This archive report was first published on 5 June 2020.
Published on June 5, 2020
World marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge has expressed his support for virtual races as the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking on the virtual marathon dubbed MA RA TH ON, Kipchoge emphasized the importance of unity among runners during this challenging time.
The virtual team relay, organized by the Netherlands NN Running team and Maurten, will see athletes cover 10.5 kilometers in groups of four.
Notable athletes participating in the event include Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei, Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele, and Dutch's Abdi Negeye, all under the NN Running stable.
According to Kipchoge, the primary goal of the race is to bring runners together and demonstrate solidarity in the face of the pandemic.
"It will be an interesting race, and personally, I will either run on Saturday or Sunday. The main thing is not to win anything but to run as one family as we continue with the fight against the COVID-19," Kipchoge said.
He also highlighted the significance of the event, stating, "The aim is to participate and tell the world that we are together and we shall survive and come out of the situation strong."
With over 100,000 fans registered for the event, Kipchoge encouraged Kenyans to organize similar virtual races to raise money for charity and support health workers during the pandemic.
