This archive report was first published on 11 May 2020.
On March 8, 2020, Vincent Kipchumba led the pack in the 21km race during the Beyond Zero Half Marathon at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, ultimately winning the event.
However, his plans for a debut at the London Marathon on April 26 were derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Vienna Marathon champion had been training for months, but the virus forced him to endure long nights, wondering if his hard work would be for nothing.
But with the announcement that the London Marathon may be rescheduled for October 4, Kipchumba has something to look forward to. The 29-year-old believes that a return to action will be a welcome relief for athletes who have continued training in the hopes of a return to normalcy.
“I have no idea if the battle against coronavirus will have been won. But I can’t sit here doing nothing, I will keep on training, even on my own to make sure, I will be ready to answer the call when the marathon competitions resumes,” Kipchumba said.
As Kipchumba prepares for the London Marathon, he is motivated by the prospect of running against his mentor, Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, and Berlin Marathon champion Kenenisa Bekele. He hopes to improve his personal best time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 56 seconds, which he achieved at the Vienna City marathon last year.
