Ever since breaking out to win marathon gold at last year’s London Olympics, Stephen Kiprotich has named London as its his favourite city.
He returned to the same city on Monday and will line up alongside close to 30000 other participants as the Virgin London Marathon get underway on Sunday morning.
With a strong packed field of runners mainly from Kenya and Ethiopia, you cannot question Kiprotich’s readiness.
“That’s why i am here (in London),” Kiprotich told Kawowo Sports a day to the event, signaling his readiness.
“Everything is calm here, the weather is fair but we hope for tomorrow (Sunday),”
He will run through the streets of London in a field that led by Kenyan world record holder Patrick Makau.
Last year’s winner and marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang and Emmanuel Mutai and two other Kenyans Stanley Biwott and Martin Lel are also going to give Kiprotich a run for the money.
There are also numerous pace setters including double Olympic champion (5000m and 10000m) and home boy Mo Farah.
He stands a chance to bag a total Shs.400m should he cross the tape first (Shs.130m) or run inside two hours and five minutes (Shs.260m).
“I am relaxed but mentally prepared. Everyone will give it its best.” he added.
Kiprotich aims at running close to 2:06 which in turn will give him a new personal best.
Prior to this one, there were threats that organisers would cancel the event following bomblasts at the Boston Marathon at the start of this week.
But security has been tightened and there will be a 30 second silence and runners will wear black ribbons to remember the victims of the Boston Marathon.
Race director Hugh Brasher said: “We want to show our support for our friends and colleagues in Boston at this difficult time for the global running community.
“We are determined to deliver an amazing event that will focus on one of the core pillars of the London Marathon, which is ‘to have fun and provide some happiness and a sense of achievement in a troubled world’.”
LONDON MARATHON IN NUMBERS
1981 – year first London Marathon took place
26.2 – miles covered
16 – men who have run every London Marathon to date (32 in total)
36,000 – runners due to start the 2013 race
650,000 – spectators expected to watch along the course
£204,300 – total prizemoney for elite races (men, women and wheelchair)
£52.8m – raised by marathon runners for charity in 2012
LONDON MARATHON – LIVE ON SS5, MIDDAY