{"id":50488,"date":"2025-04-25T22:14:16","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T22:14:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/50488\/"},"modified":"2025-04-25T22:14:16","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T22:14:16","slug":"how-do-the-elites-feel-ahead-of-the-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/50488\/","title":{"rendered":"How do the elites feel ahead of the race?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re preparing for this year\u2019s London Marathon<\/a>, which is now \u2013 alarm bells \u2013 less than two days aways, your mind will likely be whirring away with all kinds of emotions. Whether you\u2019re running your first marathon or your fiftieth this Sunday (27 April), you\u2019ll either be anxious, over the moon, experiencing phantom niggles, panicking about your taper, toying between difference shoes<\/a>, craving the big vibes on course<\/a>, or in need of a lie down \u2013 or maybe all of the above and more. <\/p>\n

This pre-race grey area is an odd time, but you\u2019re not alone if it makes you feel all the feels. In fact, even the best in the game are not immune from such thoughts. As we discovered at this year\u2019s elite athlete London Marathon press conferences in St James\u2019s Park, located right next to that iconic finish line on The Mall, the best marathon runners in the world are still humans. They dream big and train and race (extremely) hard, but they can also get imposter syndrome and feel nervous before competitions.<\/p>\n

Either way, the elites at the 2025 London Marathon form one of the strongest fields<\/a> that the event has ever seen \u2013 and they\u2019re all buzzing to toe the line in Blackheath this year. Here\u2019s what they had to say.<\/p>\n

Related StoryElite men\"group<\/p>\n

TCS London Marathon<\/p>\n

Proceedings kicked off on Thursday (24 April) with the elite men\u2019s press conference, which saw some of the fastest men on the planet convene under one marquee roof. That\u2019s a lot of speed in one space. <\/p>\n

Eliud Kipchoge<\/a>, who, with four wins at the race, has won the London Marathon more times than any other person, was happy to be back in London and, as ever, flowing with marathon wisdom. \u2018It is about doing the action,\u2019 he said. \u2018That is why I am running. I am still hungry to inspire somebody, somewhere. I am still hungry to motivate somebody, somewhere. I am happy to train each day for races like Sunday\u2019s London Marathon \u2013 to showcase to people that this is what I do.\u2019 <\/p>\n

During the press conference, Kipchoge was also awarded the John Disley Lifetime Achievement Award, named after the London Marathon co-founder. A rare prize, he became only the sixth person to receive this award in recognition of his ongoing contributions to the running world.<\/p>\n

\u2018I want to talk the language that everybody understands, which is the language of running, to every citizen in this world,\u2019 said the 40-year-old Kenyan, shortly after accepting the award. \u2018I want to tell people that they are not limited at all, in anything that they are doing.\u2019<\/p>\n

Although Kipchoge is known as the inspirational GOAT of the 26.2-mile distance, let\u2019s not undermine his ferociously fast competitors.<\/p>\n

Tamirat Tola<\/a>, who won the men\u2019s marathon at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, is now hoping to better the third-place position that he achieved at the 2023 London Marathon.<\/p>\n

\u2018I am happy to be the Olympic champion because it was my dream,\u2019 said Tola, of Ethiopia, at the press conference. \u2018My next dream is to come again to London with challengers like Kipchoge. I also want to challenge myself and always increase my ability. I am happy to participate again.\u2019<\/p>\n

Alex Mutiso, who broke the tape at last year\u2019s London Marathon in a time of 2:04:01, has also returned to England\u2019s capital in a bid to retain his title on Sunday. <\/p>\n

\u2018[The 2024 London Marathon] was my first major marathon and I won \u2013 that is one of my memories that I cannot forget,\u2019 mused the Kenyan. \u2018On Sunday, it will be epic running with the strongest field ever.\u2019 <\/p>\n

Another mighty contender for the London Marathon title is Kenya\u2019s Sebastian Sawe<\/a>, who became the fifth-fastest marathoner of all time when he stormed to victory at the 2024 Valencia Marathon in a time of 2:02:05. This race, remarkably, was his marathon debut.<\/p>\n

\u2018It was the happiest moment for me to run the fastest time that year in the Valencia Marathon \u2013 I was so excited,\u2019 he said. \u2018I trained well for the London Marathon this year. I will wait for Sunday, start the race and see what will come.\u2019<\/p>\n

Last but certainly not least at the elite men\u2019s press conference was Jacob Kiplimo<\/a>, the 24-year-old Ugandan who ran a blinding time 56:42 at Barcelona Half Marathon in February to shave 48 seconds off the existing men\u2019s half marathon world record. Bewilderingly, Kiplimo said that this seismic result was an unlucky outcome, as his only real aim in Barcelona was to run well, somewhat under the radar. \u2018That day, I just went out to run a good race,\u2019 he said. \u2018But, unfortunately, I got the world record.\u2019 As you do. <\/p>\n

So, with the pressure now very much on, how will Kiplimo fare at this year\u2019s London Marathon, which will be his hotly anticipated marathon debut? <\/p>\n

\u2018The marathon is going to be a challenge, but I know that I\u2019m going to do my best,\u2019 said a smiling Kiplimo, who also revealed that he wants to finish the race in a podium position. \u2018Maybe the marathon is my best distance!\u2019<\/p>\n

Related StoryBritish elites\"a<\/p>\n

TCS London Marathon<\/p>\n

Next up for their press conference were the Brits \u2013 a clean sweep of Olympians.<\/p>\n

Despite being the European record holder for the 10K road race, as well as the British record holder for the 5000m, 10,000m, 5K road race and half marathon, decorated athlete Eilish McColgan<\/a> was still \u2018bricking it\u2019 about her marathon debut on Sunday. <\/p>\n

More confident were London Marathon returners Rose Harvey<\/a>, Mahamed Mahamed<\/a> and Phil Sesemann<\/a>, all of whom represented Team GB in their respective marathon events at last year\u2019s Olympics. <\/p>\n

\u2018It has been a great block of training,\u2019 said Harvey, who sustained a bone injury during her Olympic debut last summer. \u2018I\u2019m very lucky that, with a lot of help from my team, I\u2019ve had a very smooth comeback. It\u2019s really exciting to be here in London.<\/p>\n

\u2018All the hard work is done and race day should be a celebration of that,\u2019 adds Harvey, speaking to the tens of thousands of other runners<\/a> who will hit the London Marathon start line on Sunday. \u2018All the times when you didn\u2019t want to go out training, all the soggy runs, all the early mornings \u2013 this is the fun part, so don\u2019t forget to enjoy it. When it gets hard, just smile!\u2019<\/p>\n

Mahamed, like Harvey, suffered an injury after his Olympic experience last year. However, having placed an incredible fourth at the 2024 London Marathon, he is now more excited that ever to return to the famous 26.2-mile circuit. <\/p>\n

\u2018The noise down the finishing straight last year is hard to explain,\u2019 he recalled. \u2018It was amazing, it was really loud and it pushed me a lot and gave me extra motivation to finish strong. The crowds were incredible.\u2019<\/p>\n

One of Britain\u2019s most accomplished and consistent marathon specialists \u2013 who also happens to enjoy an indoor 3000m \u2013 is Sesemann. Having placed seventh overall at his marathon debut in London in 2021, he has gone on to achieve two more top 10 performances at the London Marathon, as well as an enviable marathon PB of 2:08:04. Even so, despite his top-tier results, he still enjoys a more low-key marathon build.<\/p>\n

\u2018This training block has been more similar to my first marathon build, with no training camps and no altitude,\u2019 said Sesemann, who often trains with his dogs, Haile and Kipchoge. \u2018I\u2019ve just been in Leeds running up and down the canal.\u2019 <\/p>\n

One of the most fascinating performances of the weekend, however will come from Alex Yee<\/a>. A triathlete by trade, who is no less than the reigning Olympic and world champion in the discipline, Yee will run his inaugural marathon on Sunday \u2013 and even though he feels as though he\u2019s \u2018taken wrong turn to get in here\u2019, things are looking promising. <\/p>\n

\u2018A little bit of a change post-Olympics and post a really good year in 2024 has been something that I\u2019ve encouraged,\u2019 said Yee, who was, in fact, the British 10,000m champion in 2018. \u2018It has been really cool to be part of such a big running community and to try to get better in a slightly different way.\u202f <\/p>\n

\u2018The bike and goggles have been left at home,\u2019 he added. \u2018I\u2019ve already been complaining that I\u2019ve packed too much, so I couldn\u2019t bring my bike here as well.\u2019 <\/p>\n

Related StoryElite women\"group<\/p>\n

TCS London Marathon<\/p>\n

Friday (25 April) staged the elite women\u2019s press conference. With Peres Jepchirchir<\/a>, who set the women\u2019s-only world record of 2:16:16 at the London Marathon last year, and marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich, who became the first-ever woman to break the 2:10 barrier at last year\u2019s Chicago Marathon, now out of Sunday\u2019s contest, we were left with a trio of talent in the media tent. These three athletes were Joyciline Jepkosgei<\/a> of Kenya, Sifan Hassan<\/a> of the Netherlands and Tigist Assefa<\/a> of Ethiopia. <\/p>\n

The former world record holder in the 10K and half marathon, Jepkosgei has reached the podium on all three of her previous London Marathon appearances, with the 2021 race seeing her take the win. Now, she\u2019s looking to run even faster \u2013 but she still respects the challenges that the marathon presents.<\/p>\n

\u2018A marathon is like a chapter of a book and I learn something new with every single race,\u2019 she said. \u2018But now, I\u2019m confident that my fitness is in a good place.<\/p>\n

\u2018Everyone has different goals in a marathon \u2013 they might be going for a world record, a personal best, or just to finish,\u2019 continued Jepkosgei, reflecting on Sunday\u2019s race as a whole. \u2018Everyone is the best, because everyone is aiming to get to the finish line.\u2019<\/p>\n

Forever a nervous ball of energy who pulls it out of the bag in phenomenal fashion on race day, the multi-talented Hassan was both thrilled and terrified about being entered into Sunday\u2019s race \u2013 and eager to not repeat the nail-biting theatre of her previous London Marathon in 2023. At this race, which was her marathon debut, she stopped mid-run to stretch, almost collided with an official motorbike on the course and yet, despite these mishaps, still won. <\/p>\n

\u2018Before the race [in 2023], I was so nervous I was throwing up,\u2019 recalled Hassan, who, after her victory in London, went on to set a then-course record at the 2023 Chicago Marathon and scoop iconic marathon gold at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. \u2018I still don\u2019t know why I get scared of the marathon \u2013 it is great and I\u2019ll still never forget that first win in London, but I\u2019ve also had a lot of drama. I don\u2019t want any drama on Sunday!\u2019<\/p>\n

\"2025<\/p>\n

Alex Davidson\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Of course, when Hassan won the Olympic marathon last August, she wasn\u2019t the only runner in the field. After another tense tussle on the finishing stretch, Hassan just about out-kicked Assefa, who at the time was the women\u2019s marathon world record holder, having conquered the 2023 Berlin Marathon in a phenomenal time of 2:11:53. <\/p>\n

But is Assefa, who is still the second-fastest woman of all time over the marathon, behind only Chepngetich, afraid to lose a battle with Hassan again? Apparently not. <\/p>\n

\u2018I love having these tight battles with Hassan,\u2019 smiled Assefa, who was formerly an 800m specialist. \u2018I\u2019m really happy to be fighting it out closely with her and the other athletes.<\/p>\n

\u2018Whenever I race, I want to win, so I\u2019ve got just as much motivation to win this year\u2019s London Marathon as ever,\u2019 she added. \u2018I\u2019d say that I was in better shape now than I was when I got the world record in Berlin.\u2019 <\/p>\n

These are bold words indeed \u2013 so let Sunday\u2019s battles commence. <\/p>\n

Related Story<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If you\u2019re preparing for this year\u2019s London Marathon, which is now \u2013 alarm bells \u2013 less than two…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":50489,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7757],"tags":[748,2083,27124,1331,393,4884,1330,257,27123,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-50488","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-london","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-content-type-default","10":"tag-contentid-2187fc94-6c26-4033-8b6d-08c89ddf4b54","11":"tag-displaytype-standard-article","12":"tag-england","13":"tag-great-britain","14":"tag-locale-gb","15":"tag-london","16":"tag-shorttitle-the-elites-thoughts-on-the-2025-london-marathon","17":"tag-uk","18":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114400910713596034","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50488","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50488"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50488\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50488"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50488"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}