Vinay Nayudu
Doha
In what turned out to be one of the toughest women’s marathon, Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich put mind over matter to overcome challenging conditions to win the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 midnight marathon on Friday and emerge as a great champion.
At 29.5 degrees Celsius and 73.3% humidity, the unfortunate lack of breeze which usually blows over the sea at Corniche only added to the difficulty. This made the human test of endurance turn into a battle of survival with nearly a third of the 70 starters failing to make the finish line.
For the 25-year-old Chepngetich though, it was about keeping the faith. And the delight on her face could only be seen to realise as she threw her hands in the air going past the fireworks clocking two hours, 32 minutes, 43 seconds --- understandably her slowest ever time.
The Kenyan’s effort in the end turned out to be so good that it saw Bahrain’s defending world champion Rose Chelimo settling for the silver while Namibia’s Helalia Johannes took the bronze.
Exhausted, yet giving a thumbs up to all her Kenyan and local fans who had lined up along the promenade and cheered her till the wee hours, Chepngetich struggled while speaking to journalists.
But she did and in her native language Swahili. She explained how her prayers got answered just when she thought of giving it up! "When I went ahead, I realised that the humidity was too much but I decided to keep my pace. Then the others followed me and I couldn’t shape them out.
"At some point I was giving up and then I went on to pray to God and I said give me the strength to persevere just as the same way I had prayed before the race to win. And then I felt good.”
The all-time number three in the world behind British world record holder Paula Radcliffe (2:15:25), and compatriot Mary Jepkosgei Keitany (2:17:01), Chepngetich needed the initial five kilometers of the total 42.195 km floodlit course to figure what it was all about.
"After five kilometres I decided okay let me try my best. And then I went on using my pace and that’s how it was.”
The profusely sweating and energy-sapped athlete’s effort was worth its effort in gold as she became a world champion. But she was quick to add, "Now I am looking ahead and I want to be an Olympic medallist!”
Chepngetich , who has been excelling at big time marathons the last two years, says she would definitely try to become the fastest ever. "I’ve run third fastest half marathon in Dubai (2:17:07). I’ll try my best and I’ll just pray to God. But I think in future I can do it if I am healthy enough.”
A great admirer of Kenyan men’s marathoner and current world record holder Eluid Kipchoge, Chepngetich also provided valuable tips to the men who’d be running their event at Doha Worlds on October 5.
"For the men, I’d like to tell them that this weather is not easy at all. Use your brains and not strength. Just use your brains and pray hard. Because, this race is very tough. Just persevere and don’t give up. If you do that, you will still win like I did!,” she said, adding, "I have opened the way for the Kenyans, I hope so and let’s not let down the Kenyan people.”
"I was so wishing for this world medal because Kipchoge has kept the Kenyan flag flying high and I really admire that and I thought I should do the same. When I look back, I look at Kipchoge and how I really admired being like him but I know I’m almost there.”
Chepngetich tale of guts, gumption and glory in Doha shall inspire many for long and that the journey began when the clock struck at midnight will only add to the allure!
Doha
In what turned out to be one of the toughest women’s marathon, Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich put mind over matter to overcome challenging conditions to win the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 midnight marathon on Friday and emerge as a great champion.
At 29.5 degrees Celsius and 73.3% humidity, the unfortunate lack of breeze which usually blows over the sea at Corniche only added to the difficulty. This made the human test of endurance turn into a battle of survival with nearly a third of the 70 starters failing to make the finish line.
For the 25-year-old Chepngetich though, it was about keeping the faith. And the delight on her face could only be seen to realise as she threw her hands in the air going past the fireworks clocking two hours, 32 minutes, 43 seconds --- understandably her slowest ever time.
The Kenyan’s effort in the end turned out to be so good that it saw Bahrain’s defending world champion Rose Chelimo settling for the silver while Namibia’s Helalia Johannes took the bronze.
Exhausted, yet giving a thumbs up to all her Kenyan and local fans who had lined up along the promenade and cheered her till the wee hours, Chepngetich struggled while speaking to journalists.
But she did and in her native language Swahili. She explained how her prayers got answered just when she thought of giving it up! "When I went ahead, I realised that the humidity was too much but I decided to keep my pace. Then the others followed me and I couldn’t shape them out.
"At some point I was giving up and then I went on to pray to God and I said give me the strength to persevere just as the same way I had prayed before the race to win. And then I felt good.”
The all-time number three in the world behind British world record holder Paula Radcliffe (2:15:25), and compatriot Mary Jepkosgei Keitany (2:17:01), Chepngetich needed the initial five kilometers of the total 42.195 km floodlit course to figure what it was all about.
"After five kilometres I decided okay let me try my best. And then I went on using my pace and that’s how it was.”
The profusely sweating and energy-sapped athlete’s effort was worth its effort in gold as she became a world champion. But she was quick to add, "Now I am looking ahead and I want to be an Olympic medallist!”
Chepngetich , who has been excelling at big time marathons the last two years, says she would definitely try to become the fastest ever. "I’ve run third fastest half marathon in Dubai (2:17:07). I’ll try my best and I’ll just pray to God. But I think in future I can do it if I am healthy enough.”
A great admirer of Kenyan men’s marathoner and current world record holder Eluid Kipchoge, Chepngetich also provided valuable tips to the men who’d be running their event at Doha Worlds on October 5.
"For the men, I’d like to tell them that this weather is not easy at all. Use your brains and not strength. Just use your brains and pray hard. Because, this race is very tough. Just persevere and don’t give up. If you do that, you will still win like I did!,” she said, adding, "I have opened the way for the Kenyans, I hope so and let’s not let down the Kenyan people.”
"I was so wishing for this world medal because Kipchoge has kept the Kenyan flag flying high and I really admire that and I thought I should do the same. When I look back, I look at Kipchoge and how I really admired being like him but I know I’m almost there.”
Chepngetich tale of guts, gumption and glory in Doha shall inspire many for long and that the journey began when the clock struck at midnight will only add to the allure!