Eliud Kipchoge is widely regarded as the greatest marathon runner of all time. He has won two Olympic gold medals, four London Marathons, four Berlin Marathons, and one each in Chicago and Tokyo. He holds the official world record of 2:01:39 and the unofficial sub-two-hour mark of 1:59:40. He has dominated the distance for almost a decade, losing only twice in 17 marathons before Monday.
But on April 17, 2023, Kipchoge faced a challenge that he had never conquered before the Boston Marathon. The oldest and most prestigious annual marathon in the world, Boston is known for its unpredictable weather, hilly course, and passionate crowds. Kipchoge had skipped his usual spring marathon in London to focus on Boston, hoping to add it to his impressive resume and complete his collection of World Marathon Majors.
However, things did not go as planned for the Kenyan legend. Despite starting out strong and staying with the lead pack for most of the race, Kipchoge faded in the final miles and finished sixth in 2:09:23, more than three minutes behind his compatriot and defending champion Evans Chebet, who clocked 2:05:54.
What went wrong for Kipchoge? How did he lose his first major marathon since 2013? Here are some possible factors that contributed to his defeat:
- The weather. Boston was rainy and windy on Monday, creating slippery conditions and slowing down the runners. Kipchoge is known to prefer warm and dry weather, as he showed in his record-breaking runs in Berlin and Vienna. He also struggled in similar conditions in London in 2020, when he finished eighth in his worst performance ever.
- The water bottle mishap. Around mile 18, Kipchoge missed his water bottle hand-off from his coach Patrick Sang and had to run back to get it. This disrupted his rhythm and caused him to lose contact with the lead group of five runners. He never recovered from this setback and gradually fell behind.
- The hills. Boston's course is notorious for its undulating terrain, especially the four hills between miles 16 and 21, known as Heartbreak Hill. Kipchoge is more suited to flat and fast courses, where he can maintain a steady pace and unleash his trademark kick in the final stages. The hills broke his stride and sapped his energy, allowing his rivals to pull away.
- The competition. Chebet was not the only threat to Kipchoge's dominance. He faced a strong field of challengers, including former Boston winners Lawrence Cherono and Lelisa Desisa, world champion Lelisa Desisa, Ethiopian record-holder Kenenisa Bekele, and rising star Benson Kipruto. All of them had something to prove against Kipchoge and were ready to capitalize on any weakness he showed.
- The age factor. Kipchoge is 38 years old, which is considered old for a marathon runner. While he has defied age and maintained his excellence for years, he may be starting to show signs of decline. His last two marathons have been far from his best, raising questions about whether he can still compete at the highest level.
Despite his disappointing result in Boston, Kipchoge remains a legend of the sport and an inspiration to many. He has not given up on his goals and dreams, as he posted on his social media after the race: "I live for the moments where I get to challenge the limits. It's never guaranteed and it's never easy. Today was a tough day for me. I pushed myself as hard as I could but sometimes, we must accept that today wasn't the day to push the barrier to a greater height."
Kipchoge still has a chance to make history next year by becoming the first person to win three Olympic marathons in Paris. He may also try to win New York City Marathon later this year, the only World Marathon Major that he has not raced yet. Whatever he decides to do next, he will always have the respect and admiration of fans and fellow runners around the world.