Frankfurt marathon champion Valary Jemeli Aiyabei is optimistic that weighing 40kg will work to her advantage as she eyes a podium finish at this Sunday's London Marathon.
The 2013 Kass Marathon champion says she is in the best shape of her life and is eagerly anticipating the gun-off.
"My training progress has been good and weighing 40kg is the best way to carry me to the tape in good time and position,” Aiyabei said.
However, she will have to contend with a classic line-up that has defending champion Brigid Kosgei, who won silver at the concluded Olympic Games, as well as New York marathon winner Joyciline Jepkosgei, among others.
At last year's edition in the English capital, Aiyabei finished a disappointing 10th, a heartbreak which was further compounded when she missed out on a place in Team Kenya's marathon squad to the Tokyo Olympics.
Nonetheless, the 2017 Barcelona Marathon champion believes she has rectified her weaknesses and is good to go for glory in London.
"The training program that I have had is good enough to sail me to the podium. I always train 18km in the morning and 10km in the evening to make my body relax. But during long runs, I always run more than that to get that endurance to fit in the big league,” said Aiyabei, who has been training with her husband, Kennedy Tarus.
After London, she somewhat made up for that disappointing outing with a third place at the Prague marathon and the Berlin half marathon.
However, disaster struck for her at the Tokyo Marathon in March when she withdrew after 25km due to a hip injury. She faltered again with a dismal performance at the Eldoret City marathon in June.
Regardless, Aiyabei, who holds a course record of 2:19.10, will be among those to watch in one of the world's most prestigious marathons.
