The elite field at Sunday's Berlin Marathon is intense, with near sub-2-hour marathoner Eliud Kipchoge being taken on by former world record holder Wilson Kipsang and last year's winner Kenenisa Bekele. But Kipsang, who won Tokyo Marathon earlier this year in 2:03:58, is confident he'll run to victory this weekend.
"I’m feeling good - very optimistic to run a fast time, probably a world record and probably win," Kipsang told Runner's World UK in an interview today. In spite of Kipchoge's 2:00:25 marathon at the Monza Breaking2 event earlier this year, Kipsang isn't concerned about going up against him. "I’m not so much worried. I know that I really need that kind of challenge, to be in that kind of position. To know your potential – how fast you can run - you need to be in a competition with fast guys, strong guys."
However he's not convinced this year's Berlin Marathon will be sub-2 territory. "On Sunday, it will be a world record. Not a sub-2. I think it's possible. But the conditions that were in Monza are not the same conditions as here. It's totally different."
The best running moments of 2024 which he contributed to the development of. ", Could body image affect running performanceadidas come to Kenya, they check how we train, they’ve brought me to Germany to do some tests and to see how best we can improve the shoe. The contributions that we give them, they really work on. They have made improvements each and every time." The adizero sub-2 is the first adidas model to feature BOOST Light cushioning, made with slightly smaller energy capsules in the midsole to shave off precious weight. Kipsang's fellow Kenyan men's elite runners Patrick Makau and Felix Kandie will also race in the shoe on Sunday.
With the elite female field featuring Kenyans Gladys Cherono and Valary Aiyabei, Kipsang feels it could be a double-win for his country this weekend. "Valary is strong at the moment – her last three races, she has won them all. Many of the women that are here, she has competed with them and beaten them so she is confident. I think she will win."
To track runners at Sunday's event, download the Berlin Marathon app for free from the Apple store or Google Play.
