Kenya | In pursuit of Eliud Kipchoge, the greatest marathon runner

(Iten) “What?” Have you seen Kipchoge!? », exclaim two Germans, their eyes wide.

For the runners at my training camp, traveling to Iten, the running capital of the world, is a long-studied dream. At mealtimes, it is common to hear trainees passionately sharing their knowledge of the techniques of great Kenyan athletes. From Rudisha’s diet to Kipyegon’s fartlek, however, nothing matches the enthusiasm that invades them at the simple mention of Eliud Kipchoge. Within this community, he is revered as a deity.

It is undeniable that the current craze surrounding Iten stems in part from the international fame of Eliud Kipchoge, a native of a humble Kalendjin commune nestled in the heart of the Great Rift Valley.

He is a true marathon star, and each competition he participates in becomes an event in its own right. Double Olympic champion and world record holder, the 38-year-old Kenyan is the only athlete to have achieved the feat of running the legendary distance in less than two hours, an achievement that was long considered humanly impossible.

Kipchoge’s influence extends well beyond the world of athletics, giving him the status of a popular icon. With his millions of apostles who follow him with passion, he is the ambassador of his sport, his country and, of course, the Nike brand.

Currently, the athlete and his team are intensively preparing for the competition in Berlin, scheduled for the end of September. It is one of the six most prestigious marathons, an event he has already won four times. Last year, he left an indelible mark on the German capital by beating his own record by 30 seconds (2 h 1 min 9 s). ¹

While in Kenya, I obviously tried to get an interview with him, even though I already knew my chances were slim. The agency that represents him, a Dutch marketing firm, kindly explained to me that during his training periods, the media are not allowed. Understandable.

It was during a card game in Iten that I discovered that a family of British runners, who were also staying in my camp, had planned to go to Eldoret the next morning to attend the training of the champion. Every Tuesday morning, he holds an interval session lasting more than an hour. Without hesitation, I took the opportunity to invite myself there. We cannot miss the greatest of his generation.

Aboard a small car with uncertain safety, there are four of us crammed into the back seat, crossing the emerging horizon already punctuated with runners. During the trip, the Falls family told me that they had already had the opportunity to see Kipchoge in action in London and Monaco. But this time, she wants a photo.

So, galvanized by their devotion, we arrive in Eldoret, the great city of the West. It’s 6:45 a.m. when we reach the entrance to the private training track, the Annex Track, located in the heart of the campus of Moi University, a renowned institution named after a former Kalendjin dictator.

As soon as you enter, the slender silhouettes with exceptional strides attract attention. Gliding through the subdued light of dawn, they trace their route with delirious speed, giving the illusion of absolute ease. The immense silence reigning is only interrupted by the drum of their footsteps which raise a thin cloud of red dust.

Running, a simple and complex movement, rises here into an art form. With all eyes focused on the veteran marathon runner, the spectacle is as dizzy as fantasy.

However, it is strictly forbidden to immortalize this scene, as I quickly discovered, accompanied by a threat of expulsion made by a coach who does not intend to laugh. Braving unfavorable light conditions, I still managed to capture a few snapshots, at the risk of losing my place in athletics paradise.

Clumsily interfering among the African pelotons, foreign runners realize their dream by exhausting themselves over a few laps, with the sole intention of being able to tell when they return that they ran alongside Kipchoge.

Even if everyone has the right to run in the inner corridor, it is tacitly agreed to let the elite pass. During these brief moments of eternity, the distinction between the ordinary human and the Kenyan exception is spectacular. Nothing is more amazing than seeing my roommate being overtaken by Kelvin Kiptum, the enigmatic holder of the second time in the history of the marathon. The two highest steps on the world podium, gathered in the same place, no less. ²

On the sidelines of the running lanes, I observe the proliferation of sports influencers. The small crowd took the opportunity to put on their best clothes, shoot each other in photos, film a fictitious warm-up with the peloton in the background and post themselves on Strava with the hashtag #runningwiththeGOAT. Between two GoPro vlogs, some engage in strange scenes that probably annoy the locals.

The murmurs intensify as the peloton begins its final laps, and the tension to get a photo becomes palpable. The Falls are ready.

When Kipchoge and his group, their heads shining with effort, stop to catch their final breath, the crowd immediately rushes towards him in the center of the ring. After several forced photos, a trainer intervenes to free the star from the tumult, invaded by flags and shoes to sign.

The chaos intensifies when the mother of a Japanese influencer grabs his arm to immobilize him, recreating the crowd and even interrupting the flow of the track at the risk of violent collisions. The crowd doesn’t care and chants their pittance: “Eliud! Eliud! »

In a hurry, a few jerseys were branded, then, with the help of Jeff, our driver, the Falls succeeded in extremis to get a photo with the caption. A few strangers invite themselves into their shot with the energy of despair. Emotions are at their peak. Some are almost in tears.

Under pressure to smile, Eliud Kipchoge, mistreated, submits to the dictates of an era that only breathes through the prism of social networks.

The marathon runner attempts a final escape, but the crowd chases him into the parking lot, like a pack of hungry paparazzi. An absurd scene where even the fastest man in the world cannot escape his own glory. The poor man finds refuge in an SUV with tinted windows, speeding off like a celebrity on Hollywood Boulevard. His running companions observe the scene, nodding their heads as they change, accustomed to this type of improbable situation.

Many people leave empty-handed and crestfallen. In contrast, members of the Falls family display triumphant smiles as they swiping their loot.

No more foreigners walk the track. The last muzungus leave without finishing their warm-up. None of this is surprising, but the discomfort persists in the mouth; my lens also contributed to this sad circus.

At home, in this remote part of the world, an extraordinary celebrity confronts the customs of the North, probably wondering what bug has bitten them.

This report was produced thanks to a grant from the Fonds québécois en journalism international and published on September 22 in Urbania.

1. Eliud Kipchoge won the Berlin marathon on September 24 in 2 h 2 min 42 s.

2. Kelvin Kiptum broke the marathon world record in Chicago on October 8 in 2:00:35.