How I tamed Kenyans in marathon battles

British's long distance runner Paula Radcliffe addressing press conference at EKA Hotel, Nairobi, Sunday, December 19, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Former women’s world marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe is glad to be the stroke that broke the Kenya and Ethiopia’s dominance in marathon.

Radcliffe yesterday laid bare the secret behind her meteoric rise in women’s marathon that saw her set a record that lasted for 16 years.

“I had a great team behind my back that inspired me,” she said. “I broke into the senior ranks in 1992. I had a lot of European inspirations who motivated me.”

“They showed me it was possible to compete with the Kenyans and Ethiopians, run well and win,” she said at a press conference yesterday at Eka hotel, Nairobi.

“While young Kenyan girls started the sport and believed they would dominate because everyone else was already doing so, to me, the doors were already opened so I tried not to put a barrier on them,” she added.

Radcliffe believes hard work enabled her get the best in athletics including setting the legendary 2:15:25 record that stood between 2003-2019.

The time was ultimately broken by Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei.

“When I look back, I feel happy that I gave my all in those races. I’m also glad I played a huge part in the development of women’s  marathon race,” she said.

“Brigid had a great run breaking that record and this shows that women now believe they can go to greater heights, and their athletics standards have really improved,” said Radcliffe while adding that improved new shoes have raised the standards of marathon running across the world.

Radcliffe will preside over an 80km (50mile) race, dubbed the Great Equator Relay on Friday, which will be held in Eldoret.

Several Kenyan athletics legends are expected to join the former world marathon record holder and her family in the run that will begin at the Equator in Timboroa, before ending in a site where Shoe4Africa will be laying the foundation for a 152-bed pediatric cancer centre.

According to organisers, the health facility cater for children with cancer.

Radcliffe, whose daughter Isla was diagnosed with cancer in 2019, will run in 5km category, according to organisers led by former 3000m steeplechase world record holder Moses Kiptanui. Kiptanui, who will also run in the 5km relay.

Athletics stars including Olympic 5000m bronze medallist Paul Chelimo and Haron Lagat, both from the US, will run 10km. Lagat runs for the US Army.

Former 800m world champion Janeth Jepkosgei will race in 2km, alongside marathon legend Mary Keitany.

Paula Radcliffe [photo courtesy]

Steeplechase gold medallist (Barcelona 1992) Mathew Birir, former London marathon winner Emmanuel Mutai and former 800m Commonwealth champion Japheth Kimutai will also be in action in the Christmas eve charity race.

After the 50km charity relay Radcliffe’s daughter Isla will break ground for the hospital.

Shoe4Africa established a children’s hospital at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in 2015. It has also established six schools through athletics fundraising.

“I have in numerous races, but this one is more special, more meaningful, and impactful. I am participating in the race against pediatric cancers. In 2010, I ran from the shores of Mombasa to the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise money to build East & Central Africa’s first public children’s hospital,” Shoe4Africa CEO Toby Tansen said in a statement.

“We opened that hospital five years later and in seven years, it has served over 750,000 children. Now, the second race begins!”