23-year-old Kelvin Kiptum is a phenomenon in the athletics world. Last weekend he lowered the world marathon record when he sprinted to victory in Chicago in a time of 2.00.35. The Kenyan broke the old record of 2.01.09, set by his countryman Eliud Kipchoge during the Berlin Marathon in 2022. Kiptum had never run a marathon before last year. Now he has three victories in as many starts, and never before has anyone been so close to breaking the two-hour mark on the marathon distance, 42,195 metres. – The way it happens makes me think for the first time that it is possible to run under two hours. It was impressive, says long-distance runner Kristian Ulriksen. Following the feat in Chicago, his trainer, Gervais Hakizimana, has made startling claims about Kiptum’s amount of training. 2:00:35: Kiptum proudly displays the medal and the new world record. Photo: AFP The trainer worries In a normal training week, Kiptum runs between 250-280 kilometres, but often he runs a crazy 300 kilometres. In the run-up to the marathon in London, he will have run over 300 kilometers for three weeks in a row. In comparison, Kipchoge has between 180-220 kilometers in a normal week, it is claimed. In an interview with, among others, news during the end of the Diamond League in Eugene, Jakob Ingebrigtsen said that he mostly runs between 180 and 195 kilometers a week in the period from October to early May. Hakizimana is worried that Kiptum is training himself in the sink and getting burned out. – He is in his best years, but I am worried about him getting injured. If he continues in the same way, he risks being broken. I have suggested that he slow down, but he doesn’t want that, says the trainer to letsrun.com. – It sucks news’s athletics commentator Jann Post says that Kiptum came from nowhere, but that everyone closes their eyes and wonders if it is wise to train so much. – These are high numbers. There are people who have trained so much in periods before, especially if you go further back in time. But there are few who have found out that it pays off over time, says Post, but clarifies that it is impossible to know exactly how much Kiptum tolerates. COMMENTATOR: Jann Post. Photo: Sigmund Sagberg Andersen / news Ulriksen believes that one should take Kiptum’s alleged amount of training with a grain of salt. – It sucks. There is no human being who can train like that. It doesn’t work. It is impossible, says Ulriksen. In the letsrun.com article, it is claimed that Kiptum runs 30-40 kilometers at marathon speed on Thursdays. – There is no human being who can do it at the height in Iten (training town in Kenya). I have been to Kenya enough to understand that it is not right, says Ulriksen. WELL TRAINED: Kristian Ulriksen had the podcast “I det lange løp” together with Jann Post for a long time and is himself an active runner. Photo: Aleksander Walmann Hunt for less than two hours So far, Kiptum’s body is in top form. After the world record, he was asked about his earlier statement that he has never felt pain while running marathons. – I haven’t, he confirmed. During the Chicago marathon, the Kenyan ran with a prototype of Nike’s new top model, the Alphafly 3. The entry of the super shoe into athletics has helped to lower the times, and they can help to reduce the burden on the athletes. NEW WEAPON: Kiptum used these shoes, which are still not on the market, during the record race. Photo: AFP – One can ask questions about whether today’s modern shoes make it easier to tolerate higher amounts of training, says Post. He supports Ulriksen in that the magical two-hour marathon limit is ready to be broken. Kipchoge has previously run under two hours, but then in an invalid race with several aids. – I think Kiptum is already good for that. In Chicago he actually only had one hare, but he jumped on the side of the hare. It is exactly the opposite of Kipchoge’s scheme. Kiptum had a crazy speed when he reached the finish line, says Post.
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The phenomenon’s extreme training amazes – experts think the numbers are “impossible” – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
