After landing in the country on 13th April 2021 from Sienna, Kenyan runner Kosgei could barely contain his happiness as we talked on the phone—if joy were a track event, he’d have set another world record. He had just smashed his marathon personal best time from 2:10:11 to 2:07:51, a clocking so quick that even his watch asked for a break. That sparkling time placed him in the top 220 in the World Athletics marathon rankings—which, for the uninitiated, is the runner’s equivalent of joining the cool kids’ table at lunch.
Kosgei’s phone was buzzing with more congratulatory messages than a WhatsApp group during a family wedding. Strangers, acquaintances, and probably a few distant cousins he’d never met all wanted to bask in the reflected glory of his achievement. If only he weren’t a Kenyan—because let’s face it, the competition for marathon spots in Kenya is so fierce, even cheetahs might reconsider their career choices—he would probably be joining his friend and longtime training partner, Vincent Kipchumba, on the 2020 Tokyo Olympic marathon start list.
Brief Interview with Kosgei at the airport
“I never knew it was possible!” Kosgei said, sounding like someone who’d just discovered you could microwave popcorn without burning it.
“All I ever needed was a little bit more perseverance in training, a few more adjustments in the speed workouts we were doing, and believing in myself during the race. In the past, I used to think that the sub-2:08 runners were superhumans in some way and would let them go in a different leading pack, but now I know that it is possible for any runner to run 2:07 with the right focus in training and in racing,” he added.
A fast marathon time has always helped change the lives of many long-distance runners considerably—and Kosgei’s joy made perfect sense. Even though he didn’t finish on the podium and didn’t make the Olympic team, he was as happy as someone who finds an extra fry at the bottom of the bag.
For years, running a 2:08 marathon has been the ultimate dream for Kenyan male long-distance runners. I remember in 2007, while at Kapsait Nike athletics training camp, a runner who wasn’t managed by anyone clocked a 2:08 and, suddenly, a huge car with a personal driver was sent to whisk him and his family away to a secret hotel (to avoid other agents swooping in)—as he awaited a manager to fly in from Europe, presumably wearing sunglasses and holding a contract like a secret agent in a spy movie.
Motivation from a training partner
In the Xiamen Marathon and Tuscany Camp Global Elite Race, where the times were falling faster than hailstones —nine athletes finished under 2:07 and 20 ran under 2:09—Kosgei placed 13th overall. It was enough to make even the official timekeepers dizzy.
Kosgei drew great inspiration when his training partner, Vincent Kipchumba, was named to the Kenyan Olympic marathon team earlier in the year. Back in 2013, Wilson Kiprop, the 2010 world half marathon champion, had formed a small training group near the Eldoret International Airport, presumably so runners could take off as soon as they finished their intervals.
At that time, Kipchumba was not even among the strongest in the group. The best three were Kiprop, Kosgei and Boaz Kiprono. Watching Kipchumba train the way he did to reach the level he is at today was a real-life lesson for Kosgei that anything was possible with the right training. Kosgei also admits that the new Adidas racing shoes could also have
In the end, Kosgei’s marathon story is a reminder that with the right mix of grit, laughter, and maybe a pair of shoes with more tech than a spaceship, the finish line is never out of reach. Whether or not he makes it to the Olympics, he’s already won the race for enthusiasm—and possibly for the best collection of inspirational WhatsApp messages.
As he continues to chase new personal bests, one thing’s for sure: the world hasn’t seen the last of Kosgei’s speedy legs.