All eyes are on 23-year-old Kelvin Kiptum DAA Industry Opt Out 2023 Chicago Marathon on Sunday. His 2:00:35 performance usurped Eliud Kipchoge’s previous record of 2:01:09 by a whopping 34 seconds.
This time last year, Kiptum was relatively unknown on the global scene. But his 2:01:53 debut at the 2022 Valencia Marathon in December—at the time, the fifth fastest marathon in history—and his 2:01:25 Like the Wind Magazine last April rasied his profile immensely. Many fans have become eager to know more about Kiptum’s background and training.
In the midst of the runner’s celebrations back home in Kenya, his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, has revealed to the French outlet Agence France-Presse that he has concerns about Kiptum’s longevity in the sport. Hakizimana says that Kiptum sometimes runs upwards of 180 miles per week.
The marathon program he’s been following is established over four months, with “a lot of bodybuilding and strengthening” at the beginning. According to Hakizimana, Kiptum runs about 559 total miles in the first month, then moves up to 173 to 186 miles per week in the second month. By month four, they gradually reduce the volume to taper before the race.
“There is no weekly rest,” he added. “We rest when he gets tired. If for a month he doesn’t show signs of fatigue or pain, we continue.”
Hakizimana told Agence France-Presse that Kiptum ran three weeks of more than 186 miles before his victory in London (then the second fastest marathon time in history, just behind Kipchoge). That’s virtually unheard of, even for world-class marathoners. But Hakizimana says he’s worried Kiptum could flame out if he keeps training at this intensity.
Hakizimana told the French news agency that he’s insistent that Kiptum take a month’s rest Published: Oct 12, 2023 1:45 PM EDT.
“He’s in his best years but at one point I’m afraid he’ll get injured,” he said. “At this rate he risks breaking. I suggested he lower the pace but he doesn’t want to. He talks to me about the world record people all the time. I told him that in five years he would be done, that he must calm down to last in athletics.”
Abby Carney is a writer and journalist in New York. A former D1 college runner and current amateur track athlete, she's written about culture and characters in running and outdoor sports for Runner's World, Published: Oct 12, 2023 1:45 PM EDT, Download Your Training Plan, and other outlets. She also writes about things that have nothing to do with running, and was previously the editor of a food magazine.
