- Eliud Kipchoge is set to run the London Marathon for the first time since 2020
- Alex Yee will run in the event for the first time and Kipchoge wants to help him
Eliud Kipchoge will run the London Marathon again in April after a five-year absence – and has offered to mentor Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee on his debut in the race.
The legendary Kenyan, 40, is the record four-time winner of the event and this could be his last appearance on the streets of the capital before he retires.
Yee, meanwhile, will be on the start line for the first time after deciding to give a marathon a go following his triathlon gold medal at last summer’s Olympics.
The 26-year-old Brit admitted last year it was his dream to one day pick the brains of Kipchoge – and the greatest marathon runner of all time has now said he is happy to help.
‘I’d like to meet him before the race and share the lives we live,’ said Kipchoge when asked about Yee. ’I’d love to know him more.
‘I’ll give my time when I’m in London to sit with him and share a meal, have a coffee. My advice is make sure to train very well and enjoy the distance. I’ll share with him what I believe about running. I’m looking forward to it.’
Eliud Kipchoge (pictured) has put himself forward to mentor Alex Yee for the London Marathon
British triathlete Yee (pictured) is set to run the London Marathon for the first time in April
Yee won Olympic gold in the men’s triathlon at last year’s Games after a blistering sprint finish
Kipchoge won the London Marathon in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019. He also claimed Olympic marathon gold at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 and is the only man to have clocked a sub two-hour marathon.
However, in his last race at the Paris Olympics, Kipchoge failed to finish for the first time in his career, dropping out after 19 miles citing discomfort around his waist.
‘Sport is full of challenges and what happened in Paris is one of the challenges in sport,’ he said. ‘I tripped on the challenge.
‘I learnt from it that running is not straight all the time, sometimes you can hit a bump. If you hit a bump, sometimes you can get a puncture. That’s what happened.
‘It was demoralising but above all it was sport. You need to wake up, go again and push on every day.
‘The work now is to train every day for the next four months waiting for the day in London.
‘I’m really excited for this opportunity, to go again after five years. I’m really excited to run again on the streets of London. My No1 memory is the fans. They are all over from the first kilometre to the last kilometre. They are the people pushing me.
‘It’s the city of sport. That’s what makes London so special. London for the sixth time is what makes me come back. The inspiration to give to all the people is what makes me come back.’
Kipchoge also believes he can still challenge for victory in a field which includes last year’s London Marathon winner Alex Mutiso and Olympic champion Tamirat Tola.
Kipchoge failed to finish the Olympic marathon last year but still feels he can compete at the highest level
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‘I still think I can compete,’ he said. ‘I’m training in a good way and I can compete with the youngest people.’
Kipchoge refused to confirm whether or not this would be his last London Marathon or potentially his final race altogether.
‘I will speak more when I finish the marathon,’ he added. ‘Now I’m focusing on training, purely on fitness and my muscles to be ready for the start line in London.
‘I always believe I should follow one route first. In Africa we say we are chasing one rabbit at a time. This rabbit in front of me is the London Marathon.
‘That’s purely what all my mind, my heart, my energy is on. After that I’ll make a new announcement. Keep watching.’
