by Larry EderIf you want to understand, or perhaps appreciate, just how far Eliud Kipchoge has reached into the global culture, then, look no farther. I have posted below instagram posts from art culture biannual 032c, and also from footwear artist Virgil Abloh.
This interview is from 032c.com, an iconic and important art and culture magazine, based in Berlin, and published in English. I love Berlin and its art scene. I call Berlin the city of San Francisco, but in German. It is one of my favorite cities.
Virgil Abloh, a footwear artist, flew from Paris to Berlin to meet with Eliud Kipchoge to discuss running, his footwear and his stature in the sport. Abloh noted that his running made the footwear even more important.
To read Abloh’s interview of Eliud Kipchoge (which is nicely done): 032c.com/kipchoge-abloh-berlin-marathon
For the last month, those on the inside (replace with the word: geek) of the marathon world were talking effusively, perhaps almost drooling about the battle in Berlin. Eliud Kipchoge, then, Wilson Kipsang, then, Kenenisa Bekele. After the Monza, Italy event, know at @breaking2, few would contest that Eliud Kipchoge is THE MARATHON MAN.
For this observer, Eliud Kipchoge has been a star since he showed up at the Stade De France and took the World Championships 5000 meter from Hicham El Guerrouj and Kenenisa Bekele, who, all the experts said, would be the winners. The You Tube video is so wonderful; Eliud KIpchoge, a very young one, at 18, is kicking like a madman over the last 200 meters, as the announcer notes that he will not win.
Au contraire, mes amis, Eliud Kipchoge won in a amazingly close race! After ten years on the track, Eliud Kipchoge moved to the roads. His entree into the marathon took three solid years, but his background of cross country, track and road racing made sense.
I recall his presser after Virgin Money in London, in 2016, when Eliud Kipchoge spoke about his development and how he was ‘old school’.
After Monza, everyone knew about the man who tried to run 2 hours, and ran 2:00.25. I am not going to waste our time on the record shtick. It was an amazing run.
His run Berlin yesterday was very significant, because, Eliud Kipchoge ran a real race, with Mother Nature and a debutanta at the marathon, Guye Adola, ran so close to Eliud Kipchoge, that the zen master got a bit upset, see picture below.
Guye Adola and Eliud Kipchoge, 2017 BMW Berlin, in a chat during the race, photo by PhotoRun.net
People forget, marathons, running near your very best for two hours, plus are stressful. When all the world media notes that you are the best, an athlete like Eliud Kipchoge, who is truly unique, seems to thrive on the stress. After 30 plus kilometers, there was drama in the race. Eliud took the lead after 40 kilometers and went for his win. Mother Nature pushed the entire field and while Eliud did not get the world record, it may have been better than a WR. There was drama, there was soggy weather which complicated the race conditions, and there was the unknown factor of Guye Adola.
It was a real, live race.
Virgil Abloh is one of the finest intepreters of footwear in our world. His appreciation of Eliud KIpchoge comes through in this clean shoe that combines a stoic interpretation of running footwear and a fashion sense. I like it.
