by Larry Eder
Eliud KIpchoge, winner 2015 Virgin London Marathon, photo by PhotoRun.net
The pace was relentless as the best of the best went off the pack. It was down to three when, Dennis Kimetto, he of most recent World Record was gone.
And now, it was down to Dennis Kimetto and Eliud KIpchoge. They pushed it other like no two other marathoners in the world could do. A 4:33 final mile, and finally, with 600 meters to go, the 2003 World Champion at 5,000 meters sprinted away from Wilson Kipsang, the former world record holder in the Marathon, London winner and Olympic bronze medalist.
Five seconds separated Eliud Kipchoge and Wilson Kipsang at the finish of the London Marathon. Perhaps the most satisfying London marathon in some time, Eliud Kipchoge, who has won four of his five marathons, is the zen master, the Obi-Wan of the marathon, with his decade long tenure racing cross country, track and now, the roads. A complete racer, Eliud then gave a coaches clinic in the media room, reminding all who listened that if you wanted to be the best, then go “old school”: run cross country, then, track, then, the marathon.
Many were taking notes.
For the man who smiles at the ends of his marathon, we give Eliud Kipchoge our April 2015 Global Athlete of the Year award. The battle between Kipchoge and Kipsang was much more satisfying than a boxing match, and with much more drama as well!
