Lessons from the GOAT as he gears up for 2025 London Marathon
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Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 16.04.25. | 19:12
For Kipchoge, no training block is complete without the long run. It is a sacred staple for runners at all levels
In less than two weeks, marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge will lace up for a return to the streets of London for the 2025 London Marathon, slated for Sunday 27 April.
All eyes will be on the Kenyan great as he seeks to rebound from a tough 2024 season.
Last year was a humbling chapter for the two-time Olympic champion. Kipchoge finished a distant 10th at the Tokyo Marathon before recording the first Did Not Finish (DNF) of his decorated career at the Paris Olympics.
Adding to the turbulent season, Kipchoge missed his beloved Berlin Marathon due to travel complications, forcing him to watch from afar as a new champion was crowned.
But if there is one thing the marathoner has taught the world, it is that setbacks are just part, and not the end of the story.
As he plots his comeback, Kipchoge has shared the key lessons and philosophies that continue to guide him, on and off the track.
The power of the long run
For Kipchoge, no training block is complete without the long run. It is a sacred staple for runners at all levels.
“It is crucial to my marathon preparations, training the body and mind to master the distance. It normalises the effort and gives the body the experience it needs to push hard on race day,” Kipchoge shared in an interview with his sponsor, Coros.
A recent long run logged on his Coros Pace 3 reveals just how elite his training remains. He completed a 40km distance in 2:13 minutes. The average pace was 3:21 per kilometer, with 367 meters of elevation gain.
However, beyond the numbers, Kipchoge sees the long run as an emotional and mental checkpoint.
“Our long run starts before sunrise, so I wake up at 5.30 am in the morning. I focus on achieving a calm mind and visualizing the task ahead… then at 6 am, off we go,” he shared.
Training beyond running
Though his dominance is built on miles upon miles of running, he insists that is only one part of the equation. Strength training, recovery, nutrition, and mental preparation are all vital to peak performance.
“Strength and core exercises, and stretching, are needed to maintain a healthy body. I do ice baths and massages. I follow a nutritious diet that strengthens the body, and I have a good fueling strategy during training and races to keep energy high,” he revealed.
He went on to insist on the benefits of rest
“The body also needs its rest, so I go and rest during the day and sleep enough hours. I read books; I have fun; and I have good conversations with my teammates, family and friends to keep a well-balanced and happy mind,” he averred.
Mantras and mindset
At the heart of Kipchoge’s enduring greatness is his unshakeable mindset.
His guiding mantra is simple: “If you don’t control your mind, your mind will rule you.”
This philosophy keeps him grounded and laser-focused, even when the physical toll of training mounts.
“Focus on the next step, focus on your goal, and success will come,” he said.
To stay on course, Kipchoge lives by three golden rules: “Be disciplined, in life and training, don’t lie to yourself, there are no shortcuts in life; do the work wholeheartedly. Only when these three criteria are met will you succeed,” he concluded.
