BERLIN, GERMANY, September 24 — Eliud Kipchoge professes that “every race is a learning lesson” and in this year’s Berlin Marathon the Kenyan legend learned that he is a very tough act to follow as he fell short of matching the drama and speed of last year’s 2:01:09 WR and had to settle for a very solid 2:02:48 win.
“The lesson is that your plan may not go according to what you want, that is sport and you need to accept it,” Kipchoge said. “I am fortunate enough to win in the eighth-fastest time [equal-No. 8, to be exact]. I missed the World Record, but something else came in, to be the first human since the Berlin Marathon is organized to win five times. That is also something special and I am happy for it.”
Heading into the race, Kipchoge’s four Berlin wins in 2015, 2017, 2018WR, and 2022WR, matched Haile Gebrselassie’s four straight titles 2006–09. Not only did Kipchoge’s fifth win send him past Gebrselassie, but the 2:02:48 clocking gives him 5 of the 9 fastest all-time performances.
With far better offers on the table Kipchoge was drawn to Berlin by the prospects of a fifth win, the possibility of another WR quest, and the opportunity to reassert his preeminence after his misfortune (6th) in Boston back in April.
Two out of three isn’t bad as Kipchoge matched his rapid start last year in Berlin, zipping the opening 13K at 1:59:56 pace and crossing halfway in 60:22. While the cool and calm weather urged a fast start, the 52-degree dewpoint left Kipchoge challenged by the “heavy air” in the second half.
Fortunately for the Kenyan master, the power and efficiency that allows him to string together 2:50 kilometers also has value for preserving a lead and maintaining sub-3:00 kilometers without cracking.
The deceleration was slow but steady, as he dropped to 2:01:32 pace at 30K (1:26:25), and running solo slipped to 2:01:57 pace at 35K (1:41:10), with his lead down to 47 seconds. Kipchoge never faltered and he was able to hold off the hard-charging chase pack to score a 31-second win.
The winner admitted, “I was really not in a good way at the end of it as I had a little bit of hiccups, but that is normal in racing. We had a good plan, but honestly the last 10K was disappointing, but that is sport, we are human.”
While the closing pace was disappointing, with the win in his grasp Eliud…
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