WEBVTT - Live from Kenya with Marathon Champ Sharon Lokedi 0:00:00.330 --> 0:00:03.000 For me to get here, it wasn't easy. And for 0:00:03.000 --> 0:00:06.600 her to be able to be comfortable and enjoy life, 0:00:06.900 --> 0:00:09.959 just do her own things, the things that we never 0:00:09.960 --> 0:00:12.420 ever imagined that we could be able to, just to see 0:00:12.420 --> 0:00:16.830 that you can do that through just running and believing in yourself. 0:00:21.510 --> 0:00:24.389 Well, what a treat this is. We are here in 0:00:24.390 --> 0:00:28.020 Kenya at the home of Sharon Lokedi and her mother, 0:00:28.440 --> 0:00:32.729 Rose. And Sharon, we've had you in New York so 0:00:32.729 --> 0:00:37.320 many times on our podcast. Obviously you're a former champion of 0:00:37.440 --> 0:00:39.810 the TCS New York City Marathon. We figured it was 0:00:39.810 --> 0:00:42.089 about time that we came to you. You come to us 0:00:42.360 --> 0:00:44.370 all the time, but this time we're coming to you 0:00:44.700 --> 0:00:47.790 and it's such a treat for us to be here 0:00:47.790 --> 0:00:50.790 in your home, in your mother's home. You've given us an 0:00:50.790 --> 0:00:54.600 incredibly warm welcome here and it is just incredible to be with 0:00:54.600 --> 0:00:55.440 you here in Kenya. 0:00:56.100 --> 0:01:00.300 Thank you. I'm really grateful that you guys are here. I honestly cannot believe we're 0:01:00.750 --> 0:01:01.470 doing this here. 0:01:01.470 --> 0:01:02.160 Neither can I. 0:01:03.990 --> 0:01:07.170 I remember this just being like we were just talking about 0:01:07.170 --> 0:01:11.399 this and now it's finally happened and it just shows 0:01:11.400 --> 0:01:12.330 anything is possible. 0:01:12.330 --> 0:01:12.390 Yeah. 0:01:12.780 --> 0:01:14.490 So yeah. 0:01:14.730 --> 0:01:17.640 This is the first official visit of New York Road 0:01:17.640 --> 0:01:21.090 Runners ever to Kenya, which is remarkable when you think 0:01:21.090 --> 0:01:25.920 about it. First decades and decades we've had Kenyan athletes 0:01:26.040 --> 0:01:29.160 coming to New York, many of them like you, winning 0:01:29.610 --> 0:01:32.580 the marathon, winning other events. What does it mean for 0:01:32.580 --> 0:01:35.850 you, for others? We're going to have a number of 0:01:35.850 --> 0:01:38.340 Kenyan athletes that we're going to visit while we're here. 0:01:38.520 --> 0:01:40.140 What does it mean for all of you to have 0:01:40.350 --> 0:01:42.690 the people who run one of the major marathons in 0:01:42.690 --> 0:01:46.890 the world come here to Eldoret, to the cradle of 0:01:46.890 --> 0:01:48.330 so many marathon champions? 0:01:50.070 --> 0:01:54.930 It's definitely the biggest pleasure just to have you guys 0:01:54.930 --> 0:01:58.770 come here, visit, see the things, see where we run, 0:01:58.770 --> 0:02:02.490 the things that go into running, our families and how we 0:02:02.490 --> 0:02:04.530 just live life on this other side of the world. 0:02:06.180 --> 0:02:08.160 And I think usually when we're there, it's like race, 0:02:08.160 --> 0:02:10.620 you're focused, all this, but here you get to see 0:02:10.620 --> 0:02:12.600 a different side of us, which is when we're more 0:02:12.600 --> 0:02:18.450 relaxed, more in training. Which is, I mean for me specifically, I 0:02:18.450 --> 0:02:23.250 think it's very special. It's one of those things that 0:02:23.970 --> 0:02:27.930 you just imagine things but you never really believe they 0:02:27.930 --> 0:02:32.400 would happen. And then now that you're here sitting right 0:02:32.400 --> 0:02:34.680 here, it's great. Yeah. 0:02:34.980 --> 0:02:37.919 Yeah, if you think it's great, it's even better for me, for 0:02:37.919 --> 0:02:43.109 our team that's here. We see all of you. We 0:02:43.110 --> 0:02:46.770 know what you all go through to train and to 0:02:46.770 --> 0:02:49.110 get to the stages like the New York Marathon or 0:02:49.110 --> 0:02:51.480 the Boston Marathon. But it's one thing to kind of 0:02:51.480 --> 0:02:55.830 understand it intellectually, what it's like for you where you 0:02:55.830 --> 0:02:58.679 come from, but then to come see it is something 0:02:58.680 --> 0:03:02.610 else. And we've seen it the last few days. We've 0:03:02.610 --> 0:03:07.380 been in Eldoret. We've been in Iten. We saw the 0:03:07.380 --> 0:03:12.000 road in Iten where the runners, they're just going this long kind 0:03:12.000 --> 0:03:15.570 of red clay road where you stop by the side 0:03:15.570 --> 0:03:19.650 of the road and you'll see 10, 12 runners go by 0:03:19.650 --> 0:03:20.970 and you may not even know who they are, but 0:03:20.970 --> 0:03:24.060 chances are, you can tell they're good. You can tell 0:03:24.060 --> 0:03:28.500 they're a very serious runner. What is this running community like 0:03:28.500 --> 0:03:31.680 here when you come back? Because we know you spend 0:03:32.070 --> 0:03:34.380 about half your time, maybe more in the United States, 0:03:34.560 --> 0:03:38.040 you're in Flagstaff, Arizona, but when you come back here 0:03:38.220 --> 0:03:41.340 to rejoin the running community here in Kenya, what is 0:03:41.340 --> 0:03:41.491 that like for you? 0:03:41.491 --> 0:03:46.980 It's very beautiful. It's very humbling. As you can see, 0:03:48.600 --> 0:03:50.880 when you're out there running, you always see someone running. 0:03:50.880 --> 0:03:54.330 You always see someone just working so hard, just even 0:03:54.330 --> 0:03:56.520 no matter what time of the day, everyone is just 0:03:56.520 --> 0:04:01.110 trying to get the best of what they could with 0:04:01.110 --> 0:04:03.630 running and all that. And I feel like every time 0:04:03.630 --> 0:04:06.120 I come here, it just reminds me of where I came 0:04:06.120 --> 0:04:10.920 from, where my running started. And it just brings you back 0:04:10.920 --> 0:04:13.800 and you just get to appreciate so many things that this 0:04:13.800 --> 0:04:17.520 running has given you. It's made me go to places 0:04:17.520 --> 0:04:20.520 like run races that I never imagined. And when you're 0:04:20.520 --> 0:04:23.010 here and you're seeing people working hard and you can 0:04:23.010 --> 0:04:25.979 only wish for them to get to experience this and 0:04:25.980 --> 0:04:31.800 be out there and get to celebrate and just win 0:04:31.800 --> 0:04:36.120 races, which is something that I wish everyone could feel 0:04:36.150 --> 0:04:38.520 how it feels and experience that. Yeah. 0:04:39.240 --> 0:04:42.299 Yeah. And I've gotten to see a bit on this 0:04:42.300 --> 0:04:47.159 visit just today really how people react to you here 0:04:47.160 --> 0:04:51.120 now and they know you, they know Sharon because you're 0:04:51.120 --> 0:04:53.970 local, you're one of them. But now you're not just 0:04:53.970 --> 0:04:57.719 Sharon, you're New York City Marathon champion, you're a Boston 0:04:57.720 --> 0:05:02.670 Marathon champion. And how different is it for you now 0:05:02.670 --> 0:05:04.710 when you come back with that success? 0:05:05.250 --> 0:05:11.220 It's a bit different, but it's also motivating in a way because now every time 0:05:11.220 --> 0:05:13.980 I see someone and I can just see the joy 0:05:13.980 --> 0:05:16.799 in their faces, I can see the smile that they're so 0:05:16.800 --> 0:05:19.200 excited to meet me and I'm like in a way 0:05:19.200 --> 0:05:22.589 I have maybe inspired them or I've given them hope 0:05:22.589 --> 0:05:26.640 that they can be able to get there and get 0:05:26.640 --> 0:05:30.180 to the point that we are just through running, through 0:05:30.180 --> 0:05:34.349 just believing in themselves. And so it gives me so 0:05:34.350 --> 0:05:39.120 much joy that I get to share and encourage each 0:05:39.120 --> 0:05:41.760 person and just be like, " This is possible. You can 0:05:41.760 --> 0:05:46.260 do it." And just if someone, I feel like when 0:05:46.260 --> 0:05:48.719 I was young, every time I met someone that had 0:05:48.720 --> 0:05:51.930 run or done something, I used to be so happy and I'm like, " 0:05:52.500 --> 0:05:54.720 I've met this person." And I'm sure for them when 0:05:54.720 --> 0:05:58.049 they get back they're like, "oh, I met Sharon and she did and this." And 0:05:58.050 --> 0:06:00.120 I think it motivated me and I hope it does 0:06:00.120 --> 0:06:01.050 the same for them too. 0:06:01.050 --> 0:06:02.670 Yeah, I think it does. I can tell. 0:06:02.670 --> 0:06:02.730 Yeah, yeah. 0:06:02.820 --> 0:06:05.100 And then for your mother here, who's in this beautiful 0:06:05.100 --> 0:06:08.700 home, we know this is the home that she was 0:06:08.700 --> 0:06:13.770 in watching on a cellphone when you won the 2022 0:06:14.040 --> 0:06:16.860 TCS New York City Marathon, changed your life, I'm sure 0:06:16.860 --> 0:06:17.580 changed hers. 0:06:17.640 --> 0:06:17.849 Yes, yes. 0:06:17.910 --> 0:06:21.089 How has your success in the sport allowed you to 0:06:21.089 --> 0:06:24.810 help change her life? We've met your siblings in there, 0:06:24.810 --> 0:06:27.900 you've got brothers and sisters here as well. How have 0:06:27.900 --> 0:06:30.000 you been able to change the lives of others as 0:06:30.000 --> 0:06:31.589 well with what you've been able to accomplish? 0:06:31.740 --> 0:06:35.760 I feel like even just for my mom, every time 0:06:35.760 --> 0:06:38.010 she's going somewhere, they're like, " Oh, that's a mother of 0:06:38.010 --> 0:06:42.810 the champion." Every time she's like, " People just recognize me 0:06:42.810 --> 0:06:46.830 through you and all this." And she's like, every time 0:06:46.830 --> 0:06:48.570 she's like, " I just want you to keep working hard." 0:06:48.570 --> 0:06:51.900 Because for me to get here, it wasn't easy. And 0:06:52.800 --> 0:06:56.310 for her to be able to be comfortable and enjoy 0:06:56.310 --> 0:06:59.700 life and just do her own things, the things that 0:07:00.330 --> 0:07:05.550 we never ever imagined that could we be able to. And 0:07:05.580 --> 0:07:09.060 just to see that you can do that through just running 0:07:09.060 --> 0:07:13.350 and believing in yourself and just getting opportunities like you 0:07:13.350 --> 0:07:16.290 guys believed in me and gave me that opportunity. And 0:07:16.500 --> 0:07:19.290 I'm here now because of that chance that I got. 0:07:19.590 --> 0:07:22.920 And every time I go, I pray for someone to 0:07:22.920 --> 0:07:24.870 just get that chance because you never know, it might 0:07:24.870 --> 0:07:26.790 change their life. It did change mine. So I hope 0:07:27.210 --> 0:07:29.430 people can see that and relate through that, so. 0:07:29.700 --> 0:07:34.680 We spent some time today, Sharon, together as the Roadrunners 0:07:34.680 --> 0:07:40.500 team visited an amazing organization, Tirop's Angels, an organization that's 0:07:40.500 --> 0:07:46.140 named after Agnes Tirop, a talented female Kenyan runner who 0:07:46.770 --> 0:07:50.790 tragically was murdered, a victim of domestic violence here in 0:07:50.790 --> 0:07:54.720 Kenya. And there have been many examples of women in 0:07:54.720 --> 0:07:59.220 Kenya, including professional runners who have had this problem, who 0:07:59.220 --> 0:08:04.830 have fallen into relationships that were abusive gender- based violence 0:08:05.220 --> 0:08:07.920 as a real problem in Kenya. And that's what Tirop's 0:08:07.920 --> 0:08:12.030 Angels and our friend Viola Cheptoo and your friend is 0:08:12.030 --> 0:08:16.320 working on doing something about. Can you talk about that 0:08:16.320 --> 0:08:21.900 organization, Tirop's Angels, what they're trying to do, what Viola 0:08:21.900 --> 0:08:24.390 is trying to do? And I know you've been a 0:08:24.390 --> 0:08:25.260 big supporter of it as well. 0:08:25.530 --> 0:08:31.170 Yeah, I think it's very impactful because I feel like for a 0:08:31.170 --> 0:08:33.300 long time I used to see it from a distance 0:08:33.300 --> 0:08:35.550 and I'm like, " Oh, this is such an organization that, 0:08:35.820 --> 0:08:39.120 such a good platform that supports people and people can 0:08:39.120 --> 0:08:42.000 go and get help and just feel like they're heard, 0:08:42.300 --> 0:08:47.070 their voices are heard." And then just to have Viola 0:08:47.070 --> 0:08:49.350 as my friend and to see her working day in, 0:08:49.350 --> 0:08:52.380 day out, just trying to change one life at a 0:08:52.380 --> 0:08:55.140 time, just to try to change either it's like a 0:08:55.140 --> 0:08:59.070 kid or just someone that needs support and all that, it's 0:08:59.280 --> 0:09:05.250 just been very, very encouraging in a way. And I feel like 0:09:05.250 --> 0:09:09.480 it's even made me more want to see how it 0:09:09.480 --> 0:09:13.620 goes and be able to help and support in a 0:09:13.620 --> 0:09:17.969 way or in one way or the other. But I'm 0:09:17.970 --> 0:09:21.510 really grateful to see her and the people at Tirop's 0:09:21.510 --> 0:09:23.970 Angels just doing the work. And even today at those 0:09:23.970 --> 0:09:26.220 meeting and even the things they were doing today, I'd 0:09:26.220 --> 0:09:29.699 never seen that side of other things. So every time 0:09:29.700 --> 0:09:33.270 I get to be there and see them working and 0:09:33.540 --> 0:09:37.829 having these forums or platforms and sometimes they have seminars 0:09:37.830 --> 0:09:40.020 and just to go there and just see from a 0:09:40.020 --> 0:09:44.520 distance how they're making change in our communities, it's very 0:09:44.520 --> 0:09:48.059 special. It's very special. And I'm really grateful for you 0:09:48.059 --> 0:09:52.350 guys that you're here to support and help her get 0:09:52.350 --> 0:09:54.780 better and even reach out to so many people and 0:09:55.290 --> 0:09:57.030 get the things that she needs to be able to 0:09:57.030 --> 0:10:03.240 support other women and girls and even young kids because 0:10:03.420 --> 0:10:06.000 this is not something that can be done by one 0:10:06.000 --> 0:10:10.439 person. It needs a whole ... Everybody else to chip in. 0:10:10.440 --> 0:10:13.890 And you guys to be here and do this, it's 0:10:13.890 --> 0:10:17.370 very special. It's very special. And we're grateful. We're grateful for all that 0:10:17.370 --> 0:10:20.400 you do and we continue being grateful and may God 0:10:20.700 --> 0:10:21.630 continue blessing you. 0:10:21.660 --> 0:10:22.471 Thank you. Thank you. 0:10:22.471 --> 0:10:22.679 Yeah, yeah. 0:10:23.220 --> 0:10:26.040 We're happy to be able to shine a light on, 0:10:26.040 --> 0:10:29.640 it's a very important topic. So you have a title to 0:10:29.640 --> 0:10:33.179 defend in Boston and coming up in just a couple 0:10:33.179 --> 0:10:33.271 of months. 0:10:33.271 --> 0:10:33.840 Yes, yes. 0:10:34.080 --> 0:10:38.040 Talk about your training. So you're here, by the way, 0:10:38.700 --> 0:10:40.740 one of the reasons, I'm sure you come back here, 0:10:40.770 --> 0:10:43.800 just like in Flagstaff, good altitude to train out here. 0:10:43.800 --> 0:10:47.490 I think we're at about maybe 5, 500, 6,000 feet above 0:10:47.490 --> 0:10:51.900 sea level here. So it's good altitude. Obviously, amazing group 0:10:51.900 --> 0:10:54.179 you have to train with here. Talk about your training 0:10:54.179 --> 0:10:56.939 in Kenya, how that's going and how it helps you 0:10:57.179 --> 0:11:01.079 when you come here to train for another marathon major. 0:11:02.700 --> 0:11:05.730 It's special. I feel like even when I did my build up 0:11:06.030 --> 0:11:08.850 that leads to 2022 New York, I came here because 0:11:09.450 --> 0:11:12.540 I just wanted to be with people and get to 0:11:12.750 --> 0:11:15.929 run with a group of people that they've done this 0:11:15.929 --> 0:11:18.660 before. And I just wanted to get that experience. And 0:11:18.660 --> 0:11:21.000 I feel like it's just been so special that I 0:11:21.000 --> 0:11:24.059 can always look back and be like, " This is where 0:11:24.059 --> 0:11:26.100 I started all this." So every time I come back, 0:11:26.100 --> 0:11:28.590 I go to Kaptagat because that's where I know that's 0:11:28.590 --> 0:11:32.219 where I did my build up, I did all my 0:11:32.220 --> 0:11:36.390 marathon build and it's very special and humbling. You get 0:11:36.390 --> 0:11:39.059 there, and everybody, no one cares who you are, it's 0:11:39.059 --> 0:11:43.439 training. You're there to get the work done and you 0:11:43.440 --> 0:11:46.350 run, you go sleep, you come back again, which is 0:11:46.530 --> 0:11:49.620 a really good routine to do. And then it gets 0:11:49.620 --> 0:11:52.320 also very special because then I get home here and I get to see 0:11:52.320 --> 0:11:55.439 my family. It can be in a day or so, 0:11:55.440 --> 0:11:58.920 but it's very, very special that I can, just 30 0:11:58.920 --> 0:12:01.320 minutes away, I can be here, see my family, get 0:12:01.320 --> 0:12:03.900 some milk, get some vegetables, go back to the training camp. 0:12:04.230 --> 0:12:06.601 It must be back to basics for you, right? 0:12:06.601 --> 0:12:06.602 Yes. 0:12:06.602 --> 0:12:10.140 I mean, because this is where it all started for you. 0:12:10.140 --> 0:12:12.420 I'm sure it's great in Arizona too, but how is it 0:12:12.480 --> 0:12:16.890 different for you when you're back in your original element, 0:12:17.040 --> 0:12:19.770 around your family, in these groups that you've known for 0:12:19.770 --> 0:12:23.280 a long time? Does it kind of help reset you 0:12:23.280 --> 0:12:25.860 to bring you back to the things that made you 0:12:25.860 --> 0:12:27.449 successful at the beginning? 0:12:27.570 --> 0:12:27.571 Yes. 0:12:27.571 --> 0:12:27.572 Yeah. 0:12:27.572 --> 0:12:31.320 Yes. It's very, very humbling in a way. I just 0:12:31.320 --> 0:12:33.990 don't know how, but I just feel like this is 0:12:33.990 --> 0:12:37.230 where ... Everything just feels so put together. 0:12:37.470 --> 0:12:37.620 Calming? 0:12:38.760 --> 0:12:42.420 Yes, yes. And it's not like I feel the same 0:12:42.420 --> 0:12:46.200 in Flagstaff, but Flagstaff, it's busy. You have friends, you 0:12:46.200 --> 0:12:48.540 have things to do. You always are thinking about what's 0:12:48.540 --> 0:12:52.230 next. But here, sometimes you're not even thinking about tomorrow. 0:12:52.500 --> 0:12:54.480 Sometimes you don't even know what you're doing tomorrow. You 0:12:54.480 --> 0:12:56.880 only get to focus on today. And I think that's 0:12:57.030 --> 0:13:00.150 something that when I'm here, I get to appreciate more, 0:13:00.390 --> 0:13:03.420 that I'm just like here, I'm present. I'm just enjoying 0:13:03.420 --> 0:13:06.000 everything possible. And then when tomorrow comes, I get to 0:13:06.000 --> 0:13:08.670 think about what's coming. 0:13:09.150 --> 0:13:12.600 One of the things that people ask a lot about the 0:13:12.600 --> 0:13:15.570 marathon and why Kenyans are so successful, it's one of the questions 0:13:15.570 --> 0:13:17.400 I get a lot from people when they see, oh, 0:13:17.640 --> 0:13:20.730 another Kenyan has won the New York City Marathon or the 0:13:20.790 --> 0:13:23.490 Boston Marathon is why? Why Kenyans? Why do they win 0:13:23.490 --> 0:13:26.640 so much? And coming here just to see it with my 0:13:26.640 --> 0:13:29.370 own eyes, I have to say I see it in 0:13:29.370 --> 0:13:33.540 a different way. Obviously the altitude, obviously there's a lot 0:13:33.540 --> 0:13:36.270 of natural talent here, no question about it, but it 0:13:36.270 --> 0:13:38.490 seems maybe more than anything, it's the culture. 0:13:38.610 --> 0:13:38.880 Yes. 0:13:39.120 --> 0:13:42.929 There's a culture of running and it's what little kids 0:13:42.929 --> 0:13:46.170 dream to be. And there seems like there's an infrastructure 0:13:46.170 --> 0:13:49.980 here of coaches and runners and people here to support 0:13:49.980 --> 0:13:53.400 each other and show each other the way. And that 0:13:53.400 --> 0:13:55.800 when it comes to being successful in the sport is 0:13:55.800 --> 0:13:58.679 so much of the battle is having people help you 0:13:58.679 --> 0:14:01.920 believe in yourself and show you the way to being successful. 0:14:01.920 --> 0:14:05.910 Yeah, yeah. And it's also one of the things that 0:14:06.300 --> 0:14:09.360 when you're out there, you're running, you see someone and 0:14:09.360 --> 0:14:11.579 you're like, " I am dying here". But then you see 0:14:11.580 --> 0:14:14.970 someone passing you and it seems like they're not doing anything and 0:14:14.970 --> 0:14:16.559 they're still like, " Oh, you can do this, you can do this." So it's like- 0:14:16.560 --> 0:14:17.851 And it's just a random person. 0:14:17.851 --> 0:14:17.852 Yes. 0:14:17.852 --> 0:14:17.852 You don't know who they are. 0:14:17.852 --> 0:14:17.853 Yeah, yeah. 0:14:17.853 --> 0:14:18.182 But they could be competing in a major in a professional field, you might not even know it. 0:14:23.520 --> 0:14:28.200 Yes, yes. And it's just sometimes you're like, " Okay, these people, they're very 0:14:28.200 --> 0:14:30.690 stronger than I am." But it's just like they haven't 0:14:30.690 --> 0:14:34.920 gotten the chance and either you have this opportunity, why can 0:14:34.920 --> 0:14:37.560 you not go out there and use it and just 0:14:38.820 --> 0:14:42.060 represent other people. And Even sometimes when I'm running out 0:14:42.060 --> 0:14:45.300 here and someone is like, " Oh, congratulations." Someone out of 0:14:45.300 --> 0:14:48.150 nowhere, it can be like some woman just walking and is like, " 0:14:48.180 --> 0:14:51.570 Oh, work hard, keep working hard, my daughter." And it 0:14:51.570 --> 0:14:54.000 gives you that excitement. You're like, " I get to do 0:14:54.000 --> 0:14:56.490 this. I get to do this for a living and 0:14:56.490 --> 0:14:58.830 have these people cheer me even without knowing who I 0:14:58.830 --> 0:15:03.390 am." And that's something that it's very motivating and it's just special 0:15:03.390 --> 0:15:04.080 to have here. 0:15:04.470 --> 0:15:06.510 Well, Sharon, everyone's going to know who you are when 0:15:06.510 --> 0:15:08.940 you show up in Boston this year. We know that. 0:15:08.940 --> 0:15:13.440 You cannot sneak up on anyone anymore. Having won, you're 0:15:13.440 --> 0:15:17.820 the defending champion, everyone knows you're coming. How is that 0:15:17.820 --> 0:15:21.180 going to be different for you going into Boston with 0:15:21.660 --> 0:15:22.920 that target on your back? 0:15:24.450 --> 0:15:27.780 Like any other race, I treat it as it's a 0:15:27.780 --> 0:15:31.260 different race. I treat it as if I haven't been there before. 0:15:31.470 --> 0:15:33.600 Yes, I've been there, but it's in my mind I 0:15:33.600 --> 0:15:36.270 just try to make sure that I'm just there to 0:15:36.300 --> 0:15:39.600 compete. I'm there to put myself out there. And yes, as 0:15:39.600 --> 0:15:42.330 you said, I am going to be there. Every move I make, 0:15:42.330 --> 0:15:44.130 everyone is going to ... But I just have to be 0:15:44.130 --> 0:15:46.890 strong. I just have to be mentally prepared for that. 0:15:46.890 --> 0:15:50.610 Because as you know, it's not easy to defend your title. 0:15:50.610 --> 0:15:50.670 No. 0:15:50.790 --> 0:15:53.850 It's the hardest thing you can ever do because it's 0:15:53.850 --> 0:15:56.820 not even just the training, there's the mental aspect of 0:15:56.820 --> 0:16:01.350 it, and that is just way tougher than it is physically. 0:16:01.350 --> 0:16:04.410 Do you feel more pressure or less pressure? I could 0:16:04.410 --> 0:16:06.990 see it going either way. You've already won the race, 0:16:07.020 --> 0:16:07.831 you've proven it. 0:16:07.831 --> 0:16:07.921 Yeah. 0:16:08.250 --> 0:16:10.860 So in some ways maybe there's less pressure or do 0:16:10.860 --> 0:16:12.420 you feel the pressure to defend? 0:16:12.690 --> 0:16:16.050 Yes, because everyone is expecting you to. And you yourself, 0:16:16.050 --> 0:16:19.380 of course you want to win, you want to be 0:16:19.380 --> 0:16:22.350 able to celebrate again and be like, "I just won again." 0:16:22.350 --> 0:16:25.770 But you also have to be humble about it. And 0:16:27.210 --> 0:16:29.820 those two things can be really tough sometimes to deal 0:16:29.820 --> 0:16:32.790 with, but you just have to just find the balance 0:16:32.790 --> 0:16:37.230 of figuring out what to do and how to do it. 0:16:37.620 --> 0:16:40.140 One thing that's going to be very different for you 0:16:40.140 --> 0:16:44.640 in Boston this year is your friend, your rival Hellen 0:16:44.640 --> 0:16:47.220 Obiri will not be there at the starting line with 0:16:47.220 --> 0:16:50.760 you. It's almost hard for me to imagine you in 0:16:50.760 --> 0:16:53.310 a race without Hellen Obiri. You guys have had such 0:16:53.310 --> 0:16:57.180 great battles. I love watching the broadcast of the two 0:16:57.180 --> 0:17:00.270 of you. I remember in Boston all the conversation the 0:17:00.270 --> 0:17:03.870 two of you are having, talking to each other about 0:17:03.870 --> 0:17:06.570 things. And I remember speaking to you actually at a 0:17:06.570 --> 0:17:09.090 lunch that we were at sometime after the Boston Marathon, 0:17:09.090 --> 0:17:11.879 I think it was at the MasterCard Mini 10K. And 0:17:12.420 --> 0:17:14.490 we talked about, what were you talking about during the 0:17:14.490 --> 0:17:17.550 Boston Marathon last year? You were comparing notes about when 0:17:17.550 --> 0:17:21.149 is that hill coming again? Is that this next mile? 0:17:21.150 --> 0:17:24.240 When is that happening again? You're just chatting. How is 0:17:24.240 --> 0:17:27.510 it going to be difficult? And do you think it's easier or harder for you 0:17:27.810 --> 0:17:29.639 to take on a race like this without Hellen in 0:17:29.640 --> 0:17:30.119 the field? 0:17:30.270 --> 0:17:33.720 Harder I think because I feel like I'm just so 0:17:33.720 --> 0:17:36.359 used to her and I'm always like, " I'm prepared. I 0:17:36.359 --> 0:17:40.320 know she's definitely going to be there." And I'm always, 0:17:40.320 --> 0:17:41.730 I'm like, " Okay, so when is she going to make 0:17:41.730 --> 0:17:43.470 the move?" And I think she always thinks the same 0:17:43.470 --> 0:17:45.540 thing. And it gets to the point where it's like, " 0:17:45.540 --> 0:17:48.389 We're not talking anymore, we're just working." And it's just like 0:17:48.960 --> 0:17:51.810 a step after the other. So it's going to be 0:17:51.810 --> 0:17:54.119 a bit different this year. And I think in a 0:17:54.119 --> 0:17:56.340 way I'm really excited for her, to see how she 0:17:56.340 --> 0:17:59.399 races in London. But yeah, I think I'm going to 0:17:59.400 --> 0:18:02.940 miss her. I'm going to really miss competing with her. Yeah. 0:18:02.940 --> 0:18:07.320 Yeah, it'll be different. It'll be different for you, for the fans, so it'll 0:18:07.320 --> 0:18:09.030 be a good test for you. Learn how to run 0:18:09.030 --> 0:18:09.540 without Hellen. 0:18:09.540 --> 0:18:09.810 True. True. 0:18:10.470 --> 0:18:10.560 It's going to have to happen eventually. 0:18:11.790 --> 0:18:14.580 Yeah. But I'm pretty sure there'll be other people out there- 0:18:14.580 --> 0:18:15.090 Of course. 0:18:15.450 --> 0:18:18.150 That will be tough to compete with. 0:18:18.359 --> 0:18:18.600 Yes, yes, yes. 0:18:18.600 --> 0:18:21.990 And I can just picture them and put Hellen face 0:18:21.990 --> 0:18:22.171 in them. 0:18:22.171 --> 0:18:22.560 I love it. I love it. 0:18:22.560 --> 0:18:26.369 So yeah. 0:18:26.430 --> 0:18:29.580 Well, you have a race before Boston here with us 0:18:29.580 --> 0:18:31.859 in New York. There I should say in New York 0:18:31.859 --> 0:18:35.159 with us at the United Airlines NYC Half. And we 0:18:35.160 --> 0:18:39.090 have so many people come run the UA NYC Half 0:18:39.090 --> 0:18:44.040 every year who are preparing for Boston or maybe London. 0:18:44.160 --> 0:18:47.909 How do you think you'll approach that race? I remember 0:18:47.940 --> 0:18:49.830 talking to you about this in the past. You've done 0:18:49.830 --> 0:18:52.830 this before and asking you, " Are you just going to 0:18:52.830 --> 0:18:54.869 go to use it as a training run? Are you 0:18:54.869 --> 0:18:56.910 going to go win?" And you've always said you're going 0:18:56.910 --> 0:18:58.920 to go win. And it seems like that's how you 0:18:58.920 --> 0:19:00.540 approach it. Is that how you're going to approach it 0:19:00.540 --> 0:19:00.900 this year? 0:19:01.350 --> 0:19:03.960 Sometimes even when I'm telling you I'm going to win, 0:19:03.960 --> 0:19:05.970 deep down, I'm like, " Oh God, is it going to 0:19:05.970 --> 0:19:06.241 really happen?" 0:19:06.241 --> 0:19:06.450 Yeah, yeah. 0:19:08.100 --> 0:19:12.330 But I just have to be confident. And yes, so of 0:19:12.330 --> 0:19:15.480 course, like any other race, I'm still going to fight 0:19:15.480 --> 0:19:19.109 for it. And depending on how it is, I'm still 0:19:19.109 --> 0:19:23.280 going to try and go for the win because, I 0:19:23.280 --> 0:19:26.040 don't know, there's something about just being out there in 0:19:26.040 --> 0:19:28.710 New York and competing and all that and every other 0:19:28.710 --> 0:19:32.280 race is yes, it's different. It's different crowd, but there's 0:19:32.280 --> 0:19:35.940 always something that's the same, the people and everyone that's 0:19:35.940 --> 0:19:39.389 out there cheering. And it's so special because every time I'm 0:19:39.390 --> 0:19:42.240 like, everyone's like, (inaudible) , it's like I can hear 0:19:42.240 --> 0:19:44.490 my name more and more and I think that's very 0:19:44.490 --> 0:19:49.710 motivating. And yes, when I'm out there, yes, I'm fighting for the win. And 0:19:50.340 --> 0:19:53.730 this year, it might not be like last year, it 0:19:53.730 --> 0:19:56.160 might be a little bit different, but anything is possible, 0:19:56.220 --> 0:19:56.609 so. 0:19:56.640 --> 0:19:59.520 The course, is it a course you find useful in 0:19:59.520 --> 0:20:01.530 training for Boston? We have some hills. 0:20:01.560 --> 0:20:01.800 Yes, yes. 0:20:01.859 --> 0:20:04.889 We have a lot of the similar topography. Do you 0:20:04.890 --> 0:20:07.770 find it's just a good setup race for you to 0:20:07.770 --> 0:20:08.910 help get you ready for Boston? 0:20:08.910 --> 0:20:11.310 Yeah. Yeah. But I even think New York is hard 0:20:11.760 --> 0:20:15.900 in a way, which is really great because then it gives 0:20:15.900 --> 0:20:18.000 you the confidence. Last year it gave me so much 0:20:18.000 --> 0:20:21.540