by Larry Eder
Ezekiel Chebii, photo by PhotoRun.net
Today, @runblogrun met with Ezekiel Chebii at the 2017 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Ezekiel Chebii look ready for the big race. What will he do in his first World Marathon Majors?
Ezekiel Chebii is a mild mannered, thoughtful Kenyan marathoner who has run 59:05 for the half marathon and has a 2:06:07 from 2016.
“I have run 13:42 for 5000 meters, but I have spent most of my racing on the roads,” noted Ezekiel in an interview with @runblogrun. In 2010, Ezekial ran sub 28 minutes on the roads for 10k. He took that speed and began to run fast half marathons in 2011 and 2012.
Ezekiel admitted he really liked the half marathon distance (where he ran 59:05 in Lille, France in 2012) distance. Now, as he focuses on marathon training, he does few races during his build up.
In 2017, Ezekiel ran a 1:03:40 for the half marathon at the Zwolle Half marathon (June 10) for fourth place. This was after his 2:09:06 in the famous Lake Biwa Marathon on March 3, 2017. Knowing that his fitness was much higher than a 2:09, Ezekiel was challenged by the winds that challenged him nearly each and every step.
“This is my first World Marathon Majors, ” noted a smiling Ezekiel. “It is also my first time in America, and I like Chicago.”
Chebii’s last three marathons were interesting, with a sixth in Hamburg (April 17, 206), in 2:12:45. In October (10/5/16), Ezekiel ran his PB of 2:06:06, placing fifth. And in March 2017, in the tough windy conditions of Lake Biwa, Ezekiel ran a 2:09:06.
Ezekiel was very proud of his buildup to Chicago. He trains with Abel Kirui, Eliud Kipchoge and his brother, Abraham Chebii (remeber Abraham on the track, with his 12:52.99 PB from Oslo in 2003?). Ezekiel told me that his brother still trains, but is not that fast anymore.
Ezekiel Chebii has the speed and strength to run a fast marathon. Watch Ezekiel Chebii at the 2017 Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8. Ezekiel wants to show World Marathon Majors that they made the right choice in bringing him to Chicago. Ezekiel Chebii has something to prove.
