Cheptegei prepares for bold entry into marathon arena

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After much anticipation, the long-awaited switch to marathon running marks the final leg of Joshua Cheptegei's journey in mainstream athletics.  

At 26 years old, Cheptegei will, for the first time in his professional career, participate in a marathon event, facing fierce and seasoned competitors.  

The Uganda Police Athletics Club's Cheptegei is set to showcase his talent at the Valencia Marathon on December 3. It is indeed a significant shift in his career. 

Cheptegei and his Global Sports Communication management team announced the decision in early July, in Spain.   

“I feel it is time to expand my horizon, I have been running on the track for 10 years now,” he revealed.   

“I have always had full focus on track, knowing a full marathon was waiting for me. It is an ambition I am really excited to go for. It will be new and challenging,” he said.  

The running legend has enjoyed a true sense of accomplishment on the track; winning major titles and shattering global records, time and time again.  

To be exact, between 2018 and 2022, Cheptegei recorded 22 race wins – simply an unprecedented achievement. 

But 2023 has been rough for the Olympic gold winner, having managed only one win which came at the San Silvestre Vallecana in Madrid on New Year’s Day.   

His personal coach, Addy Ruiter, told New Vision the decision was a wise one. 

“It is something we have been carefully planning for,” Ruiter said.     

“For us, and particularly him to continue being motivated, it is time for a new adventure and challenge,” Ruiter added. 

Sports minister Peter Ogwang and World back-to-back champion Joshua Cheptegei in a conversation days after the latter announced his decision to switch to marathon. (Credit: Javier Silas Omagor)

Tough act to follow 

The Government through the Ministry of Education and Sports, has acknowledged the decision by the country’s most accomplished athlete.  

“Uganda cannot thank Cheptegei enough for the last ten years of total commitment and enormous success on the track,” sports minister Peter Ogwang told New Vision Sport in an exclusive interview.   

"Cheptegei's track legacy is immortal by any standard and it will be the source of inspiration for many generations. It is hard to even imagine that Cheptegei will be replaced on track because that is close to impossible,” Ogwang said. 

The minister added the Cheptegei was an assured medal on the track in every major competition for Uganda.   

“But when he shared with me about his decision to switch to marathon, I told him as Government, we are indebted to him and cannot wait to see more victories in his new field," he stated. 

Before his complete switch, the back-to-back world champion will represent Uganda at the World Championships in Budapest and at the 2024 Paris Olympics Games.  

“We at the Ministry of Sports and the entire country expect Cheptegei to sign out (from the track) on a high by producing another memorable performance in Hungary and France.  

“I now would love to challenge the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) to quickly and carefully identify the next Cheptegeis on track,” Ogwang said.  

Joshua Cheptegei with his coach Addy Ruiter. File Photo

Right time 

UAF president Dominic Otucet said the time was just right for Cheptegei to make the leap from the track to the full marathon.   

“I think it is the right decision at the right time,” Otucet acknowledged.   

“When an athlete excels in 10,000m (as Cheptegei has done), it is a natural and normal trend for them to upgrade to half marathon and later to full marathon. I believe he is going to enter this stage by storm,” Otucet added.   

In this transition, Cheptegei will learn that the course length of 42.19 isn’t the only difference he will have to contend with; the training and fuel requirements will need to be adjusted too.  

With the race already booked and the date fixed, Cheptegei’s camp has started to plan geared towards his fitness levels and make sure they all have reasonable expectations.   

Although one needs to put in a solid amount of running time (1-year minimum) before undertaking a full marathon, Cheptegei is taking a different path. 

“It is still more than three months to go after Budapest,” Ruiter said.   

Kissa key 

One more vital thing; the pacing is vital for both half and full marathons but particularly important for the full.   

It could be against that background that renowned pacesetter, Stephen Kissa transitioned into a full marathon before Cheptegei’s decision.  

Kissa who has mastered the art of combining well with Cheptegei to win majors, transitioned into the full marathon in early 2022.   

Stephen Kissa. File Photo

He broke Felix Malewa Chemonges’ national record when he finished second at the Hamburg Marathon in 2:05:48.  

At the Chicago marathon in October 2022, he placed 21st after stepping in a hole, and while at the Tokyo Marathon in March, the Kapchorwa-born long-distance specialist suffered a cramp in the left leg. 

Despite breaking the national record, Kissa has struggled but he is steadily soaking up all the experience of running a full marathon and this must be music to Cheptegei’s ears.   

It will be interesting to see how Cheptegei adjusts in an arena where coaches often advise new marathon runners to make sure they are running at a slow, consistent pace for the first third of the race, before incrementally picking up the speed as they get closer to the finish line. 

His Police coach Benjamin Njia has challenged Cheptegei to embark on strategy and get his homework going.  

“It is a good move as he is progressing to that level, but he needs to start working towards it,” Njia who also doubles as UAF vice president technical, said.  

He will also need a heck of a lot more motivation as he prepares to cut his teeth in a full marathon.  

Cheptegei can also rely on the reigning world marathon record holder, Eluid Kipchoge, who is not only his close friend but also a training partner with whom he shares a management team. 

The country now waits with bated breath in the hope that Uganda’s best-ever athlete takes to his new assignment like a duck to water.