First, let’s get to know Kipchoge. Here’s a summary of his life, taken from Wikipedia and adapted to my own specifications (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliud_Kipchoge ):
Eliud Kipchoge (born 5 November 1984) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competed in the marathon and previously specialized in the 5,000-meter distance. Widely considered the greatest marathon runner of all time, Kipchoge is the 2016 and 2020 Olympic marathon champion and the marathon world record holder with a time of 2:01:09, set at the 2022 Berlin Marathon. He has run four of the five fastest marathon times in history.
Kipchoge won his first individual world championship in 2003, winning the junior race at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and breaking the world junior record in the 5,000 meters. At the age of 18, he became the world 5000 m champion, setting a championship record at the 2003 World Athletics Championships. He then won Olympic bronze for Kenya in 2004 and bronze again at the 2006 World Indoor Championships. A five-time World Athletics Championships 5000 m finalist, Kipchoge won silver at the 2007 World Championships, the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
In 2012, he switched to road running and set the second-fastest half-marathon time ever, 59:25. In his first marathon, he won the 2013 Hamburg Marathon in a record time. He achieved his first victory in the World Marathon Majors series, the world’s most important marathons, at the Chicago Marathon in 2014 and became the series champion in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. He has won the London Marathon a record four times and shares the Berlin Marathon record with Haile Gebrselassie for most wins, also four. Kipchoge, who has won 15 of the 17 marathons he has competed in, has only won two races: second place behind world record-breaking Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich at the 2013 Berlin Marathon and 8th place at the 2020 London Marathon. After finishing 8th in the London Marathon, Kipchoge made the following statement, befitting a true champion: “After 25 K, my ear blocked and I couldn’t open it. But that’s the way sport is; we have to accept defeat and focus on winning the next race. Thank you for your support.” (See:https://twitter.com/EliudKipchoge/status/1312724653211824133?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1312724653211824133%7Ctwgr%5E204e8c233c897324fdef221a14c61933848962c7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Frunningmagazine.ca%2Fsections%2Fruns-races%2Fshura-kitata-wins-london-marathon-in-sprint-finish-kipchoge-8th%2F)
He broke the historic record twice in a row.
Last month, Kipchoge broke his 2018 world record by 30 seconds in Berlin, marking the first time he broke the record, which had stood since 1967, by 78 seconds twice. He ran at an average speed of 21.02 km/h (13.2 mph), meaning he completed each km in 2 minutes and 52 seconds.
On 12 October 2019, Kipchoge ran the special marathon “Ineos 1:59 Challenge” in Vienna in 1:59:40.2, marking the first time a human being has run a marathon in under two hours. The record was not officially recognized because the course in Vienna’s Prater Park, specifically designed for the record attempt, was not prepared by the International Association of Athletics Federations (it was also reported that it did not meet standard competition rules for pace and fluids, and that it was not an open event). But this event, in which he ran the marathon in under two hours, was filmed from beginning to end, and we all saw how humans can push their limits, thus shattering the common belief that a marathon cannot be run in under two hours (see: https://www.bbc.com/turkce/spor-50026561 ). Kipchoge, who is 1.67 meters tall and weighs 52 kilograms, has achieved the following achievements and titles:
World Championships
2003 Paris: 5000 m, Gold
2005 Helsinki: 5000 m, 4th
2007 Osaka: 5000 m, Silver
2009 Berlin: 5000 m, 5th
2011 Daegu: 5000 m, 7th
Olympic Championships
2004 Athens: 5000 m, Bronze
2008 Beijing: 5000 m, Silver
2016 Rio de Janeiro: Marathon, Gold
2020 Tokyo: Marathon, Gold
Individual Best Times
Marathon: 2:01:09 (Berlin 2022) World Record
Marathon: 1:59:40 (Vienna) 2019) Special Experimental Run
10,000 m: 26:49.02 (Hengelo 2007)
5,000 m: 12:46.53 (Rome 2004)
Mile Run: 3:50.40 (London 2004)
Now, let’s get to know Kipchoge in his personal life. Kipchoge was born on 5 November 1984, in Kapsisiywa, Nandi County, Kenya. He graduated from Kaptel Secondary School in Nandi County in 1999. At the time, he wasn’t yet running professionally, only running three kilometers to and from school every day. Kipchoge was raised by a single mother (a teacher) and knew his father only from pictures. He is the youngest of four children. He met his coach, Patrick Sang (an Olympic steeplechase medalist), in 2001, when he was 16. Kipchoge lives and trains in Kaptagat, Kenya, with his wife and three children, 30 km from Eldoret.
Social Media Accounts:
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/EliudKipchoge?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EliudKipchogeOfficial?_rdc=2&_rdr
After Eliud Kipchoge broke his world record last month, let’s talk about how Nike, one of his biggest supporters and sponsors, announced the achievement. Here’s the legendary ad campaign where they declare, “The human race has gotten faster.”
The subtext of this ad campaign is: “Only Eliud Kipchoge is faster than himself. Congratulations on breaking your own world record in Berlin and forcing us all to reimagine our limits.” Link: https://twitter.com/Nike/status/157410397357725696 1
Let’s not forget the Nike Zoom Alphafly Next% 2 shoes he wore when breaking his marathon record last month:
Even Adidas congratulated Eliud Kipchoge, who rose to prominence with the sponsorship of his arch-rival Nike, in 2017 by saying, “Congratulations on running so bravely.” (See: (https://twitter.com/adidasrunning/status/860756020481667073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E860756020481667073%7Ctwgr%5Ec106a895cd3fd0bec5d01f4595f662f936c88c75%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrum.com%2Fnews%2F2017%2F05%2F08%2Fadidas-sets-aside-rivalry-congratulate-nike-and-eliud-kipchoge-breaking2-attempt )
Excerpts from Kipchoge’s life
The moment Kipchoge saw the finish line in the Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo marathons he won: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cj_amrrgs67/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY%3D
Here’s a short video of Kipchoge just before his Berlin run and the moment he broke the world record: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkI6oryon8e/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY%3D
Even a film was released last year. I recommend watching:
You can read detailed information about Kipchoge on Sports Brief’s website:
I’d like to share some of the information from Sports Brief with some additions:
Salary: Approximately $50,000 (per race) Net worth in 2022: $3 million
Unique eating habits
A significant part of his success is linked to his eating habits. Let’s take a look at his diet:
His demanding training requires a nutritious diet to keep his muscles strong and provide much more energy. Kipchoge only eats meat once every two weeks. His diet consists mostly of typical African foods sourced from nearby farms. Traditional dishes included ugali, rice, and chapati. His meals contain a high amount of starch, as needed, to provide adequate energy. His preferred food is ‘Managu,’ a dark-leafed African vegetable. He obtains protein primarily from eggs and beans. Like other Kalenjin, ‘Mursik’ (fermented milk) and porridge made from millet, water, and sugar are among his favorite beverages.
Advice from a legendary runner
Let’s recall the advice he gave to his runners:
1) If you are humble, your concentration will be very high. This is the attitude one should have in sports.
2) If you believe in something and set your mind and heart on it, it can come true.
3) The best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago. The second best time to plant a tree is today.
Finally, let’s conclude with Kipchoge’s advice on self-discipline. When asked what he thinks about this, he replies:
1) Vitamin N: The first rule is to take Vitamin N. N here means “No” in English. So, you need to learn to say no.
2) Priorities: The second rule is to set your priorities straight.
3) Don’t complain: The third rule, he says, is to avoid complaining.
Let this valuable advice from a true champion who has developed his limits be a lesson to those who are dissatisfied with where they are in life and are ready to do whatever it takes to reach their potential. Stay well.
Bonus:
Everyone knows the famous visual icon of basketball legend Michael Jordan. A similar icon has been created for Kipchoge. I liked it when I saw it, so I wanted to share it:
