Another pair of world beaters to be discovered at the Kass Marathon on Sunday 17th November

Valary Aiyabei winning the 2019 Frankfurt Marathon in a new course record

The two marathon runners who may have gotten many asking about their past records in running after their amazing recent performances in New York City and Frankfurt Marathons are Albert Korir and Valary Aiyabei Jemeli. Korir finished second behind Geoffrey Kamworor in New York this month while Jemeli ran a solo run to win the Frankfurt marathon last month in a new course record of 2:19:10 and the fifth-fastest time for women this year. She is currently ranked third in the Athletics World marathon rankings.



Coincidentally, both runners won the men and women titles at the 2015 Kass Marathon event. The two were little-known until their feat at this annual marathon that traverses the two counties of Nandi and Uasin Gishu.

ALL EYES ON STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAI MARATHON AFTER FORMER WINNERS ARE CROWNED "WORLD’S BEST"

Ruth Chepngetich winning the 2019 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon

Below is a news release from the Dubai Marathon:

- 21st Staging To Be Held On January 24, 2020 -



Dubai, (UAE): Following the crowning of Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon winners Lelisa Desisa and Ruth Chepngetich as Marathon Runners of the Year, all eyes will now turn to the 21st staging of the Middle East’s premier marathon on January 24 and the potential emergence of new running talent.

2019 Athens Marathon live streaming video

What to follow after the IAAF scraps the 3,000m Steeplechase, the 5,000m and the 10,000m races from the 2020 Diamond League calendar

Beatrice Chepkoech after setting a world record for the women 3000m steeplechase

The time-table for the 2020 Diamond League competitions is now finally out. The 3000m steeplechase event will not be in the finals. The 5,000m and 10,000m races will no longer be featured in the meetings. This out of a decision made earlier in the year by the IAAF governing council.



Interestingly, some statistics have it that Kenyan runners have won roughly over 40% of all titles in the long-distance races. Their Eastern African neighbors, especially from Ethiopia and Uganda have also been doing well in these distances. Despite the reduction in the number of meetings where athletes would get the opportunity to run these events, the Olympic qualifying standards in these events have also been elevated to almost unattainable times.

World recorld holders in half marathon, Joyciline Jepkosgei and Geoffrey Kamworor lead Kenyans to 1-2 finishes at the 2019 New York City Marathon

Geoffrey Kamworor on way to winning a past New York City Maraton

With the double screens on the TV that made sure fans would not miss the action in the men’s race while watching the women’s race at the same time and the alerts from the mobile phone application whenever athletes crossed some particular points in the race, this year’s New York City marathon was truly exciting to watch. 

Geoffrey Kamworor remained calm and patient almost throughout the men’s race until they broke away with Albert Korir in the last few kilometers of the race.

As they approached the 39km point, Korir glanced back. It was an indication that perhaps he was mentally preparing himself to secure the second position and was just trying to stick with Kamworor to make sure he was safely well ahead of the runner behind them. He then allowed Kamworor to slowly open up a gap ahead of him as he followed with occasional back glances.

A 12-minute improvement at the 2019 New York City Marathon for my athlete!

Duncan Nyasinga running at the 2019 NYC marathon

I have never raced at the New York City marathon before, but I was the closest ever to the experience of running it this year as I tracked one of the runners I coach online who was running it.


Duncan Nyasinga approached me in late August this year to help him prepare for the 2019 New York City Marathon. His aim was to better his personal best time on race day.

“I came across your name through the internet after being mentioned by my Canadian friend. I am currently in the NYC area and planning to stay and run the 2019 NYC marathon. My best time is 2:40:21 for the full marathon,” he had written to me via email.

“I know I am capable and I believe there are no limits on humanity. I have a passion to run and I have been following YouTube clips of Kipchoge as he prepared for the Nike under 2hr project and the current 1:59 project which helped me run the 2018 NYC time of 2:45:23,” he had added.

Although he had at first told me that he didn’t have money to pay upfront for a coach at that moment, I trusted him and agreed to begin giving him training programs in advance, but he actually paid for my services sooner than I had expected after he began training with me. I could see his determination to improve his running, and it was very exciting to work with him in the 11 weeks that followed before his race this past weekend, the 3rd of November 2019.

Interestingly, not only did he get to improve his time at the New York City marathon this year, but he miraculously got to meet and briefly chat with his role model, Eliud Kipchoge himself at the finish line!



The evening before the race, he had given me his bib number so that I would track him during the race. He also called and we discussed the race strategy taking into account the topography and the nature of the New York marathon’s course. Our plan was to go out at a pace well ahead of his targeted time in the first half of the race, then try and balance that in the last half making sure he fought to remain inside the targeted time.

Brigid Kosgei’s recognition in Kenya after breaking the women marathon’s world record in Chicago

Brigid Kosgei with Paula Radcliffe at the Chicago Marathon

I was lucky to meet Brigid Kosgei’s coach and mentor this weekend in Nairobi during the annual Nairobi Marathon. I was even luckier to get to travel with him all the way from Nairobi to Eldoret, for almost seven hours and learnt quite a lot about the state of training currently in Brigid Kosgei’s camp and how she has been doing just after breaking the world record.



In this current world where money and a good number of years’ experience is often needed in almost any undertaking in life; be it to look for a job, to get education, to start a business, among others; people who begin from a humble beginning, turn their misfortunes in life into opportunities and end up successful in life are highly regarded in the society. When everything else seems to fail for a dedicated, hard-working and focused individual, running is often the option that can work in ensuring that they make it in life.

2019 New York City Marathon Live Streaming Video

2019 Istanbul Marathon Live Streaming Video