout from KATA in Thika.

"There are thousands of Kenyans who want to be the next Kipchoge," says Joseph Ngure, Kenyan Athletics Training Academy in Thika (KATA) head coach.  "They know they have at least some talent.  They know they have the passion. They dream about winning races all the time. 

"But many do not have any support.  Their family may be very poor and have very little money, even for food. Their parents may not even know that professional running is a way for their son or daughter to make a living, in fact a very good living."

The family, however expects their son or daughter to go out and get a job so they can bring home money for food.  Maybe a job on a farm or even in an office building. Yes, this would take care of the immediate issue of not having food and many potential professional runners have no choice but to take this path. 

However, this most likely will make it almost impossible for them to fulfill their real dream.  A much better career than working in the fields on a farm."It takes a lot of training these days to make it as a professional runner," says coach Joseph.  "We train twice daily six days per week.  And our athletes do more than just run 10 miles a day. It is a total program aimed at getting the most from the runner."

"And can you imagine training hungry," says Dan Sutich a coach from Washington. "It takes a lot of fuel to train to be a world class athlete. Just not going to happen if you are missing meals."

The talented runner needs support to make running their profession.  If their parents can't help, who do they turn too? In most cases there is no one else.  They attempt to do the necessary training (because they know they are talented) on their own and basically eat once in awhile. 

But this is not going to last very long.  And the chances of being discovered is almost impossible. Their shape will start fading away and they will just become another dreamer who never made it.  

Also the type of training necessary to run quality times, burns a lot of calories that need to be replaced. Food they do not have without support. 

If a son or daughter in the United States wants to be a professional soccer player and it is clear they are talented, they most likely would get the support they needed.  They certainly would not be missing meals or going to bed regularly hungry.  

Most parents in the US and in many other countries find a way to support their kids to pursue their passion.  Or there are programs, like schorships offering support. This type of support does exist in Kenya but not for many.

Bob and Catherine Anderson created the Kenyan Athletics Training Academy (KATA) in Thika to help Kenyan runners become professional runners. The 23-room Academy trains, feed and house these runners was opened in 2020.  Training for the location was started in 2019. 

KATA offered the support they were not getting, three meals a day, twice a day training six days a week, a monthly time trial to gauge their fitness level and a clean place to sleep. 

(Third photo) Peter Mwaniki leading one of the monthly KATA Time Trials.  He clocked 29:00.9 for 10k.  Then Oct 2, 2022 he won a half marathon in Italy clocking 1:00:29.  

The Kenyan runner does not pay anything for these services. They are, however required to work 20 hours per week at KATA on things like cleaning, painting, computer work on the website My Best Runs (like posting results, links, etc.) and now operational duties for the KATA Hunger Project. 

KATA also does not take a commission from their prize money if and when this happens.  KATA does not manage runners, finding races and booking their travel.  Managers come to KATA to find talent.

Coach Joseph, KATA's head coach has over 30 years of experience as a AK senior coach.  He is very well respected.  Additionally, he is working on a series of four books called Train the Kenyan Way which will be available over the next six months.

In a short period of time the training programs he has put together at KATA are showing good results.

Eston Mugo checked into KATA 14 months ago.  He had run 36:50 for 10k, not a bad time but not good enough to make it as a pro runner. Eston was getting no support and not able to eat regularly.  He needed support and he contacted KATA. 

With a lot of hard work, Eston has already gotten his 10k time down to 30:04 (during a KATA monthly time trial) and will soon be under 30 minutes.  He could already win many pro races, especially in the US and once he shaves off another minute he will be ready to travel to Europe.

Eston spends his required 20 hours a week mosly on the My Best Runs website.  He has improved his computer skills in doing so and he is teaching other KATA athletes these skills as well. 

Another example of coach Joseph's KATA success, is Peter Mwaniki. Peter's family and even his brother offered him no support.  They did not believe that running could be a profession.  They were poor and could not provide any support.  He had run a 32:30 10k, a very good time for a recreational runner but not for a pro.  Peter sought out KATA for support.  

"After 13 weeks it was clear he was very talented," says KATA manager Florence Kimiti.  "Our 13-week program was not officially established yet but the program had already been born."

KATA asked him to stay and he can for sure call himself a professional runner now.  During the monthly KATA time trial he clocked a 29:00.9 10k at altitude.  A manager picked him up and sent him to Italy to run races.  Most recently he clocked a 1:00:29 half marathon (Oct 2, 2022), setting a new course record while winning by nearly two minutes. 

KATA's new program is called the KATA Hunger Project (just launched August 1, 2022).  The program offers support for runners from poor families for 13-weeks.

For now these runners would come to KATA in Thika for training and support.  At the end of each week, they would be given four kilos of home-grown fresh fruits and vegetables grown on a KATA Fresh Farm.

The number of Kenyans in Need KATA can support will be based on the amount of contributions received by supporters. In addition to runners this program also supports women farmers.

During the 13-week time frame, he or she would be required to do our workouts and run in our monthly KATA time trial. The results along with a story and photos are posted on My Best Runs giving international exposure. These KATA time trials were started Sept, 2021 and have been held monthly without fail.  Most have been 10ks but difference distances and surfaces are being added going forward. 

Obviously in just 13-weeks almost no runners could improve so fast to make it as a pro. However, let say the monthly time trial is 10k, a male runner runs 36 minutes. Four weeks later he runs 32 minutes. And then runs 29:30 four weeks later.

"We know from experience this person has the DNA to become a star. a professional runner," says coach Joseph.

With the exposure he would get through My Best Runs and social media, he most likely will get picked up by a running camp or a manager.  Or KATA will offer to take him or her in.  The runner would have made the big step toward being a professional runner.

Right now the only training location is in Thika at KATA. "However, we will be setting up training at the KATA Fresh Farm about 10k from Embu and other locations," says KATA manager Florence.

In all cases, there will be daily (six days per week) training sessions, a monthly time trial and weekly four kilos of KATA food available for pick up.  Those showing great promise may also be asked to come live, train and eat at KATA in Thika sooner than 90 days.

"We hope this project is going to help a lot of Kenyans," says Bob's wife Catherine. "As one of our supporters wrote, I can not imagine going without food wrote Dan Sutich."  Dan contributed $114.40 to the project.  

Sierre-Zinal champion Mark Kangogo of Kenya receives three-year doping ban

The trail running community has been rocked after the winner of Sierre-Zinal, a mountain race in the Swiss Alps, was slapped with a three-year ban for two prohibited substances (norandrosterone and triamcinolone acetonide). The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has disqualified all of the results from Mark Kangogo of Kenya, dating to Aug. 13 (the date of the race) and Sierre-Zinal has decided to ultimately disqualify Kangogo.

In the past two months, Kangogo has collected victories at Sierre-Zinal and the Jungfrau Marathon, plus finished second at Thyon-Dixense, a 16.35 km trail race also in Switzerland.

The athlete provided an in-competition urine sample at the Sierre-Zinal, World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) World Cup race, held in Switzerland. The sample reported the presence of norandrosterone and triamcinolone acetonide.

Norandrosterone (19-NA) is the principal metabolite of the anabolic steroid nandrolone, which is used to aid recovery from injuries and increase muscle size, strength and power to help them train harder and longer. Triamcinolone acetonide is a steroid to aid muscle recovery and inflammation.

According to his coach, Julien Lyon, Kangogo has been removed from the On-sponsored Milimani Runners team. This team is a project from On that aims to bring trail running culture closer to athletes in Kenya.

Lyon released a statement that Kangogo will be excluded from the team. “There is no excuse and no possible explanation for doping,” says Lyon. “It will take time for us to heal the painful feeling of being betrayed by a training partner, but we will continue to train with the same motivation and determination.”

Sierre-Zinal released a statement Thursday on the disqualification of Kangogo and including a change in the final men’s results of the 2022 edition: “Andreu Blanes (ESP) has officially become the winner of Sierre-Zinal 2022. He won the race in a time of 2:29:19.”

The race also expressed zero tolerance for doping.

As part of the Golden Trail World Series, Sierre-Zinal has implemented the “Quartz” anti-doping program to preserve the health and fairness of all athletes.

Blanes, who came second to Kangogo, and Kilian Jornet, who finished fifth, both took to social media to comment on the issue.

Kangogo, 31, acknowledged the offence, accepted a sanction and waived his right of appeal. His three-year ban will expire on Aug. 13, 2025.

Eliud Kipchoge battles nine world champs for Athlete of the Year Award

Two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge will battle nine world champions for the men's 2022 World Athlete of the Year Award. The 37-year-old Kipchoge, who is fresh from breaking his own marathon world record, won the 2018 and 2019 awards but also made the final list for the 2020 and 2021 awards.

The winner of the prestigious award in world athletics will be revealed on World Athletics’ social media platforms in early December.

The announcement on Thursday marked the opening of the voting process for the 2022 World Athletes of the Year ahead of the 2022 World Athletics Awards in December.

Olympics 400m hurdles champion Karsten Warholm last year became the first Norwegian to win the Male Athlete of the Year Award, beating four other finalists who included Kipchoge and Olympic 5,000m champion Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda  for the award.

Kipchoge will face world champions Ceh Kristjan (discus) from Slovakia, Brazilian Alison Dos Santos (400m hurdles), the 2020 winner, Swede Mondo Duplantis (pole vault), Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali (3,000m steeplechase) and American Grant Holloway (110m hurdles).

Others are Norwegian Jakob Ingerbrigtsen (5,000m), Noah Lyles (200m) from United States, Grenada’s Anderson Peters (javelin) and Pedro Pichardo (triple jump) from Portugal.

The athletes were selected by an international panel of athletics experts, comprising representatives from all six continental areas of World Athletics.

“It has been another memorable year for the sport and the nominations reflect some of the standout performances achieved at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, one-day meeting circuits and other events around the world,” said a statement from World Athletics.

Kipchoge recaptured the Berlin Marathon title, smashing his own world record by 30 seconds on September 25 in the German capital.

The 2016 and 2020 Olympic marathon champion clocked 2:01:09 to win, beating his previous world record time of 2:01:39 set when winning in Berlin in 2018.

Kipchoge had on March 6 this year won the Tokyo Marathon in a course record time of 2:02:40, beating the newly crowned London Marathon champion Amos Kipruto to second place in 2:03:13.

Kenya's Olympic and world 1,500m champion Faith Chepng'etich was on Wednesday named among the 10 nominees for the female 2022 World Athlete of the Year award.

Kipchoge is the only other Kenyan male to win the award besides 800m world record holder David Rudisha, who claimed it in 2010.

No Kenyan woman has won the award.

A three-way voting process will determine the finalists.

The voting process closes on October 31.

The World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family will cast their votes by email, while fans can vote online via the World Athletics social media platforms.

Individual graphics for each nominee will be posted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube this week; a 'like' on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube or a retweet on Twitter will count as one vote.

The World Athletics Council’s vote will count for 50 percent of the result, while the World Athletics Family’s votes and the public votes will each count for 25 per cent of the final result.

Voting for the World Athletes of the Year closes at midnight on October 31. At the conclusion of the voting process, five women and five men finalists will be announced by World Athletics.

Nominees

Kristjan Ceh (Slovakia)

- World discus champion

- Diamond League discus champion, throwing a national record 71.27m on the circuit in Birmingham

- European discus silver medalist

Alison dos Santos (Brazil)

- World 400m hurdles champion

- Diamond League 400m hurdles champion

- Ran a world-leading South American record of 46.29

Mondo Duplantis (Sweden)

- World pole vault champion indoors and outdoors

- Diamond League and European pole vault champion

- Improved his world record to 6.19m and 6.20m indoors, and then 6.21m outdoors

Soufiane El Bakkali (Morocco)

- World 3000m steeplechase champion

- Diamond League 3000m steeplechase champion

- Unbeaten in 2022, running a world-leading 7:58.28 in Rabat

Grant Holloway (USA)

- World 110m hurdles champion

- World indoor 60m hurdles champion

- Diamond League 110m hurdles champion

Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway)

- World 5000m champion, world 1500m silver medalist indoors and outdoors

- European 1500m and 5000m champion

- Diamond League 1500m champion in a world-leading 3:29.02

Eliud Kipchoge, (Kenya)

- Improved his world marathon record to 2:01:09

- Berlin Marathon champion

- Tokyo Marathon champion

Noah Lyles (USA)

- World 200m champion

- Diamond League 200m champion

- Ran a world-leading national record of 19.31 to move to third on the world all-time list

Anderson Peters (Grenada)

- World javelin champion

- Commonwealth javelin silver medalist

- Threw a world-leading NACAC record of 93.07m, moving to fifth on the world all-time list

Pedro Pichardo (Portugal)

- World triple jump champion with a world-leading leap of 17.95m

- World indoor triple jump silver medalist

- European triple jump champion.

Kipruto, Chepchirchir to compete at Amsterdam Marathon

Milano Marathon champion Titus Kipruto and the 2019 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Celestine Chepchirchir have confirmed participation in the Amsterdam Marathon on October 16.

Chepchirchir will be Kenya’s sole representative in the women’s field and she is bound to face stiff competition from top Ethiopian athletes. Chepchirchir is the fastest in the field with a personal best time of 2:20:10 which she ran at this year’s Seoul Marathon to place fourth.

Ethiopians Azmera Gebru, Gebeyanesh Ayele, Sintayehu Tilahun and the 2016 Olympic 10,000m champion Almaz Ayana will also be in the race for top honours. Gebru has a PB of 2:20:48 which she attained when she placed third at the 2019 Amsterdam Marathon.

Ayele and Tilahun have respective PB times of 2:21:22 and 2:22:19 respectively. Ayana will be debuting in the distance after dominating track and half marathon.

Bahrain’s Rose Chelimo is also one of the athletes to watch. Chelimo is the 2017 world marathon champion and also the 2016 Seoul Marathon champion.

The men’s strong field has attracted the 2014 Zurich Marathon champion Lemi Berhanu, Tsegay Getachew and Adeladlew Mamo, all from Ethiopia. Berhanu has a personal best time of  2:04:33, a time he ran to place second at the 2016 Dubai Standard Chartered Marathon.

Getachew kicked off his season with a win at the Riyadh Marathon in 2:06:27 and has a personal best time of 2:05:11. Mamo, who has a PB of  2:05:12 ran to place second at this year’s Zurich Seville Marathon.

Kipruto is the fourth fastest in the field with a personal best time of 2:05:05. Other Kenyans in the field include Cybrian Kotut (2:04:47), Laban Korir (2:05:54), Josphat Boit (2:07:20) and debutants Charles Mneria, Victor Chumo and Bernard Soi.

Faith Chepng'etich nominated for World Athlete of the Year Award

Olympic and World 1,500m champion Kenya’s Faith Chepng'etich has once again been nominated for the 2022 Women’s World Athlete of the Year Award.

The 28-year-old Faith Chepng’étich will battle nine other top athletes for the coveted award whose winner will be revealed on World Athletics’ social media platforms in early December.

The announcement on Wednesday marked the opening of the voting process for the 2022 World Athletes of the Year ahead of the World Athletics Awards.

Chepngétich is up against world champions Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan (100m hurdles), American Chase Ealey (shot put), 2013 Women’s World Athlete of the Year, Jamaicans Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (100m) and Shericka Jackson (200m) and American Sydney McLaughlin (World 400m hurdles and 4x400m).

Other world champions in the race are the 2020 Women’s World Athlete of the Year, Yulimar Rojas (Triple jump) from Venezuela, Shaunae Miller-Uibo (400m) from Bahamas and Peru’s Kimberly Garcia (20km race walk).

Also in contention is the World Indoor and World High Jump silver medalist  Yaroslava Mahuchikh from Ukraine.  

These athletes were selected by an international panel of athletics experts, comprising representatives from all six continental areas of World Athletics.

“It has been another memorable year for the sport and the nominations reflect some of the standout performances achieved at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon,  World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, one-day meeting circuits and other events around the world,” noted a statement from World Athletics.

Chepngétich recaptured the world 1,500m tile clocking three minutes and 52.96 seconds on July 18, before going on to win the Monaco leg of the Diamond League in a national record time of 3:50.37, missing the world record by just three tenths of a second.

It was the second fastest time in history of the women’s 1,500m race where Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba holds the world record of 3:50.07 set in Monaco in 2015.

Chepngétich would retain her Diamonds League Trophy, winning in Zurich in 4:00.44 on September 8.  

Double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah beat Chepngétich and Tokyo Olympics 10,000m/ 5,000m champion Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands to win last year’s award.

A three-way voting process will determine the finalists. The World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family will cast their votes by email, while fans can vote online via the World Athletics social media platforms.

Individual graphics for each nominee will be posted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube this week; a 'like' on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube or a retweet on Twitter will count as one vote.

The World Athletics Council’s vote will count for 50 percent of the result, while the World Athletics Family’s votes and the public votes will each count for 25 per cent of the final result.

Voting for the World Athletes of the Year closes at midnight on October 31. At the conclusion of the voting process, five women and five men finalists will be announced by World Athletics.

Ethiopia’s Andualem Shiferaw breaks Lisbon course record

Ethiopia’s Andualem Shiferaw broke his own course record at the EDP Lisbon Marathon that was held on Sunday (9th October).

Winner in the last two editions (2019 and 2021, this one with the previous course record of 2:05.52), the 30 year old athlete finished the race in 2:05.43, improving his time by 7 seconds. Haftu Asefa (2:06.33) and Birhan Tesfaye (2:07.04), both also from Ethiopia, completed the podium.

In the women’s race, the Kenyan Bornes Kitur took the top honors cutting the tape in a time of 2:24.17, only 3 seconds shy of the course record. Ethiopia’s Sorome Amente and Buzunesh Gudeta finished second and third, with 2:25.57 and 2:26.01.

Andualem Shiferaw: “I’m happy to win the race for the third time and, also, to break the course record. Lisbon is like a second home for me. The course is good, the weather also. I’m happy to come back here. If the organizers invite me, I’ll come again. I can improve the course record a little more.”

In the 21k, the Luso Half Marathon that started a few hours after the full marathon, the winners were the Kenyan Charles Langat and the Ethiopian Emebet Mamo, both with personal bests.

Langat won in 1:00.44 hours, improving his best time by more than 2 minutes (his best time was 1:02.59). Dinkalen Adane, from Ethiopia, was second, just two seconds away from the winner. In the third place came the Ugandan Isaac Kibet, with 1:01.23.

In the women’s race, Emebet Mamo won in 1:09.35 – another personal record, by 24 seconds – ahead of the Kenyans Ludwina Chepngetich (1:10.31) and Faith Jeptoo (1:10.54).

The men’s winner Charles Langat said: “I was not expecting to win, but I did it. I felt strong in the end and I pushed. We [with Dinkalen Adane] helped each other in the race.”

Kenyan marathon runner Philemon Kacheran Lokedi has been banned for three years

Kenyan marathon runner Philemon Kacheran Lokedi has been banned for three years by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after testing positive for testosterone and its metabolites "with exogenous origin".

Kacheran was provisionally suspended on July 8 in relation to an out-of-competition sample provided in Kapenguria in Kenya on April 27, meaning he missed the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

He had faced a four-year ban for his offence under World Athletics' anti-doping rules, but this was reduced to three years by the AIU due to an "early admission and acceptance of sanction".

The sanctions apply from July 8, the date of Kacheran's provisional suspension.

The World Anti-Doping Agency and Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya have a right to appeal against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

Kacheran ran a personal best 2 hours 5min 19sec to finish third in the Valencia Marathon last December.

He had finished fourth in the Enschede Marathon and sixth in the Berlin Marathon earlier that year.

In April of this year, he clocked 2:10:12 to finish eighth in the Rotterdam Marathon.

In 2019, he served as a pacemaker for the successful sub-two-hour marathon attempt by compatriot Eliud Kipchoge.

Kacheran is the ninth athlete from Kenya to be banned by the AIU since the start of July, with the others including the winner of the 2019 Boston and Chicago Marathons Lawrence Cherono.

The AIU has also today provisionally suspended Kenyan athlete Mark Kangogo for the use of prohibited substances norandrosterone and triamcinolone acetonide, although he has not competed in a World Athletics-sanctioned event since 2019.

Kenya is one of seven Category A nations deemed by the AIU to have the highest doping risk and threaten the overall integrity of the sport.

Bostonian Erika Kemp Wins the 2022 Boston 10K for Women

It was a hometown victory at the 46th Boston 10K for Women, presented by REI, as 27-year-old Erika Kemp broke the tape and set a new personal best with a time of 32:15. In her race debut, Kemp surged at mile five and cruised onto Charles Street for a 17 second victory over Kenyan Risper Gesabwa. Gesabwa’s time of 32:32 put her four seconds ahead of American Taylor Werner, who clocked 32:36, one second shy of her personal record. 

‘I’ve been waiting for this day for seven years,’ said an elated Kemp, who credited her course familiarity with her PR performance. “My training overall has been pretty good. I’ve just had a really hard time putting it together in a race. It wasn’t super surprising, but it was very rewarding to see it all come together.”

Under sunny skies and a temperature of 50 degrees, Kemp, Gesabwa, Werner, and Mary Munanu of Kenya formed a pack of four quickly after the 9:00 a.m. start. Sticking together across the Massachusetts Avenue bridge into Cambridge, they jostled along Memorial Drive, while switchbacks brought the cheers of nearly 3,000 women who chased them.  “Towards mile three and four, Mary [Munanu] and I surged a tiny bit, and we got some space going into mile four,” recalled Kemp, who earned $9,000 with the victory.

Munanu and Kemp accelerated as they returned into Boston, and the crowd roared as they turned left onto Commonwealth Ave. Gesabwa and Werner stuck close behind, battling for the third podium spot. “We were side by side at mile five, and there was a sharp turn, where Mary surged,” recalled Kemp. “And I was like ‘no I can’t quit.’ So, I put in a surge and this was the only time she didn’t respond, so at that point I knew this was my chance, and I just went for it.”

The late surge was a welcomed sign for Kemp, who runs for the Boston Athletic Association High Performance Team. “The other races I’ve done so far this year, I get to about three miles, and I’m just dead – mentally, physically, emotionally, just like, nothing left. So when you’re coming back on the bridge, and you’re just running past a stream of women and they’re cheering so hard for you, it just gives you new energy.”

The race attracted 3,556 official registrants to a bustling Boston Common as the sun rose over Boston. For the 46th year, the women’s race gathered athletes of all ages and backgrounds, representing 37 states, 11 countries, and six continents. Runners from ages 10 to 88 registered for the event. “It was amazing,” said Kemp on the sea of women runners. “The way the course runs when you run past all the women on the Mass Ave Bridge, it’s just so incredible.”

The race saw a 15% increase in registrations from 2021, and is enthusiastically supported by a group of sponsors, led by REI and Puma, who brought enormous energy to the day’s activities. Formerly known as the Tufts Health Plan 10K for Women, the race is New England’s largest all-women’s sporting event the second longest-running all-women’s race in the country.

Boston 10K for Women, Presented by REI

Established in 1977 as the Bonne Bell Mini Marathon, the Boston 10K for Women, Presented by REI is the longest-running all-women’s sporting event in New England. With thousands of runners and spectators each year, it’s New England’s largest all-women’s road race, and has been organized every year by Conventures, Inc. Known for many years as the Tufts Health Plan 10K for Women, the race features a flat out-and-back course through Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood and stretches of Memorial Drive in Cambridge, finishing at Boston Common. More than 180,000 women have raced in the event since its inception. 

Last warm up as Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon date approaches

The Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon organizers on Saturday honored sponsors and partners of this year’s event with warm up races at Karura Forest.

This year’s physical run is set for October 30 on the Southern Bypass route, with Uhuru Gardens being the main venue for the annual event.

At least 15, 000 local and international runners are expected to compete in the physical marathon while 10,000 participants are targeted for the virtual races set to start on October 23.

Saturday's runs were the third and final warm up races held ahead of the main event due in three weeks’ time.

The participants competed in five kilometers, 10km and 21km running trials.

The chairman Local Organizing Committee Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon Peter Gitau said it was special to celebrate the event's sponsors and partners with the warm up races since it owes it's success to them.

Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon has taken place since inception in 2003 with 2020 being the only year it failed to happen due to Covid-19 pandemic.

“This is a special warm up race, for it celebrates our partners and sponsors,” said Gitau.

“This marathon has attracted over 250,000 participants over the last 18 editions to become the largest single-day sporting event in Kenya. We owe this success to collaboration.”

Some of the partners that were represented at the event include Nairobi County, Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage, Coca Cola, Kenya Breweries, Magical Kenya and Prudential Assurance.

In addition to the warm-up races, the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon organizers have been hosting a series of training sessions to better equip participants with tools for running.

The training sessions have incorporated Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs). Over 50 PWLDs are expected to grace this year’s event.

They will participate in 21km and 42km relay races.

Kenyans Philimon Kipchumba and Agnes Keino break Munich Marathon course records

Both course records were smashed during the comeback of international elite runners at the Generali Munich Marathon.

Kenyan debutant Philimon Kipchumba crossed the finish line in Munich’s Olympic Stadium in 2:07:28. Behind him the 23 year-old Mengistu Zelalem of Ethiopia and Eritrea’s Berhane Tesfaye followed in 2:07:56 and 2:08:10 respectively – times that were well faster than the previous course record of 2:09:46. Fourth placed German Sebastian Hendel ran a fine debut with 2:10:37.

There was a triumph for Kenya in the women’s race as well: Agnes Keino clocked a personal best of 2:23:26, improving the course record by almost nine minutes. The 34 year-old was ahead of the 2015 marathon World Champion Mare Dibaba. The Ethiopian ran 2:24:12 while Souad Kambouchia of Morocco finished third with 2:27:35. Seven women were inside the former course record of 2:32:11.

A total of 18,322 athletes entered the 36th edition of the Generali Munich Marathon, which is a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race. 4,334 of them were marathon runners. The marathon was started by Frank Shorter, who won the Olympic marathon in Munich in 1972. The American had been invited as a guest of honor by the organizers.

“This was a very special day for the Generali Munich Marathon. We are extremely happy with the great course records. We have reached new dimensions today and we intend to build on this success,“ said Race Director Gernot Weigl. It was the first time in over 20 years that organizers brought back a proper elite field. That was the reason why the long standing course records were smashed by several minutes on Sunday: Kenya’s Michael Kite was the former record holder with a time of 2:09:46 from 2000. Germany’s Susanne Hahn held the women’s mark with 2:32:11 from 2012 when she won the German Championships’ race.

In ideal weather conditions with temperatures of 9 Celsius at the start, hardly any wind and a cloudy sky a leading group of ten runners reached the half marathon mark in 63:41. However Tsegaye Mekonnen was no longer among them. The Ethiopian, who still holds the unofficial world junior record of 2:04:32 and was the fastest runner on the start list, had lost contact shortly before and later dropped out. But a compact group remained together in the lead until the late stages of the race. Five of them passed the 35k mark in 1:45:33. Once pacemaker Bonface Kiplimo of Kenya dropped out shortly afterwards a duel between Philimon Kipchumba and Mengistu Zelalem developed. The Kenyan was then able to put in a surge just before the 41st kilometer and dropped Zelalem. “I did not quite expect to run such a fast debut. But my training went very well and I just tried my best,“ said Philimon Kipchumba, who hopes to achieve times of 2:04 in the future.

In the women’s race Agnes Keino and Mare Dibaba were together in the lead, passing the half marathon point in 71:46 and then 30k in 1:42:01. With around eight kilometers to go Keino, who entered the race with a PB of 2:25:08, went ahead. Former world champion Dibaba, who was the fastest on the start list with her PB of 2:19:52, suffered of muscle problems and was not able to respond to the surge of her Kenyan rival. However Mare Dibaba finished second with 2:24:12, running her fastest time since 2019. “It was my big goal to run a personal best and I am really happy that I achieved it. Even more so since I also won the race,“ said Agnes Keino, who improved to 2:23:26.

Emily Sisson sets a new American record in the marathon today in Chicago. clocking 2:18:29!

Three days shy of her 31st birthday and with only one previous marathon on her resume, Emily Sisson took to the streets of Chicago and lowered the American women’s marathon record by 43 seconds, becoming the first American woman to run a marathon in less than 2 hours 19 minutes.

Conditions on the Chicago Marathon’s relatively flat course were ideal, with Sisson — who won the 10,000 at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials last summer — finishing second to Ruth Chepng’etich. The Kenyan repeated as the Chicago champion with a time of 2:14:18, fractions of a second off the world record of 2:14:04 set by Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei in the 2019 Chicago Marathon.

Sisson finished in 2:18:29, taking 43 seconds off the American record set by Keira D’Amatoin January in Houston. Before D’Amato, the record had stood for 16 years; now it has been lowered twice in 10 months, something D’Amato expected.

“There’s a number of American women that are also gunning for that record, so I think if I don’t lower it myself, it’s not going to be mine for very much longer,” she said before the Berlin Marathon two weeks ago. D’Amato, who did not run in Chicago, joined Sisson at the finish line, along with Deena Kastor and Joan Benoit Samuelson — women who held the American record before her.

“It’s amazing,” Sisson said, according to NBC Chicago. “I mean, the women standing here today, they’ve all accomplished so much, so just to be amongst them is an incredible honor.”

Sisson said she wasn’t aware that the record was in reach until very close to the finish line.

Emily Sisson (born October 12, 1991) is a professional runner for New Balance in Phoenix, Arizona. Emily Sisson was 9th at the 2017 London IAAF World Outdoor Track and Field Championships for 10,000 meters, and won the USATF road 10k Championships in 2016 and 5k in 2018. In the 2019 London Marathon, her first try at the distance, she placed 6th in a time of 2:23:08.

In December 2020, she ran the Valencia Half-Marathon in 1:07:26, narrowly missing the American record set by Molly Huddle in Houston on January 14, 2018. Sisson subsequently qualified to compete at the 2020 Olympics in the 10,000 m run, by coming in 1st place at the US Olympic Trials; she finished 10th at the event. On May 7, 2022, clocking in at 1:07:11 she broke the USA woman's half marathon record at the 500Festival Mini-Marathon in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

On October 9, 2022, she broke the American women's marathon record at the 2022 Chicago Marathon, running 2:18:29 to finish 2nd

Results and Highlights From the 2022 Chicago Marathon

Ruth Chepngetich narrowly missed the world record on the women’s side, while Benson Kipruto It was a terrific day for racing at the 2022 Chicago Marathon and the performances proved that. Over 40,000 runners took to the streets of the Windy City on Sunday morning on what turned out to be a fast day all around.

There was an American record and nearly a world record on the women’s side, while the men’s race saw a good battle between a number of the the world’s top marathoners.Chepngetich Narrowly Misses World Record, Repeats as Champion

Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya went out guns blazing and clocked an incredible 2:14:18 to win the Chicago Marathon in the second-fastest time in world history, just 14 seconds off Brigid Kosgei’s world record which was also set in Chicago.

She went out super hot in 65:44 at the halfway mark—on pace for a 2:11!—and though she slowed after that, she was still on world record pace through 40K before missing the time.Benson Kipruto Breaks Away for the Win

With a late surge in the 25th mile, Benson Kipruto of Kenya won the 2022 Chicago Marathon in 2:04:24, a personal best and the fastest winning time in Chicago since 2014. He also won the 2021 Boston Marathon.

His older brother, Dickson Chumba, won the Chicago Marathon in 2015 and twice won the Tokyo Marathon in 2014 and 2018.

Defending champion Seifu Tura was second in 2:04:49.

Emily Sisson Breaks the American Record

Emily Sisson ran 2:18:29 to place second at the Chicago Marathon and smash the American record, which was set earlier this year in 2:19:12 by Keira D’Amato in Houston after being held by Deena Kastor for 16 years.

Sisson also set the American record in the half marathon this year in 1:07:11. The U.S. Olympic Trials champion in the 10K, who turns 31 this week, suffered an injury during her buildup to the Olympic Games in Tokyo and had to withdraw from a planned marathon last fall.

Twice LA Marathon champ John Korir aims for a Majors title

Two-time Los Angeles Marathon champion John Korir now wants a bigger title.

Korir will make his Marathon Majors debut at Chicago in the USA on Sunday confident of launching a serious assault on the crown.

He enjoyed an encouraging outing at the Los Angeles Marathon in March where he retained his title in a personal best time of  2:09:08.

In Chicago on Sunday, Korir will come up against compatriots Amsterdam Marathon champion Bernard Koech who has a personal best of 2:04:09 and is the second fastest man in the field, Paris Marathon champion Elisha Rotich (2:04:21), Eric Kiptanui (2:05:47) and the Boston Marathon champion Benson Kipruto (2:05:13).

The Kenyan athletes will be seeking to wrest back the title from Ethiopians after Seifu Tura won last year  with USA’s Galen Rupp coming in second while Kenya’s Eric Kiptanui finished third.

Korir told Nation Sport he was ready for the task and he will be eyeing a top-three finish.

“I started with build up at Kamoi in Elgeyo Marakwet which is known for its hilly terrain before shifting to Eldoret. I can say that I’m in good shape,” said Korir.

He added that since his elder brother Wesley Korir, a retired athlete, competed in the race before, he has given him tips about the course and he believes he will perform well.

“I’m lucky because my brother ran the Chicago Marathon when he was an active athlete and he has been guiding me on how to race on this course. He will personally be there to give me support during the race and I just want to run well and make him proud,” he said.

In the women category, three-time Milano Marathon Vivian Kiplagat, who trains at Kapsait Athletics Training Club in Elgeyo-Marakwet County will also be seeking the big prize as he comes face-to-face with defending champion Ruth Chepng’etich.

Incidentally, the two are under Rosa Associati management.

Also in the mix as another Kenyan, Celestine Chepchirchir.

Kiplagat said that after winning  Milano Marathon in April in a  personal best time of 2:20:18 she was in great shape physically and mentally.

“I’m focused on the race which I know will be fast and if the weather conditions are favorable, I want to run a personal best,” said Kiplagat.

Kiplagat won the 2018 Honolulu Marathon in Hawaii in 2:36:22, and the 2019 Abu Dhabi Marathon with a personal best time of 2:21:11. This was a massive minute inside her winning time in the Milano Marathon that year.

Valencia Half Marathon entry list bristling with talent

Organizers of the Valencia Half Marathon have once again revealed their hand in wanting blistering times, and possibly a world record at this year’s edition that will be held on October 23.

In the official elite entry list announced Friday, Commonwealth Games 10,000 bronze medalist Kibiwott Kandie is the stand-out entry in the men’s race.

Remember Kandie is the culprit who broke the world record over the distance two years ago in a scorching 57 minutes 32 minutes. That record was however lowered by his rival, Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo to 57:31, in Lisbon last year.

Other star runners of note lined up in the men’s race are Kenyans Sebastian Sawe (58:02), Daniel Mateiko (58:26), Kennedy Kimutai (58:28), Rodgers Kwemoi (58:30), Bernard Ng’eno (59:07) and Alfred Barkach (59:36).

“I’m glad I will be competing once again in Valencia Half Marathon where I ran a world record and this time I don’t want to say anything but just run a good race,” he said.

Pushed further he relented that he would not mind lowering his personal best time.

In the women's category, world 10,000m bronze medalist Margaret Chelimo will be leading her compatriots including Vicoty Chepng’eno who is the fastest in the field with personal best of 1:05:03 and Irene Kimais (1:06:34).

Also in the line-up are Purity Komen (1:07:10), Vivian Melly (1:08:17), Agnes Ngolo (1:09:15), and Kenyan-born Turk Yasemin Can.

While admitting a world record may not be on the cards, Marc Roig, recruiter of the Valencia Half Marathon international elite, averred: “I am convinced that the quality of the elite that will run this half-marathon will be news around the world again thanks to its high standards.”

Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey broke the mixed-gender world record of 1:02:52 last year.

Defending champions Chepngetich and Tura face strong opposition in Chicago

Ruth Chepngetich and Seifu Tura will defend their Bank of America Chicago Marathon titles on Sunday (9) but will take on stronger fields than they faced last year at the World Athletics Elite Platinum Label road race.

Chepngetich, the 2019 world champion, has won six of the eight marathons she has completed to date, and has finished on the podium in the other two. The Kenyan’s most recent victory came in Nagoya earlier this year when she smashed the course record with 2:17:18, just 10 seconds she of the PB she set in Dubai in 2019.

She has set PBs at a range of distances this year, on the road and track, so she could be in form to improve on her marathon best this weekend, provided she doesn’t go out too hard like she did in Chicago last year.

Ruti Aga looks to be one of Chepngetich’s strongest opponents. The Ethiopian has won just one marathon to date, but she has reached the podium in six other races, including New York in 2019 and three times in Berlin. Her PB of 2:18:34 was set in the German capital four years ago, while her last completed marathon was in Valencia in 2020.

Kenya’s Celestine Chepchirchir heads into this weekend’s race in good form, having taken a few minutes off her PB to finish fourth in Seoul earlier this year in 2:20:10.

Compatriot Vivian Kiplagat won in Milan earlier this year in a PB of 2:20:18. She will be keen to improve upon her fifth-place finish in Chicago last year.

Haven Hailu is still a relative newcomer to the marathon, having contested just four races at the distance. She won in Rotterdam earlier this year in 2:22:01, not far off her 2:20:19 PB set in Amsterdam last year. Fellow Ethiopian Waganesh Mekasha is also one to watch. A 2:22:45 performer at her best, she will be contesting her first marathon in the US.

US women occupied two places on the podium in Chicago last year, and this Sunday Emily Sisson hopes to follow in those footsteps. A relative newcomer to the marathon, she clocked 2:23:08 on her debut at the distance in London in 2019. Earlier this year she broke the US half marathon record with 1:07:11 and has also set PBs for 15km, 20km and five miles.

One year on from his Chicago Marathon triumph, Tura returns to the US in good form as the Ethiopian aims to become the first back-to-back winner of the men’s race for more than a decade.

Tura, whose PB of 2:04:29 was set in Milan last year, started 2022 with a half marathon PB of 58:36 in Ras Al Khaimah. He followed that with a runner-up finish in Paris (2:05:10) and then went on to place sixth at the World Championships in Oregon.

Compatriot Herpasa Negasa has the fastest PB of the field, having clocked 2:03:40 in Dubai in 2019. He came close to that when finishing second in Seoul earlier this year in 2:04:49, but he is yet to win a marathon so he will be highly motivated this weekend.

Bernard Koech is another experienced marathon runner who has not yet won a race over the classic distance. He hasn’t raced since last October when he finished second in Amsterdam in a PB of 2:04:09.

Fellow Kenyan Elisha Rotich, meanwhile, is a winner of six international marathons. His most recent race over the distance was his 2:04:21 victory in Paris last year.

Former 1500m specialist Dawit Wolde, who represented Ethiopia in that event at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, has transitioned to the marathon in recent years. He was third in Rotterdam last year in 2:04:27 and has finished on the podium in his past four marathons, including a win in Prague in 2019.

Stephen Kissa is even newer to the marathon. The Ugandan track specialist made a promising debut in Hamburg earlier this year, setting a national record of 2:04:48, which is also the fastest season’s best of this weekend’s line-up.

Others to look out for include 2021 Boston winner Benson Kipruto, Ethiopian half marathon record-holder Jemal Yimer, Daegu marathon champion Shifera Tamru, fellow Ethiopian Abayneh Degu, and Kenya’s Eric Kiptanui.

Elite fields

Women

Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) 2:17:08

Ruti Aga (ETH) 2:18:34

Celestine Chepchirchir (KEN) 2:20:10

Vivian Kiplagat (KEN) 2:20:18

Haven Hailu Desse (ETH) 2:20:19

Waganesh Mekasha (ETH) 2:22:45

Emily Sisson (USA) 2:23:08

Delvine Meringor (ROU) 2:24:32

Laura Thweatt (USA) 2:25:38

Sara Vaughn (USA) 2:26:53

Susanna Sullivan (USA) 2:26:56

Diane Nukuri (USA) 2:27:50

Men

Herpasa Negasa (ETH) 2:03:40

Bernard Koech (KEN) 2:04:09

Elisha Rotich (KEN) 2:04:21

Dawit Wolde (ETH) 2:04:27

Seifu Tura (ETH) 2:04:29

Stephen Kissa (UGA) 2:04:48

Abayneh Degu (ETH) 2:04:53

Benson Kipruto (KEN) 2:05:13

Shifera Tamru (ETH) 2:05:18

Eric Kiptanui (KEN) 2:05:47

Kyohei Hosoya (JPN) 2:06:35

Hamza Sahli (MAR) 2:07:15

Amanuel Mesel (ERI) 2:08:17

Hiroto Fujimagari (JPN) 2:08:20

Guojian Dong (CHN) 2:08:26

Kiyoshi Koga (JPN) 2:08:30

Riki Nakanishi (JPN) 2:08:51

Jemal Yimer (ETH) 2:08:58.

Generali Munich Marathon on Sunday is featuring the strongest field ever in its 36 year history

With the strongest field in its history the GENERALI MUNICH MARATHON will take place on Sunday. The unofficial world junior record holder Tsegaye Mekonnen and fellow Ethiopian Mare Dibaba, who was the marathon World Champion in 2015, head the start lists. Their personal bests of 2:04:32 and 2:19:52 respectively make them the fastest runners ever entered in the traditional Bavarian race.

For the first time in over 20 years an international elite field was assembled for the 36th edition of the GENERALI MUNICH MARATHON. Organisers hope that both course records will fall on Sunday. 

A total of around 18,500 runners are expected total part. About 5,000 of them will run the classic distance which starts and finishes inside the Olympic Stadium. The GENERALI MUNICH MARATHON is an Elite Label Road Race of the international athletics federation, World Athletics. The race will start at 9.00 am on Sunday and a live stream is available at: www.generalimuenchenmarathon.de

50 years after winning the Olympia marathon gold medal in Munich Frank Shorter is back in the city as a guest of honor. “I am very happy to have the opportunity to be back in Munich - the city where I was born in 1947 and where I celebrated my biggest career win in 1972,“ said 74 year-old Frank Shorter.

“We are looking forward to the strongest elite line-up in our history. With the former World Champion Mare Dibaba and the runner who holds the unofficial world junior record, Tsegaye Mekonnen, we managed to get two big names to Munich for the return of the elite fields. Since weather predictions are favourable we hope that both course records will be broken on Sunday,“ said Race Director Gernot Weigl. 

Tsegaye Mekonnen caused a major upset when he took the Dubai Marathon in 2014 aged just 19 years old. His time of 2:04:32 still stands as the unofficial world junior record (World Athletics does not ratify junior records in the marathon). In 2017 Mekonnen also won the Hamburg Marathon. Now 27 years old the Ethiopian has not competed over the classic distance since 2018 and now intends to come back with a strong performance in Munich. “I had injury problems and then the pandemic played its part as well, so I did not run a marathon for three years. Now my training has gone well and I intend to run a 2:06 on Sunday,“ said Tsegaye Mekonnen.

Two other runners are on the start list with personal bests of sub 2:10 and below the 2:09:46 course record: Ethiopia’s  Mengistu Zelalem has a PB of 2:08:48 while Kenya’s Edwin Kimaiyo is in a similar range with 2:09:12. Current a half marathon split time of around 64:00 is targeted for the first group.

A big improvement of the course record seems possible for the women in Munich. Germany’s Susanne Hahn established the current mark of 2:32:11 ten years ago. Mara Dibaba heads the women’s field with a world-class personal best of 2:19:52. Besides the World Champion of 2015 and Olympic bronze medallist from 2016 there are two fellow-Ethiopians who have run under 2:25: Atsede Bayisa has a fine personal best of 2:22:03 and Aberu Zennebe has a PB of 2:24:30. “I have prepared for three months and my goal is to run a personal best“, said Aberu Zennebe. A winning time of sub 2:25might well be within reach on Sunday since it is planned that the first group reaches the half way mark in around 71:30. There are eight athletes on the start list who have run under 2:30. 

Elite runners with personal bests:

Men:

Tsegaye Mekonnen ETH 2:04:32Mengistu Zelalem ETH 2:08:48 Edwin Kimaiyo KEN 2:09:12 Meshack Koech KEN 2:10:17 Emmanuel Sikuku KEN 2:11:05 Ngonidzashe Ncube ZIM 2:11:46 Justus Kangogo KEN 2:13:34 Berhane Tesfay ERI 2:14:42 Vincent Kiprotich KEN Debüt Philimon Kipchumba KEN Debüt Rodgers Keror KEN Debüt Sebastian Hendel GER Debüt

Women:

Mare Dibaba ETH 2:19:52 Atsede Bayisa ETH 2:22:03 Aberu Zennebe ETH 2:24:30 Agnes Keino KEN 2:25:08 Viola Yator KEN 2:26:51 Mercy Kwambai KEN 2:27:32 Souad Kambouchia MAR 2:27:49 Helen Jepkurgat KEN 2:29:10 Caroline Nahimana BUR 2:30:09

Second photo:showing German debutant Sebastian Hendel with Tsegaye Mekonnen, Agnes Keino und Aberu Zennebe

Philemon Rono out of TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon with calf injury

The three-time Toronto Waterfront Marathon champion Philemon Rono of Kenya announced on Thursday that he will not be making the trip to Toronto this year, due to a recent calf injury.

Rono has won three of the last four iterations of the race (2019, 2017 and 2016), setting the Canadian all-comers record at 2:05:00 with his 2019 win.

The 31-year-old trains in Kaptagat, Kenya, and is part of Eliud Kipchoge’s NN Running Team. Rono is known by his unique nickname, “Baby Police,” for his job as a police officer and his diminutive stature. 

It is not known how Rono sustained his calf injury, but he was eagerly looking to become “the King of Toronto” by winning his fourth title in five years.

Kenya’s Felix Kandie and Barselius Kipyego and Ethiopia’s Yihunilign Adane will be the frontrunners to win in Rono’s absence. Kipyego trains alongside 2022 London Marathon champion Amos Kipruto and 2021 Boston champion Benson Kipruto in Iten, Kenya. 

Canadian half-marathon record holder Rory Linkletter, Olympian Trevor Hofbauer and Lee Wesselius will also battle it out for the Canadian marathon title.

Kenyan Celestine Chepchirchir will be targeting a first World Marathon Majors title when she makes her debut at the Chicago Marathon

Reigning La Rochelle Marathon champion Celestine Chepchirchir will be targeting a first World Marathon Majors title when she makes her debut at the Chicago Marathon on October 9.

Chepchirchir, who has competed in seven marathons across the world, said: “This is my first time competing at the World Marathon Majors, which are very competitive in nature but I want to give it my best and come home with something to smile about.”

The former Cape Town marathon champion earned the Chicago Marathon nod following her fourth-place finish at the Seoul Marathon in April in a time of clocking 2:20:10.

“Despite not winning the Seoul Marathon title, I set a good time that earned me a call to the Majors. Majority of athletes I ran with are in the Majors now. As I head to Chicago, I am targeting even better times to pave way for more top races in the future,” she added.

Chepchirchir said her training in Kapsabet has been top-notch and expects handsome rewards in one of the most congested and competitive races in the world.

“Looking at the names on the start list, I expect a very competitive race,” she added.

She will be up against compatriot Ruth Chepngetich, the defending champion and former world marathon champion.

Last year, Chepngetich won the title in 2:22:31 ahead of USA’s Emma Bates (2:24:20) and Sarah Hall in 2:27:19 for third.

Last year's third-place finisher Erick Kiptanui headlines the Kenyan contingent which also has Bernard Koech, Elisha Rotich, Benson Kipruto, and John Korir.

Joyciline Jepkosgei receives promotion in Kenyan army following her success at London Marathon

Here’s your feel-good story of the day: Kenyan marathoner Joyciline Jepkosgei has been recognized by her country for her second-place finish at the 2022 London Marathon, earning a promotion in the army.

On Tuesday, Kenya’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Robert Kibochi, promoted Corporal Jepkosgei to the role of Sergeant (Sgt.) at the Kenyan Army Defence Headquarters in Nairobi.

General Kibochi congratulated Jepkosgei for her excellent work in representing the country in major races and for improving her time, which has seen her break multiple world records.

“We are very grateful for your continuous hard work and for representing Kenya and KDF well,” said General Kibochi. 

On Sunday, Jepkosgei clocked 2:18:07, to finish second to Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw, who won in 2:17:26. Jepkosgei won the London Marathon in 2021, and the New York City Marathon in 2019.

Jepkosgei is one of many world-class Kenyan athletes who work for official government organizations. 800m world record holder and two-time Olympic champion David Rudisha worked as a police officer during his running career, and so does two-time NYC Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor, plus Canadian soil record holder and defending Toronto Waterfront Marathon champion Philemon Rono. 

If your workplace offered promotions for representing the company at a global marathon, would you train a little harder?

The Kenyan Athletics Training Academy in Thika just launched today the KATA hunger project helping potential pro runners from poor families

KATA (Kenyan Athletics Training Academy) announced today (Oct 4, 2022) it has launched a new project.  The KATA Hunger Project is going to help potential Pro runners from poor families.  Additionally the project will help struggling women farmers to be better more efficient farmers year around.   

"Our Kenya Fresh Farm Hunger Project (KATA Hunger Project) is going to provide 8.8 pounds (four kilos) of home-grown fresh fruits and vegetables weekly to Kenyans in Need for 13 weeks," says KATA director Bob Anderson, MBR publisher and founder of Runner's World Magazine (1966-1984). 

Bob and his wife Catherine built and financed the Kenya Athletics Training Academy located in Thika Kenya.  The 23- room academy was officially opened Sept 4, 2021.  

KATA is a one-of-a-kind facility and its focus is on training runners to become pro runners.  KATA does not manage runners and does not ask its athletes to share any of their prize money.  

Kenyan athletes are not charged to live, eat and train at KATA.  "We mostly seek out runners who need our help," says head coach Joseph Ngure, a senior coach with over 30 years of experience.

As an example, Peter Njeru Mwaniki was one of the first potental pro runners who came to KATA for help.  His family did not believed he could make distance running a career. They basically kicked him out of their house.  He then moved in with his brother but that was not working either.  

“He had run a 32:30 10k but his hope of making a career out of running was slim," says coach Joseph. "We took him in, feed him and trained him.  Within just a few weeks we knew he had great potential."  

On Oct 2, 2022 Peter won the Telesia half marathon in Italy clocking 1:00:29.  It was a good pay day for Peter and his new KATA family made it happen for him.  "We are very proud of Peter and all our KATA athletes," says Bob.

"It would be almost impossible to train hard without enough to eat," says KATA manager Florence Kimiti, as a junior ran 1:59 for 800m. "A 32:30 10k is not bad for a recreational runner but not for a pro runner.  A lot of Kenyans make a living from distance running, the most famous being Eluid Kipchoge who is making millions for his efforts.  He is our hero. The goat."

Peter will be running several more races in Italy before coming back to KATA to keep up his training and to help support our Kenya Fresh Farms Hunger Project. 

"All KATA athletes staying at our academy put in 20 hours per week of work," says operations manager Elam Wangwero, a top runner himself and who have known Bob and Catherine since 2014. 

"The work might be cleaning, painting, working on My Best Runs website (posting results, checking links, photos, etc) and now KATA Hunger Project.  But of course the training always comes first along with three meals daily."

"It seems to me that doing something other can training, eating and sleeping is helping our athletes run so well," says Bob. "So much of running is mental and you need a sharp mnd." 

"Without the support of KATA,"wrote Peter from Italy, "my dream would not have come true.  I am feeling the happiest ever.  I never thought of running such a time at this age."    

The KATA Hunger Project was officially started August 1, 2022 but unofficially started in 2020.  "Since we are going to provide home-grown fresh fruits and vegetables for our potential pro runners we needed to set up our own farm," says Florence.

Bob leased two acres of land outside of Embu on August 1.  It was idle land but it did have 40 fruits trees (banana and mango) that just needed care.  Additional land can be easily leased when needed.  

Vegetable beds at KATA's Fresh Farm have already been planted.  "We dug a well for water, we set up solar and are building a barn, thanks to Brock Hinzmann (2:19 marathoner back in the 80’s and 90’s) contribution," says Florence.

Runners can also train with the team by just coming to KATA and soon other locations.  And when approved, will be given four kilos of Fruits and vegetables at the end of the week starting Dec 23.  After or during the 13-week program the athletes with the most potential will be asked to live at KATA at no expense for them.

Potential pro runners outside of Kenya will be able to join the program starting November 1, 2022.  "Our guest runners will receive all the benefits as our Kenyan athletes," says Bob.  "Same food, same training, same duties with one difference. Our guests can have their own room."

Minimum stay is one month.  Cost which covers everything is $1000 not including airline ticket and visa.  

"A single month is not a lot of time," says coach Joseph, "but at least you will see what we do here.  Our program is more than going for runs and doing some speedwork.  We can get you ready to set new PR's."

"Our KATA Hunger Project is a keeper.  We want to reach a lot of Kenyans in need but we need your help," says Catherine.  "This is how the program works: for every one US dollar contributed, one pound of home-grown Fresh fruits and vegetables will be provided to a Kenyan in Need.  8.8 pounds weekly."

"There is so much talent here in Kenya," says Elam. "I am glad Bob and Catherine have set up these programs.

Eliud Kipchoge can go faster 'in near future'

Marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge believes he can get even closer to a possible sub-two hour marathon after narrowing the gap by 30 seconds when setting his recent world record in Berlin last month.

The 37-year-old ran a time of two hours, one minute and nine seconds to beat his previous benchmark, which had stood since 2018.

"I believe that I still have time to show the world how to push limits," the Kenyan told the BBC World Service.

"I can still run my personal best in the near future. I can still try again."

Four years ago, Kipchoge took 78 seconds off compatriot Dennis Kimetto's 2014 record of 2:02.57.

He then became the first man to run a marathon in under two hours in 2019, yet the time in Vienna could not be an official world record since it was not in open competition and he used a team of rotating pacemakers, among other measures.

Kipchoge ran the first half of late September's race in Berlin in 59 minutes and 51 seconds, prompting thoughts that he may become the first runner to break the two-hour mark in an official race.

He had played down his chances of a world record in the build-up, but admits lowering his time had been his stated aim in the German capital.

"My plan was not to run under two hours, my plan was to break a world record," he said.

"I realise that we are fast enough to run under an hour in a half-marathon, which was really motivating for me.

"And it's a good sign also that the future is clear. I'm showing the people that you can [go] as fast as you can for the half-marathon and still do something good at the end of it."

Kipchoge turns 38 next month and now says winning the Olympic marathon at the Paris Games in 2024 is on his "bucket list".

He was won the past two Olympic titles - becoming just the third person to defend a marathon title when he crossed the line in Tokyo - and a third successive triumph would be a first for a man or woman.

"I trust that all things will carry me well up to 2024 to present myself at the starting line," he said.

"What I like is history. To be the first human being to run back-to-back-to-back for three times and win Olympic marathon gold medal, it's my bucket list.

"It's there in my mind. I don't know what will happen but still, for now, I want to concentrate on recovering my body."

Paris victory would be 'phenomenal'

Former women's marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe says she is "in awe" of Kipchoge's continued "stunning performances".

"I think we all thought that if anybody was in shape right now to take down that world record, it would be him," the 48-year-old Briton told the BBC World Service.

"Each year as he gets a year older, the odds are against him a little bit more - and he still manages to defy them.

"He doesn't put limits on himself. And I think that really helps his mind set. He loves setting himself those targets just to get better, to try and move things forward to move the bar that little bit higher all the time.

"If he gets that balance perfectly right between the first and second half, he can maybe take it (the world record) down even further."

Already regarded as the greatest marathon runner of all time, Radcliffe says that if Kipchoge were to win a third Olympic gold in Paris it would rank along his sub-two hour marathon as his greatest achievement.

"I think even to get it right for two marathons in a row is hugely impressive, especially given the way the goalposts moved with the Tokyo Olympics," she said.

"To put it in perspective, it's getting it right one day every four years, for 12 years. And history shows that that's extremely difficult to do.

"If anybody can do it, he can do it. But it will be a phenomenal achievement that perhaps would put him on the level with having gone through that two-hour barrier."

Kenyans Timothy Rono and Beatrice Cheptoo bag Melbourne Marathon titles

Timothy Rono and Beatrice Cheptoo bagged the men's and women's titles at the Nike Melbourne Marathon in Australia on Sunday.

Rono clocked 2:09:12, smashing Dominic Ondoro's course record by one minute and 30 seconds set in 2013.

Compatriot Cornelius Kibet came second in 2:10:24 as Australia's Reece Edwards rounded the podium places in 2:14:41.

An ecstatic Rono was delighted with the victory in warm conditions in Australia's second-largest city.

"It was a good race. The conditions were good, a bit cloudy but not too hot and not too cold. I had prepared for it from the start and I kept going until the end," added Rono.

Rono broke away with six kilometers to go after being pushed close by Kibet.

"I timed my race quite well. I know Kibet. I knew I have a stronger kick  and that allowed me to increase the pace in the final few kilometers," said Rono. 

Following the win, Rono has set his eyes on the bigger city marathons like Boston, New York, London come next year.

“I'm looking at participating in the big ones next year, God willing. I want to test myself against the best and I am relishing the challenge,” he added.

For the win Rono bagged a cool Sh3 million.

In the women's category, Cheptoo ran a superb race in a time of 2:27:58 on her debut on Australian soil .

Australia's Izzi Batt Doyle finished second in 2:28:10 with Maru Ejigu of Ethiopia third in 2:28:54

For the win Cheptoo bagged Sh2 million.

Australia's Jack Raynor won the men's half marathon in 1:02:16 while the women's category went to Jess Stenson in a time of 1:12:22.

Festival Director Marcus Gale, commented: “Congratulations to the winners and everyone who got involved in the 2022 Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival."

"Whether you were tackling the 42.195km for the first or 44th time, soaking up the city’s sights on the 3km track or cheering from the MCG grandstand, it was incredible to see the Australian running community out in full force and an honour to deliver another successful event for the city."

Kenenisa Bekele set new Marathon World Record for Masters but says he can run faster

 Kenenisa Bekele made headlines last week by declaring “of course I am the best” long distance runner ever. But the Ethiopian was fifth-best at Sunday’s London Marathon, finishing 74 seconds behind Kenya’s Amos Kipruto.

Bekele, 40, clocked 2:05:53, the fastest-ever marathon by a runner 40 years or older. He was with the lead pack until being dropped in the 21st mile.

But Bekele estimated he could have run 90 to 120 seconds faster had he not missed parts of six weeks of training with hip and joint injuries.

“I expect better even if the preparation is short,” he said. “I know my talent and I know my capacity, but really I couldn’t achieve what I expect.”

Bekele is the second-fastest marathoner in history behind Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, who broke his own world record by clocking 2:01:09 at the Berlin Marathon last week.

“I am happy when I see Eliud Kipchoge run that time,” Bekele said. “It motivates all athletes who really expect to do the same thing.”

Bekele’s best time was within two seconds of Kipchoge’s previous world record (2:01:39). He described breaking Kipchoge’s new mark as the “main goal” for the rest of his career.

“Yes, I hope, one day it will happen, of course,” Bekele said. “With good preparation, I don’t know when, but we will see one more time.”

Nobody has won more London Marathons than Kipchoge, a four-time champion who set the course record (2:02:37) in 2019. But the two-time Olympic marathon champion did not run this year in London, as elite marathoners typically choose to enter one race each spring and fall.

Bekele does not know which race he will enter in the spring. But it will not be against Kipchoge.

“I need to show something first,” Bekele said. “I need to run a fast time. I have to check myself. This is not enough.”

Kipchoge will try to become the first runner to win three Olympic marathon titles at the Paris Games. Bekele, who will be 42 in 2024, has not committed to trying to qualify for the Ethiopian team.

“There’s a long time to go before Paris,” Bekele said. “At this moment I am not decided. I have to show something.”

So who is the greatest long distance runner ever?

Bekele can make a strong case on the track:

Bekele Four Olympic medals (three gold)Six World Championship medals (five gold)Former 5000m and 10,000m world-record holder

Kipchoge Two Olympic medalsTwo World Championship medals (one gold)

But Kipchoge can make a strong case on the pavement:

Bekele Seconf-fastest marathoner in historyTwo World Marathon Major victories

Kipchoge Four of the five best marathon times in historyTwo-time Olympic marathon champion12 World Marathon Major victories

Geoffrey Koech won the men's elite race at the Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday

The Kenyan just failed to beat the hour mark, crossing the line in 1:00:01, with Gizealaw Ayana second and fellow Ethiopian Chimdessa Gudeta third.

Beatrice Cheserek secured a Kenyan double by winning the women's race in 1:06:48 ahead of compatriot Viola Chepngeno and Ethiopian Zewditu Aderaw.

Mel Nicholls won the women's wheelchair race in 1:00:19, with Richie Powell taking the men's title in 1:08:44.

"The course is good. It feels good to win here and I pushed really hard. This is my fastest performance in Cardiff," said Koech, the pre-race favourite.

Cheserek was delighted after adding the Cardiff title to the Gothenburg Half Marathon she won last September: "This was my first time in Cardiff. The support was fantastic and helped me to work hard."

Swansea Harrier Dewi Griffiths was the best placed elite British man in eighth (1:04:15), with Cwmbran's Natasha Cockram (1:13:12) claiming seventh among the women.

"After the first 400m, I realised this is why I love this race," said Griffiths. "You get so much support as a Welshman all the way around and the crowds really kept me going when it got tough."

The 19th edition of the event in south Wales coincided with the running of the 2022 London Marathon, with an estimated 25,000 runners taking part in the Welsh capital.

Cockram had planned to compete at the London Marathon but a bout of Covid altered her plans.

"There was no way I was going to be marathon ready so soon after Covid," she said. 

"Obviously today was a lot slower than back in March but I'm happy to come out here and win the domestic part of the race. There were some fast girls up at the front but happy with that at the end of a 100-mile week.

"I love returning here - it's home and the crowds are amazing. It was all a bit of a rush, I only decided on Friday to come but I am so glad I came."

The Cardiff Half Marathon course records are held by Kenya's Leonard Langat, who ran 0:59:30 in 2019, with compatriot Edith Chelimo setting a fastest women's mark of 1:05:52 in 2017.

Yehualaw and Kipruto cruise to convincing wins at London Marathon

In just the second marathon of her career, Yalemzerf Yehualaw overcame a heavy fall to win the women’s race at the TCS London Marathon, while Kenya’s Amos Kipruto made a decisive move with two miles to go to take the men’s title at the World Athletics Elite Platinum road race on Sunday (2).

Yehualaw won in 2:17:26 – the third-fastest time ever achieved on the streets of London – while Kipruto’s closing speed brought him home in 2:04:39.

The opening pace in the women’s race was swift, as it often is on the slightly downhill section of the course. The lead pack of eight women – including Yehualaw and defending champion Joyciline Jepkosgei – passed through the first 5km in 16:01 and they reached 10km in 32:18. That early pace suggested a finishing time of 2:16:15 – well inside the women-only world record of 2:17:01 – but the tempo soon started to drop.

The same eight women were still together through 15km (48:51) and at half way, which was reached in 1:08:46. Hiwot Gebrekidan was unable to stay with the pack for much longer and the lead group was reduced to seven women by 25km (1:21:29), the pacemakers having now dropped out.

Asefa Kebede started to push the pace as the lead group embarked on the second half, with Yehualaw biding her time near the back of the pack. Jepkosgei and Joan Chelimo Melly, meanwhile, looked comfortable in the middle of the pack.

With about 10km to go, Yehualaw tripped on a bump in the road and fell hard, just as she had done at the 2020 World Half Marathon Championships where she went on to take bronze. She quickly got back up on her feet and rejoined the lead pack a minute or two later.

Melly and Ashete Bekere were next to drop off the pace, followed by Kebede, leaving just four women in the lead pack: Jepkosgei, world silver medallist Judith Jeptum, Alemu Megertu and Yehualaw. They reached 35km in 1:54:30, their predicted finishing time now outside 2:18:00, but the real racing was just beginning.

After two hours of running, Yehualaw started to increase her pace. A sizzling 4:43 split for the 24th mile broke up what was left of the lead pack, and within a couple of minutes the Ethiopian had a clear lead over Jepkosgei with Megertu and Jeptum further behind.

Showing no ill effects of her earlier fall, and running with the confidence of a seasoned marathon runner, Yehualaw continued to forge ahead in the closing stages and went on to win by 41 seconds in 2:17:26, just three seconds shy of the PB she set on her debut in Hamburg earlier this year. It’s also the third-fastest time ever recorded in London, behind the world records set by Paula Radcliffe (2:15:25) and Mary Keitany (2:17:01, women-only).

"I am so happy to win here in London," said Yehualaw. "I have worked very hard to prepare for this race and to take the victory is amazing."Jepkosgei held on to finish second in 2:18:07 and Megertu completed the podium in 2:18:32, a PB by 19 seconds. For the first time ever, six women finished in 2:19:30 or quicker.

Kipruto conquers quality field for first world marathon major

The opening pace in the men’s race was more steady and consistent than the women’s race, but the race unfolded in a similar fashion with a group of seven men running together through the early checkpoints. They covered 5km in 14:45, 10km in 29:26 and 15km in 44:20, suggesting a finishing time inside 2:05.

Kenenisa Bekele featured prominently in the lead pack, while defending champion Sisay Lemma held back slightly near the rear of the group. World and Olympic bronze medallist Bashir Abdi and Kenya’s Amos Kipruto were also in contention.

They reached 25km in 1:13:41, still on course for a finishing time just outside 2:04 and with the same seven men still running together. At about 33km, Bekele started to fall off the pace of the lead pack, but he stayed in the race and kept the leaders in sight.

About 15 minutes later – and at roughly the same part of the course where Yehualaw made her move in the women’s race – Kipruto accelerated away from the rest of the pack, opening up a significant lead within a relatively short space of time. A 4:21 split for the 25th mile proved decisive and it soon became clear that victory would be his.

He went on to win by more than half a minute, crossing the line in 2:04:39 to achieve his first victory in a marathon major, following three podium finishes in Berlin and Tokyo in recent years. Ethiopia’s Leul Gebresilase came through to take second place in 2:05:12, seven seconds ahead of Abdi.

Kinde Atanaw was fourth in 2:05:27, followed by Bekele in fifth in 2:05:53, his fastest time for three years. He also becomes the first 40-year-old to run a marathon faster than 2:06.

third photo: Gene Dykes on podium after winning the 70-74 age group with Eluid Kipchoge, the Goat!

Four Takeaways From The Training of Eliud Kipchoge, Marathon GOAT

Eliud Kipchoge is so dominant in the marathon that I think his brilliance might even be underappreciated. How can you fully understand the context of history when you're living in the middle of it? Kipchoge isn't just great. He outran "great" about 5 years ago. He is now something like a miracle.

On Twitter, coach and writer Steve Magness summarized Kipchoge's accomplishments. Since 2013, he has won 17 of the 19 marathons he has entered. His two slowest times during that timespan WON OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS. He also broke 2 hours in an unsanctioned event, and almost broke it another time. This is Sandy Koufax in the 1960s mixed with Michael Jordan in the 1990s mixed with a malfunctioning ATM machine that keeps spitting out $20 bills. 

Marathons are captivating because they are physiological and psychological nightmares. A 2021 study in the Journal of Applied Physiology examined the physical characteristics of a sub-2 hour marathon and found that it requires holding an extremely high percentage of an astronomically high VO2 max, with metabolic/aerobic efficiency near the limits of what is conceivable.

The study indicated that what seemed physiologically impossible just a few years ago actually just required years of training, otherworldly talent, and work ethic to put it all together. It took an athlete at the 99.99th percentile of humanity in talent and toughness and focus.

If you could draw up that perfect marathoner in a simulation, the result would be Eliud Kipchoge.

Training Context

I love digging into the training of the GOATs while they are at the peak of their powers. When the margins separating athletes at the top level are so narrow, how can someone put a Grand Canyon between themselves and their competitors?

On trails, we have Kilian Jornet publishing his training logs and Strava files, doing podcast interviews, and sharing every secret. On roads, however, it can be harder to know exactly what athletes are doing and how it fits into the broader context of training theory. This article attempts to decipher some of the clues, following breadcrumbs from articles and interviews to lessons from Kipchoge's unthinkable dominance.

First, a few disclaimers. One day, I plan to go under 2 hours as I recite the list of reasons I might be wrong in my conclusions from uncertain data. (That day is not today.)

The main hesitation is that there is no definite training log for Kipchoge. My favorite source that I will be referring to constantly in this article was written by Cathal Dennehy for Outside in November 2021. Dennehy had inside access to Kipchoge's training camp and interviewed his coach, Patrick Sang. That access is key for factual accuracy because there are rumors that some of the online sources purporting to describe Kipchoge's training are approximations at best, and downright fictional at worst.

While there is general agreement on some principles applied by Kipchoge and Coach Sang across interviews and secondary sources, the specifics may remain murky for a while. This article will be trying to describe the outline of a yacht from a foot beneath the surface of the water.

In addition, it's tough to even know whether the reliable sources tell the entire story. In trail running, there are so many variables that go into top performance (many of which downregulate other variables associated with performance), that there is little disincentive to be fully transparent. Anyone can do Kilian Jornet training, but only Kilian will get Kilian results, because there are countless stumbling blocks between process and outcome on rocky, steep trails. 

Road marathons are different. That 2021 study laid out the exact physiological metrics an athlete needed. If someone mastered a training approach to reach those metrics, it's conceivable that copycats with 99.99th percentile genetics would show up at every marathon ready to go GOAT hunting. There are strong disincentives to printing out 1,000 copies of a treasure map while you're still busy gathering gold.

Finally, even if the information is approximately correct, it's still N=1. Plus, there is the unfortunate reality that all world-class athletes face questions about performance enhancing drugs, though to my knowledge there is no reliable evidence here other than very, very fast times. And for the love of all sports, we can't let top performance alone form the basis for doping accusations (though it's always healthy to ask questions).

Even acknowledging those disclaimers, there is a wealth of online information that can give us a solid feel for Kipchoge's general approach, which could have takeaways for everyone. Let's look at 4 lessons from the marathon GOAT, with added context from the scientific literature and training theory. For a more nuanced discussion, my co-coach Megan and I broke down these principles and more on the newest episode of our podcast. 

One: Most of Kipchoge's training is very easy.

The Outside article has so much fantastic insight, and it wastes no time getting to the sexy stuff. "For Kipchoge, recovery runs start at a shuffle, typically an 8:30-to-8:45-minute-mile pace, and slowly build up to finish around 6:30 to 7 minutes per mile." 

Want to see my favorite video of all time? Check out the Kenyan shuffle to start one of their double runs, filmed by Dennehy. Some people put up a poster of Koufax winding up for a pitch or Jordan taking off from the free-throw line, but I want a poster of Kipchoge shuffling his way to greatness.

Okay, time to put on your speculation helmets! For an athlete like Kipchoge, 8:30 pace is nearly double what he does in a marathon, meaning his heart rate may be as low as 100-110 to start. Even if he accelerates to 6:30s, that's still a huge percentage slower than his marathon pace, probably equivalent to Zone 1 heart rate in a 5-Zone model. 

Now, buckle up your conjecture belt, because it's MATH TIME. Dennehy broke down an entire training week that gives us clues into the start of one of Kipchoge's builds (disclaimer: perhaps his training changes a ton later in cycles). It seems that 4 of Kipchoge's training days are purely easy, consisting of 3 x 18 mile doubles (as 12 miles in AM and 6 miles in PM) plus 1 x 2 hours at easy effort (maybe 16-18 miles). Add onto that 2 x 6 mile easy doubles on his workout days.

That puts him around 84 miles that are almost purely easy, and I am guessing firmly in Zone 1. There are probably some miles of warm-up and cool-down for workouts on top of that, also very easy. Let's estimate 100 easy miles in a week around 130 miles.

That would indicate that 77% is in Zone 1 or just a bit higher! Perhaps that approximation is wrong and some of those miles are in lower Zone 2, or maybe there is more steady running on some of those recovery runs than is reflected in the article. But still, that's a lot of easy running. People gasped when Jornet's training summary included 58% in Zone 1, but perhaps that was just a normal range for the GOATs.

The low-end aerobic training supports the high-end training in athletes doing very high volumes. On our podcast, we discussed where an athlete might want to start thinking about specific Zone 1 work as a training focus, and we approximated around 8-10 hours a week. So it doesn't mean you need to go this easy, but you should definitely feel permission to go very easy relative to your physiological limits. Again, no pace is too slow for aerobic development.

If the GOAT can start at a shuffle, we can all start at a shuffle.

Some people put up a poster of Koufax winding up for a pitch or Jordan taking off from the free-throw line, but I want a poster of Kipchoge shuffling his way to greatness.

Two: Kipchoge does high volume training, but not higher than other world-class athletes.

How does someone become the best of the best? The tempting answer is to say: "By doing more than the wannabe best." The right answer is more complicated.

Dennehy indicates that Kipchoge does 124-136 miles per week, largely in repeating weekly structure with workout and long run variation. That likely equates to around 16-17 hours of running per week, similar to many of Jornet's 20-hour weeks. A 2022 review article in Sports Medicine-Open found that world-class marathoners train around 99-136 miles per week and 500-700 hours per year, so Kipchoge falls within the normal range. 

In terms of intensity distribution, Kipchoge likely does most of his training purely easy in Zone 1, with some work in Zone 2 on long runs, a lot of Zone 3 tempo in workouts and long runs, a small amount of Zone 4 threshold on workouts, and very little Zone 5 of pure intensity. It's classically Pyramidal training, with most easy, some moderate, and little hard, a lot like we saw with Kilian Jornet (or with cyclists and skiers). 

I think it's significant that a couple months before his 38th birthday, Kipchoge is still getting faster and faster. He has done that by prioritizing sustainable aerobic development every single training cycle.

Discipline with easy training allows athletes to build up volume that supports more economical workouts, creating a positive feedback cycle over the many years required to explore the limits.

Three: Kipchoge runs controlled workouts, with disciplined intensity control.

The hardest place to get athlete buy-in is right here. Faster is often not better in workouts, particularly for advanced athletes. 

I can already feel some readers recoiling from that idea. If you can do mile repeats at a 6-minute pace, why would you ever run 6:30s?!

Kipchoge's training is another pillar of support for controlled workouts. Dennehy quotes Kipchoge: "I try not to run 100 percent," he says. "I perform 80 percent on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday and then at 50 percent Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday."

Those 80% days are workout days. The 50% days are the easy run days. Then he shows up on race day with 100% of his capabilities and proceeds to annihilate our wildest imaginations.

Now is a time to reemphasize that we've ventured into murky waters. Workout descriptions abound online, but how many are perfectly instructive? Honestly, I don't know. I have a habit of cleaning out my ear wax with my car keys. I use Chocolate Chex as an iron supplement. Please take everything I say with a grain of salt (I also put salt in my tea before AM runs, with creamer and maple syrup). 

But we can approximate a zoomed-out description of his sessions, with the workouts seeming to involve very relaxed intervals between marathon and half-marathon pace, sometimes combined with faster intervals closer to 10k speed. The example given by Dennehy is this combo session, all on a rough dirt track at altitude:

Those mile intervals look fast, but for Kipchoge, that's a casual pace around his marathon effort (or a bit harder considering the track and altitude). The quarters are around 10k pace or slightly faster, depending on altitude adjustment. That's a big session in terms of volume, but probably right around the 80% in terms of his effort (which is mind-blowing on its own). 

The principles are great to apply to all athletes-a combination workout of more aerobic intervals followed by speed/power is a strong setup. However, the volume is likely excessive for almost anyone occupying space outside the tail-end of the human talent bell curve. A comparable session for an advanced athlete might be 4 x mile at 1-hour effort progressing to 10k effort, followed by 6 x 200 meters faster. 

You probably noticed that there is an offset between 4 x 1 mile at 1-hour effort (what I recommend for most athletes) versus 8 x 1 mile around marathon pace (what Kipchoge did). Why the offset? And now, my fellow intrepid training explorers, it's time for us to run head first into a training theory brick wall of uncertainty. 

That type of strict intensity control looks a lot like Norwegian training, where athletes do many relaxed intervals around threshold effort. But I think there's a problem. Does strict intensity-controlled training like that done by Kipchoge or the Norwegians work for normal people?

The answer to that question is complex. Yes, it will improve aerobic development at the cellular level. But when an athlete has mechanical limitations that prevent them from running efficiently at these controlled efforts, the workouts may result in an aerobic beast without the mechanical power and efficiency to actually run fast. It's notable that Kipchoge, Jornet, and the Ingebrigstens were all fast as hell as teenagers. Take someone that is already fast as hell, focus mostly on their aerobic development, and guess what? You have someone that can run fast as hell for long as hell. 

But what about everyone else?

In coaching, I have made some compromises around this problem. For intermediate athletes, the controlled intervals are often best around 10k effort-not overly intense to allow for aerobic development, but not so relaxed that they just run slow. For advanced athletes, it's somewhere between that 10k effort (approximating critical power) and threshold effort (1-hour effort).

For pros, it's usually half marathon effort to threshold/CP. It's obviously more complex than that on a weekly basis, I just think it's key to be careful applying the principles that work for a Ferrari to all of us Chevy Volts. 

Four: Kipchoge does quality long runs most weeks.

One of the reasons why I got so giddy when I saw Kilian Jornet's training was the consistent repetition of long tempo runs. Throughout his training, he would do sessions on trails in Zone 3, sometimes over 20-30km. And most sources say that Kipchoge is famous for his long, progressive runs that start easy and end moderately hard. Two GOATS make a trend!

That also overlaps with the training approach for Coach Renato Canova, one of the best marathon coaches in history. I bet we're seeing something very cool about how physiology works in these long events.

Dennehy's article describes an alternating weekly schedule. One week will be 19 miles, the next 25 miles, over hilly terrain. Other sources describe a run that starts easy, before progressing to steady, and inching down toward 5-minute miles by the end. That's an extended time of moderate running over hilly terrain, with most likely around Zone 3 tempo. 

You see these long, quality runs in the logs of tons of world-class athletes. The likely rationale is that long runs progressing to sustainably fast (but still aerobic) speeds approach the maximal strain on the aerobic system and the underlying lipid oxidation that powers it. That improves the body's ability to preserve and recover glycogen stores, a key determinant of how hard an athlete can push in endurance events.

I think all athletes can benefit from a bit more steady tempo in long runs. However, it's key to make sure it doesn't turn into a hard, race-like effort. Exceeding lactate threshold excessively could counteract some of the aerobic development from the sessions. 

And it's even more complicated in trail running, when heart rate gets higher on climbs. That's why I'll often have athletes do their long runs "easy/moderate," not referring to a specific effort level, but giving permission to move up toward threshold on uphills. After seeing this overlap between Jornet and Kipchoge, I am planning on adding more consistent 1-2 hour controlled tempos around 50k effort for advanced athletes who are not doing many training races (which can serve a similar purpose).

Final Takeaway

After running the new world record, Kipchoge had a tweet ready to fire off. He does everything fast.

"Limits are there to be broken. By you and me together. I can say that I am beyond happy today that the official world record is once again faster. Thank you to all the runners in the world that inspire me every day to push myself."

Even in his moment of triumph, he shows gratitude to every other runner. He seems like such a great human. What is it about running that makes our heroes so uniquely kind and caring? Eliud, Kilian, Courtney, Clare, countless others-all wonderful people, using their platforms to spread kindness and love.

I don't know the answer to that question, but I have a theory. When Kipchoge pushes the limits of what humanity can achieve, he is feeling all of the same chemical and emotional sensations that you or I feel when we push our own limits. Yeah, we might be doing it a bit slower. But I think there is some universal truth to be found at the personal edge.

Peer over the edge, and what do you see? I have done hill workouts where I have lost faith and then found faith over and over and over. Running sucks, and it's also the most beautiful thing in the world, sometimes simultaneously. It can be a brutal reminder of death and a transcendent affirmation of life.

As runners, we are constantly asking questions: Can I run my first 5k? Can I finish this hill workout? Can I overcome this stress fracture? We all feel the same physical sensations in that journey, a chemical shitstorm of pain and joy. Over time, with patience and grit, we learn that we can do all of those things and more! So we ask bigger and bigger questions, layering leaps of faith on top of one another as we explore our personal edges.

And for a few athletes on the planet, all of that questioning leads to a really big one: Can I run a world record? I think that in saying that we all inspire him, Kipchoge is saying that his world record attempt shares an evolutionary through line with our first mile, our hill workouts, our injuries. His achievement is the pinnacle of a pyramid of questions that all get at a similar idea.

What is actually possible with my time here on Earth? 

Therein lies the fun part of an often not-fun sport. You have to layer one thousand leaps of faith on top of each other to start getting a hint of the answer. And the answer is that the answer doesn't really matter.

But the leaps? Nothing in the world matters more than taking those leaps. 

I’m still the best, insists Kenenisa Bekele before London Marathon

Kenenisa Bekele insists he still deserves to be considered the greatest distance runner in history despite Eliud Kipchoge’s brilliant world marathon record in Berlin last week.

The 40-year-old Bekele, who will run the London Marathon on Sunday, paid tribute to his great rival’s achievements over 26.2 miles but he also made it clear that if performances on the track, cross-country and world records were taken into account, he should be considered without equal.

During his storied career, Bekele has won an extraordinary three Olympic gold medals, 17 world titles over cross-country, track and road, and held the world 5,000m and 10,000m records for 15 and 16 years respectively – until the arrival of “super spikes” allowed Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei to finally break them in 2020. However even now the legendary Ethiopian remains the second quickest athlete ever over 5,000m, 10,000m and the marathon.

Asked about whether Kipchoge’s 2hr 1min 9sec run in Berlin made the Kenyan the greatest, Bekele replied: “From my side, I don’t want to put in myself [in the conversation]. But what I did in world championships, Olympics, cross countrys and the world records – for those competitions of course I am the best.

“With the marathon I couldn’t achieve what everybody hoped,” he added. “Somehow I failed with some marathon races. But, on the other hand, my marathon times also tell you something. I am second overall behind Eliud Kipchoge. And it was very close. It was only two seconds until last week.

“So this tells everyone: it doesn’t matter if I win a marathon 10 times or 20 times, how many athletes can run this time? Of course I’m not perfect. I’ve not really achieved all the spectators or my fans wanted from me. But, on the other hand, those results were not easy to achieve.”

Bekele has not produced many sparkling performances in recent years, but his marathon personal best of 2:01.41 came in Berlin in 2019 after a similar spell of mixed results.

And he appeared optimistic ahead of Sunday’s race, telling reporters: “My fitness is really good now and I am expecting to get a good result. Of course, I am here to win. You never know because this is not an easy race, but my wish and plan is to win the race.”

He also dismissed suggestions that it could be his last race, adding: “My mind tells me not yet. I follow the feeling in my mind. Someday maybe my mind will tell me this is enough, stop here, but now is not my time.”

Bekele offered his sympathies to Mo Farah, who was forced to pull out of the London Marathon this week due to a hip injury. “I faced many years of injuries and I know how it feels, especially at his age,” he said. “It’s not easy to come out from that, but if he is mentally and physically strong, especially mentally, I am sure he will do better in the future, for a couple of years.”

Defending champion Jepkosgei promises fast time in London

Defending champion Joyciline Jepkosgei and World marathon silver medallist Judith Korir have promised to run fast times at this year's London marathon on Sunday in the British capital.

Jepkosgei, 28, said she has trained well for the last four months in Iten and will be looking to lower her best time.

“I am much better now than in April, so expect a fast race if the pacesetters will do their work,” said Jepkosgei, who will be eyeing her third Majors victory, having followed up her maiden New York City Marathon win in 2019 with London Marathon glory last year.

“We have four athletes who have run under two hours and 18 minutes. Note that I am the second fastest in the field, “said Jepkosgei before joining Korir in their evening session at De Vere Beaumont, Windsor, on the outskirts of London on Wednesday.

“You see every athlete always wants to do better than the previous race. I am not different...I want to lower my personal best on Sunday,” declared Jepkosgei.

Jepkosgei joined the league of the world’s greatest marathoners to have won London, one of the most prestigious race in the World Marathon Majors, triumphing in a personal best time of two hours, 17 minutes and 43 seconds.

Jepkosgei hopes that the current favourable weather will hold for a good race on Sunday.

“We ran under rainy and chilly conditions last year but this weather is promising. I love it,” said Jepkosgei, who hopes to represent Kenya at the World Athletics Championships next year and 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

“You see if you have invested well in a race, you tend to fear nothing and that is why I want to show up strongly on Sunday thought I know we have good athletes with incredible times in the pack,” said Jepkosgei.

“Everything has fallen in place the way I want this year and all I pray for God to deliver a good race for me,” said Jepkosogei, who has been training under coach Nicholas Koech since June.

It will be Jepkosgei’s second race this year having finished seventh at Boston Marathon in 2:24:43 on April 18.

Despite not having focused on finishing the race just like last year, the 26-year-old Korir, who has been told to go full length, hope to return good times.

“I knew I would pace-set, having come from the World Athletics Championships in July, but I was told to cover the full course two weeks ago,” said Korir, who will be competing in her eighth marathon.

“I will give it a shot and who knows...I could end up the winner.”

Korir’s best Championship results was when she claimed silver for Kenya in a personal best of 2:18:20 at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, United States in July this year

However, Korir, who trains with women’s marathon World Record holder Brigid Kosgei is Kapsait, Elgeyo Marakwet, won Paris Marathon this year and Abu Dhabi Maraton in 2021.

She also won the 2019 Belgrade and Venice Marathon races.

Kenyan women have won the last six editions of London Marathon.

Three runners who could threaten the two-hour marathon barrier

On Sunday, Eliud Kipchoge made history again, winning the 2022 Berlin Marathon and breaking his previous world record from 2018 in 2:01:09. Although his time was spectacular, Kipchoge went through the halfway mark in 59:51, the fastest-ever half-marathon split in a marathon. His half split shows he has strong potential to achieve a sub-two-hour marathon. But who else might have the potential to do it?

At INEOS-1:59 in 2019, Kipchoge showed the world that breaking two was possible with the help of 20 or more pacers, fluids handed to him in motion, pace lights and ideal weather conditions.

The previous eight marathon world records have been run at the Berlin Marathon. The course attracts many of the world’s top marathoners due to its fast, flat and open course. If the two-hour barrier is broken, it’ll likely happen in Berlin.

In my opinion, there are three runners who can threaten this barrier based on their previous performances.

1) Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda)

The half-marathon world record holder has not immersed himself in the marathon scene yet, but is bound to run something special when he does. The 21-year-old Ugandan has already won a medal at every level–double Commonwealth gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m, Olympic bronze in the 10,000m and world championship gold in the half-marathon.

Although it’s unlikely Kiplimo will rush onto the startline of a marathon anytime soon, he’s shown his incredible talent from 5,000m to the half. He has the eighth-fastest time over 10,000m (26:33.93) and the fastest time ever over 21.1 km (57:31–two minutes and 44 seconds per kilometre pace, which is predictive of a 1:55:20 marathon, or thereabouts).

When he is ready to make the jump, he’ll likely run around 2:02 to 2:04 for his debut and then aim for the two-hour mark in his second.

2) Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda)

The men’s 5,000m and 10,000m world record holder is currently the fastest distance runner in the world. He’s been almost unbeatable over the 10,000m, and has the long stride and the speed to threaten the two-hour mark. Cheptegei has only run one half-marathon (59:21) but holds the world record of 41:05 over 15 km (which translates to a 57-minute half-marathon).

At 26, Cheptegei has some unfinished business in the 10,000m, taking silver to Selemon Barega of Ethiopia at the Tokyo Olympics. We won’t see him move up distances until after the 2024 Olympic Games.

3) Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya)

If anyone knows what it takes to break the sub-two barrier, it’s Kipchoge. He did it unofficially in Austria and was on pace to do it in Berlin on Sunday, up until the 24 km mark. Although he’s only getting older, with his performance in 2022, he has shown the world that he is still in the prime of his career.

Kipchoge has spoken about wanting to win all six Abbott World Marathon Majors (he is missing only Boston and New York) and becoming the first triple Olympic champion in the marathon. This 2:01:09 from Kipchoge won’t be his last shot at sub-two; he’ll likely go back to his camp in Kenya, tweak a few things, and return to Berlin in 2023 for another shot at sub-two before taking on the Paris Olympics in 2024.

2019 Doha World Athletics Championships marathon bronze medalist, Amos Kipruto, will be seeking his first major title

The 2019 Doha World Athletics Championships marathon bronze medalist, Amos Kipruto, will be seeking his first major title when he lines up for the London Marathon race on Sunday.

He has been on the podium at major marathons twice, but wants to bag top honors this time round.

Nation Sport tracked Kipruto at Nandi Hills in Nandi County where he was doing a long run of 36 kilometers.

Kipruto together with his training mates crisscrossed through tea plantations.

The London Marathon will be his second major marathon race this year after finishing second in Tokyo Marathon in March.

Freshly minted world record holder Eliud Kipchoge, who clocked 2:01:09 at Berlin Marathon on Sunday, beat Kipruto in Tokyo.

“From Tokyo, I relaxed a bit. I intensified my training for London Marathon in the middle of Ma, and so everything has been going well. I have a good group behind me and my coach is also helping so much,” Kipruto said.

“Marathon is becoming tricky because competition is high. You need to prepare carefully so that you don’t burnout,” he explained.

Having competed in Tokyo Marathon twice and Berlin Marathon once, Kipruto is a man in a mission.

“It is a great honour for me to be given an opportunity to compete in London, and I don’t take it for granted. The reward that I can give it to myself is to run well in London and set the bar high,” he said.

In the elite athletes’ start list, Kipruto is the fourth fastest with a time of 2:03:13 behind Ethiopians Kenenisa Bekele, Birhanu Legese and Mosinet Geremew.

Kipruto will be the only Kenyan in the elite race after his teammate Vincent Kipchumba withdrew due to injury.