Eliud Kipchoge's Sports Injuries

One of the most tragic stories in the sporting world in 2024 was the death of young Kenyan marathoner Kelvin Kiptum, who had recently broken the world record in the Chicago Marathon with a time of 2 hours and 35 seconds. Despite having run only three marathons in his career, Kiptum was a phenomenal athlete, and many believed he was on pace to break the 2-hour barrier in his next marathon. Tragically, on February 11, he died in a car crash just outside of Capot, Kenya, along with his coach. Following his death, online trolls began making unfounded accusations against Eliud Kipchoge, another prominent marathoner, claiming he was involved in Kiptum's death. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, these accusations led to death threats and severe harassment against Kipchoge, affecting his personal life and training. Kipchoge, who has always been supportive of other runners and had congratulated Kiptum on his world record, faced significant distress and had to alter his daily routines to ensure his family's safety. The situation highlights the damaging effects of misinformation and the lack of policing on social media platforms. Kipchoge's ordeal underscores the need for accountability for those who spread false information, which can lead to real-world consequences. The running world mourns the loss of Kelvin Kiptum and hopes to remember his legacy moving into the Olympic Games.

Eliud Kipchoge, the greatest marathoner of all time, finished 6th in this year's Boston Marathon with a time of 2:09:23. There have been many theories about why he didn't perform as expected. One theory is that missing his water bottle after the 30 km split affected his nutrition, but this alone doesn't seem to account for his performance drop. Another theory suggests that the rain made his Nike Alpha Fly shoes heavier, which could have strained his legs. Kipchoge himself mentioned post-race that he had difficulty lifting his left leg, possibly due to the heavier shoes. Additionally, Kipchoge's strategy of running upfront as a pacesetter likely caused him to expend more energy, putting him at a disadvantage. The cold, rainy weather and Boston's challenging hills also played a role. Despite these challenges, Kipchoge still finished with a respectable time. His previous losses in rainy conditions suggest rain might be a significant factor for him. Looking ahead, Kipchoge may use this experience to come back stronger in future races.

Elliot Kipchoge experienced a rare loss in the 2024 Tokyo Marathon, finishing in 10th place, his lowest marathon finish ever. Various theories emerged about the reasons for his performance, including issues with his shoes, pacing, and the weather. However, the shoe theory was debunked as he had successfully used the same model in the previous Berlin Marathon. The race pace was extremely fast, with Kipchoge running the first half at a world-record pace. He started to fade after 20 km, completing the half marathon in 1 hour and 30 seconds and finishing the race in 2 hours 6 minutes and 50 seconds, indicating a significant positive split. Kipchoge mentioned something went wrong mid-race but was uncertain about the specifics, attributing it to a bad day. The sunny weather might have contributed to his early fatigue. Despite slowing down, Kipchoge maintained a decent pace, showcasing his resilience. Benson Kipruto won the race, breaking the course record with a time of 2 hours 2 minutes and 16 seconds. Kipchoge's future in marathons, especially regarding the Kenyan Olympic team selection for Paris, remains uncertain but likely favorable given his impressive track record. His 10th place finish, while not his best, still demonstrated his determination and endurance.