New Delhi: The year has been memorable for Eliud Kipchoge. The Kenyan, who won the London Marathon in a course record time this April before lifting the Rio Olympics marathon gold medal, will look to end 2016 on a high with the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon crown. “There are so many Kenyans running here and they are good friends of mine as well but I am here to win. When I am on the track, winning is the only thing that comes to mind. My strategy for Sunday’s race is to complete my run within 60 minutes,” Kipchoge told this paper here on Thursday.
The ADHM will be the last run for the 32-year-old this year and he will be back in action next February.
“The temperature in the morning is suitable to my running and my strategy will be to keep my pace high till 15 kilometres. The course here is really flat and it will help maintain good speed and a good time. I want to go below 59 minutes and try to beat my best time,” he said. Asked about the alarming levels of pollution in the capital, the 2010 Commonwealth Games 5,000m silver medallist showed no signs of anxiety. “It will not affect my run,” he said.
“Yes I know about the high pollution here… I came specifically for the sport and I want to show everyone that we can run in a city with this much pollution. That’s why I came here to inspire many kids here, who love sport,” Kipchoge explained. Asked about the East African rivalry against Ethiopian athletes, the former world champion who started his career in 2002 said: “The aim is to to better my own record as I treat myself as my biggest competitor.
“Ethiopian athletes are really tough competitors and many of them have run in India before, which also gives them an edge. But the Kenyans are no less and come Sunday, we are sure of giving them a run for their money.” Saying “good planning and preparation” were his keys to success, the Kenyan said more than planning and strategising it was execution that mattered most during a race. The Kenyan, who had a rags to riches story, still loves to live a simple life.
Asked about the changes in his life after winning at the Rio Olympics, the Beijing silver medalist said, “The status changed but he is still the same Eliud. I am thankful to my coach Patrick Sang and am still learning and have a long way to go. “I like to live a simple life now though I have enough money to lead a luxurious life. I have two cars. I sacrificed a lot but it only gave me more strength.”
