It was introduced on December 21 that Eliud Kipchoge, former WR holder of marathon and two-time Olympic gold medalist, will compete within the 2024 Tokyo Marathon. Justin Lagat had some ideas about Eliud Kipchoge’s announcement.
Is it only a coincidence that Kipchoge selected the Tokyo Marathon as his first marathon race in 2024, or is it by design?
In a short announcement, Kipchoge mentions the pure tradition, self-discipline, and kindness of the folks of Tokyo as one of many causes that impressed him to run the Tokyo Marathon on third March 2024.
However under are extra of the explanations that might make it an ideal race for him.
They are saying that the primary impression is the lasting impression. Tokyo Marathon is a comparatively quick course, and there’s a good likelihood that one or two runners there in March may run world-leading instances early within the yr. Operating a world-leading time forward of the Olympics can be an awesome morale enhance as one prepares for the large races within the yr forward.
So, for Kipchoge, whether or not by design or coincidence, the sooner he runs within the yr, the higher the probabilities are for him to run a world-leading time and make a very good first and lasting impression in 2024.
Secondly, Kipchoge -as a lot as his fans- is raring to reply after Kelvin Kiptum broke his world document and overtook him because the world’s best-ranked marathon runner on the planet. The closest World Marathon Majors’ marathon he may get into to revive his reign because the king of marathon operating was the Tokyo Marathon.
His efficiency within the Tokyo Marathon can be seen as a reply to Kiptum of their battle for supremacy within the occasion.
Thirdly, Kiptum, the world document holder who’s simply 35 seconds wanting operating a sub-2 hr marathon, introduced final month that he can be operating on the Rotterdam Marathon on 14th April and aiming to run a quick time.
Solely in his third marathon and whereas operating the world document on the Chicago Marathon in October, Kiptum had improved on his private finest time by 50 seconds. If his upward trajectory continues, he’s seen by many because the runner more likely to run the marathon in beneath two hours on a record-eligible course.
So, by operating in Tokyo, Kipchoge may have the primary try at going for a sub-two-hour marathon earlier than Kiptum does it.
Fourthly, Eliud Kipchoge is hoping to attain a hat-trick in Paris on the Olympic Video games, and operating his marathon early within the yr will give him loads of time to organize for his largest race of the yr.
