Former Sri Lanka Marathon champion Stephen Mugambi will be targeting a sub-2:08 when he lines up at the 2022 Frankfurt Marathon set for October 30.
However, Mugambi said his immediate assignment is to pace elite runners at the Berlin Marathon on September 25 alongside former Kass 10km bronze winner Amos Kiptoo.
“We have been discussing with my coach and management that I should try and run 2:08 or 2:09 in Frankfurt. We are having rigorous training for the two important events ahead of us. First, I will pace at the Berlin Marathon where top athletes like Eliud Kipchoge will be running then head to Frankfurt. I know it will not be easy but I am ready for the challenge,” said Mugambi.
Mugambi, born and raised in Meru County, said that it will be his first time pacing at a top marathon and that they are still — alongside his coach and manager — discussing whether to pace for Group A or B in Berlin.
After finishing fifth in the 10km race at last year's Standard Marathon, Mugambi went on to finish ninth at the Enschede Marathon and feels he feels he is ready to try a new challenge.
“I have run many races and winning the 2018 Sri Lanka Marathon opened the doors for me and now I want to try running in a major marathon. I have trained sufficiently for this,” said the 29-year-old.
Mugambi revealed that he moved from Meru to Iten in search of training mates since Meru is not as established in terms of training camps.
“I came to train here because where I come from, there are no athletes to train with. In addition, I could not stay there because there are no training fields,” he said.
Just like Mugambi, Kiptoo will be pacing in Berlin for the first time.
The upstart said he has been training well for the task where he will be pacing Group B, targeting 63:00 minutes in the first half of the race.
“Group B is the second fastest where we have to cross the half marathon in 63 minutes but the fastest group, Group A will have to cross the halfway mark in 60:00 minutes,” explained Kiptoo.
And even though it will be his first time doing pacing jobs, Kiptoo said he is optimistic about delivering as per the organisers' wishes.
