Spikes22 Apr 2015


"I just focus on the road"

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Dennis Kimetto

Marathon world record holder Dennis Kimetto tells SPIKES he thinks he can go even quicker. Get in!

It's what athletics fans' dreams are made of: the fastest ever marathon runner is targeting a world record at this weekend’s London Marathon.

Dennis Kimetto, who made history in Berlin last year by running 26.2miles in a record-breaking 2:02:57, revealed exclusively to SPIKES that he could go faster in the British capital.

Having touched down in the UK on Wednesday morning ahead of Sunday’s race, Kimetto believes the conditions are right for an assault on his own world record.

“Maybe it can go lower, maybe to 2:02:40 or 2:02:30,” the softly-spoken Kenyan said.

“It’s not too cold, there’s not too much wind and no sun. Running in these conditions is good.”


The 31-year-old, who hasn't ruled out a tilt at the marathon at this year's world championships, added that his good shape going into Berlin was the reason he was able to become the first person ever to dip under the two-hour and three-minute mark. And he said he's feeling equally strong ahead of the 35th running of the London Marathon.

“I was feeling good for the record [in Berlin], and I hope again to break it. Maybe in Berlin again, maybe here.”

This year's London Marathon is being billed as the battle of the titans, with Kimetto up against former world record holder and two-time London champ Wilson Kipsang. But the strength of the start list extends well beyond these two titans, and has the ingredients to push someone to post a seriously fast time.

Joining the pair on the start line will be second fastest ever marathoner Emanuel Mutai and 2011 London champ Geoffrey Mutai. The four great rivals are also fantastic friends, and they will be completing training runs along the River Thames with each other in preparation for Sunday.

But come race day, Kimetto says his focus will not be on the competition, nor the crowds or the surroundings. 

“I just focus on the race. I don’t notice them [the crowd], or see the others [runners]. I focus only on the race. I just focus on the road.”