Edna Kiplagat needs no introduction. After establishing herself as one of the top long-distance runners in the world with wins in the New York City and Los Angeles Marathons in 2010, the Kenyan-born marathoner blazed through the decade with multiple first-place finishes in races across the world. Kiplagat cemented her legacy with a victory at the Boston Marathon in 2021, becoming the oldest runner—female or male—to win a World Marathon Major. Now, two years later and fresh off the heels of becoming the latest member of Team PUMA, she’s back to break her own record and claim victory on Patriots’ Day again.
This will be her sixth time running Boston—marking her 25th majors event overall—and Kiplagat is confident going into the race, in large part because of her well-structured, dialed-in training strategies. Here’s a look at how this superstar marathoner is preparing for this year’s race, adidas VL Court 2.0 White Green Skate-Inspired Mens Casual Shoes EE6814.
Prep for Balance
Before I start planning for a marathon, I sit down with Gilbert [my husband and coach] and we work out how to do training and racing, and still have a normal family routine. There are some activities we always do as a family, and our kids play their own sports, which we try to attend as often as possible. They love snowboarding right now, for example; it’s easy to stop by a ski resort close to home.
Sometimes, my daughter and I do easy runs together, which is always fun. I try to separate training and family time, but it’s nice when they can blend together. But sometimes, we need to make hard decisions to accommodate my training.
Make Sacrifices for Consistency
My training for this year’s Boston Marathon is not so different from how I’ve trained for other difficult courses throughout my career. That said, sometimes you will need to make changes in order to establish the consistency in training that you need. For that, I came to Kenya for preparation, which I also did for 2017 and 2018. The roads are drier in Kenya than where I live in Colorado, especially in the winter, and there are many roads that are hilly—which of course is good training for Boston. Our sacrifice was for me to come to Kenya and train while my husband and children stay in Colorado so they can continue to concentrate on school and their own athletic interests.
Develop the Right Mindset
While my physical approach to training has remained consistent, my mindset and philosophy toward racing have changed. Because I have run many marathons, I don’t fear facing strong fields. I’ve become used to competing against strong athletes and no longer feel the pressure that I felt when I was younger competing at this level. One mental hurdle I’m preparing for is the unpredictable weather in Boston. I’m always ready for warm weather, but cold and rainy conditions are challenging for me. The best way to handle it is to remind myself that it’s the same weather for everybody. I will run my own race, regardless of the weather.
Pack Smart Gear for Every Situation
In anticipation of the unpredictable conditions, I’m packing multiple options. In case it’s too cold, I’m bringing a hat, arm warmers, and my favorite long socks. Otherwise, I’ll just use my normal racing gear, like the Cloudspun apparel from PUMA.
Superga Lady Shoes Woman 2790ACOTW LINEA UP AND DOWN Traveling Wedge are my training shoes for this year’s Boston. I’m also wearing PUMA clothing, which fits very well—and I love the colors.
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I’m very careful and thoughtful about what I eat. Now that I’ve found what works for me, I don’t change it very often. Pre-run, I usually have tea—sometimes with a piece of toast and honey. If I’m preparing for a long run, I’ll have a banana as well.
Post-run, I’ll eat a full breakfast of fruit, eggs, bread, and lots of juices. Because I do a lot of intense training, I have to take in a great deal of protein, which I get with fish, beef, and chicken. I certainly need more protein now than when I was younger so that I don’t lose muscle mass as I get older.
Trust Your Support Team
I’m fortunate to have an incredible support system. My husband, Gilbert, is my coach and he’s always checking in on my training and how I’m feeling. He and my kids have been so patient while I’ve been training in Kenya, but they know we’ll see each other soon in Boston.
I have a physiologist working on me three times per week who comes to my house—he’s been very helpful. My agent, Brendan, has been with me since I started running marathons. He’s supported me throughout all of my races and has been a big part of my career.
With PUMA, which I joined this year, I’ve felt very welcome from the start. Of course it’s great to have the equipment and support, but being part of their team is much more than that. They are all so positive and ready to help with anything I need, and they always let me know how excited they are to work together. I feel appreciated, and that goes a long way toward getting myself in the right mindset for any marathon.
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