- Kipchoge will make his debut at the Boston Marathon
- It is one of only two Majors he has not competed in
- He will compete against three other former champions
Eliud Kipchoge will line up for his debut at the Boston Marathon on Monday evening, with his eyes fixated on adding another feather to his already decorated feather.
Kipchoge is looking to become the first man to win all six of the World Majors, and if he ticks Boston, he will have only one remaining; the New York Marathon.
Kipchoge has won London (four times), Berlin (Three times) as well as Tokyo and Chicago, both once, and he now chases down Boston on Monday.
The race will not only be special because he will seek to tick the fifth of his six targeted boxes, but because it will be the 10th anniversary of the bombings at the race in 2013.
Three people died at the bombings that occurred at the finish line, way after the elite athletes had passed.
Show people worth of sports
Eliud Kipchoge 2022 Berlin Marathon. Photo by Fox Sports
“This will be the 10th anniversary of the Boston Bombings and it will be special for me to be there with the people and show them that sport is life and sport brings people together. I would want to be there with them on this occasion to show that sport is about peace and friendship,” Kipchoge said, speaking to Sports Leo.
He says ticking five of the six majors will be a crucial page of hic already decorated history and says he is ready for it.
“I want to be part of history. Anyone can win a marathon and anyone can win an Olympic medal. But very few can make history. This is what I want for my legacy,” added the Olympic champion.
While he will be the outright favourite heading to Boston, Kipchoge will have competition in plenty with three former champions lining up alongside him.
Defending champion Evans Chebet in line
Defending champion Evans Chebet will be the other highlight athlete. The Kenyan won last year’s race in 2:06:51 and then went on to win in New York later in the year.
Benson Kipruto, the 2021 winner will also be competing. Kipruto also won the 2022 Chicago Marathon.
Other Kenyans in the race will include John, Albert and Mark Korir as well as Augustine Choge, who is Kipchoge’s training partner in Kaptagat.
The Ethiopian contingent will be led by two-time Boston champion Lelisa Desisa, who is also a former world champion. Desisa won the Boston title in 2013 and 2015 and New York in 2018 before winning the worlds in 2019.
He has also finished twice in Boston in 2016 and 2019 and also has a pair of bronze medals from New York.
Shura Kitata, the 2020 London Marathon champion, is also in the race. Kitata has beaten Eliud once before, in London 2020, when the world record holder developed an ear problem towards the end of the race and managed an eighth place finish.
Benson Kipruto also competed in that race and finished sixth.
Eritrean Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, the 2015 world champion is also in the race and is one to watch out for as well.
Expect tougher competition
Kipchoge knows only too well the kind of competition he expects.
“It will be a tough race definitely because the field has many former champions. It will be tactical also because there are no pacemakers and it is up to your race planning. Anyone who has prepared well and plans the best will win. I just want to go out there, run a beautiful race and win,” Kipchoge told Sports Leo.
On whether he will be chasing down any records, the 38-year old says it is not even on his mind, and only victory will be his target. But with a world record of 2:01:09, Kipchoge is at a good position to set a new Course Record, Geoffrey Mutai’s 12-year mark of 2:03:02 being in danger.
On what he is targeting next and whether he might keep an eye on the New York Marathon in November, Kipchoge is still tight lipped.
He might be tempted to run New York in November. For a marathon, an athlete requires a month of rest and three more of training between each race.
Time for rest and recovery
Eliud Kipchoge competing at the Berlin Marathon. PHOTO/NN Running
Between Boston and New York are six months. Between New York and his next confirmed race, the Olympic Games in France, are a further seven months meaning he might be hugely enticed to try New York and complete his perfect six before the Olympics.
“At the moment, I am only focusing on Boston then we can see what next. I always chase one rabbit at a time,” noted Kipchoge.
He also says he has not given a thought on retirement, even as he approaches 40 years. “I am still strong and I will keep competing as long as I feel strong. There is a time for everything and of course, there will come a time when I feel I need to retire and I will do it.”
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