Marathon Great Joshua Cheptegei is set on widening horizons in his Olympic career at this year’s Valencia Marathon scheduled for December 3, 2023.
The reigning Olympic 5000m champion is currently making final preparations and training hard at his Teryet National High Altitude Training Centre in Kapchorwa District.
Last week, this reporter visited the training facility located in Kwoti Sub-County, just a few metres from the government’s high-altitude training centre.
Sitting on a low chair, Cheptegei wore training gear and a heavy jacket to combat the coldness characteristic of an altitude of approximately 2,200 meters above the sea.
Around him, seated in a circle, were other athletes playing cards and cheering loudly. They also came to this facility for training.
In his calm demeanour, Cheptegei looked relaxed for a man with a big task ahead- the 2023 Valencia Marathon.
Cheptegei won gold in the 10,000 metres race at the World Athletics Championships in Hungary on August 20, 2023 – following in the footsteps of field track names like Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele and Mo Farah.
He set two world records in the coastal Spanish city: a 10km world record in 2019 and broke Kenenisa Bekele’s 15-year-old record in the 10,000m in 2020.
The double world record holder, who draws his inspiration from Kenyan marathon legend, Eliud Kipchoge, shared his expectations ahead of his debut marathon on 3 December with Olympics.com and explained how the outcome could shape his Olympic year.
“What is very important is just to enjoy the race and try to see what happens after 35 kilometres because it’s something new for me,” he told Olympics.com, adding: “I have to really be sure that I can handle the distance.”
Getting ready for the track
His coach, Assistant Superintendent of Police Benjamin Njia, said Cheptegei is getting ready for the next challenge.
“He has a series of work plans. At the moment, he is [preparing] for the Valencia Marathon on the 3rd of December. He [will] be doing the 42km…that is his next step,” Njia told SoftPower News on Wednesday, November 15.
“For me, I feel two weeks from now, he will be doing the Valencia Marathon,” added Njia, who doubles as the Uganda Police Athletics Club.
The Joshua Cheptegei Development Foundation Programmes Director, Abraham Kiplimo, extolled Cheptegei for inspiring the Sebei sub-region and Uganda as a whole.
“I still wish him the best in his career. On 3rd December, he will have his first debut in the marathon, which is 42km in Valencia. From the training [sessions], I can see that he is focused,” Kiplimo told SoftPower News at JOCDEF offices in Kapchorwa town.
“When he (Cheptegei) is on the field, he doesn’t care who has come (opponent). That is what has motivated him to achieve a lot in his career. He is still achieving more. He is a unique gentleman.”
Asked whether he thinks Cheptegei is ready for the next milestone, Kiplimo affirmed.
“He is ready. He has no doubts or any reason not to go and feature there. He says he is ready for the marathon.”
World cross-country champion, Jacob Kiplimo, on Sunday continued his return to racing with a stunning performance at the NN Zevenheuvelenloop in Nijmegen, equalling the world 15km best with 41:05.
Ugandans are looking forward to Cheptegei’s next record a week from now.
