As we are at the end of Black History Month, we want to highlight the fantastic athlete that Kelvin Kiptum was. At only 24 years old, he recently set the world record for the Marathon at 2:00:35 in Chicago, only a few months before his tragic death.
At such a young age, Kiptum became a source of inspiration for countless individuals worldwide. His resilience in the face of adversity and unwavering determination to succeed inspired others to pursue their dreams with passion and purpose. Throughout his career, Kiptum achieved remarkable feats that solidified his status as one of the most promising talents in the world of athletics. Starting at the young age of 13, Kiptum was self-coached until 2021, when he began working with Gervais Hakizimana, where he began running upwards of 180 miles a week–an unheard-of training schedule before him.
With the help of Hakizimana, Kiptum emulated Prehab’s mission to live a healthy lifestyle by doing 80 percent of his runs at an easy pace. Easy runs are detrimental to improving overall endurance and cardiovascular health while also preventing overuse injuries. At Prehab, we strive to stay committed to preventing all injuries through gait analysis and running-specific strength training to allow you to enjoy your runs without pain.
Tragically, Kiptum’s life was cut short in a devastating accident this past month that sent shockwaves through the world of running. He had the potential to break 2 hours in the marathon set for April, and although he was not able to reach this, he will still forever be remembered in history as one of the best marathon runners in the world. We can still learn a lot from Kiptum, not just his running form and training style but also how he lived his life, always looking forward to the next race and enjoying every stride along the way.
