As the saying goes, the candle that burns twice as bright , burns half as long . As you point out , his career can’t sustain his present volume , however , is it worth it .. who was the first man to break the 4 minute mile .. pretty much everyone knows , nobody remembers the second person . He may well break the 2 he mark and be done . His mark will be forever remembered and will no doubt inspire many more to go under . Some “ normal “ runners may try increasing volume , however , I would say most will very quickly realise that as a regular runner , that volume is impossible ( with normal jobs and family life )
@@QMTimeisnotreal understand your point also , however I would still wager MOST people would not be able to name the second person to run under the 4 min mile . Even people who do not follow athletics could name the first sub 4min miler . The athletes you named are greats but I highly doubt they were running anything like the volumes were speaking of . I haven’t no doubt that if he does break the sub 2hr barrier, it will spur more athletes to go under , however I also do believe that he will not go on to have the same longevity as Kipchoge , of course I am happy to be proved wrong , either way , only time will tell 👍
"the candle that burns twice as bright, burns half as long" is wisdom .. I see many athletes get injuries because of pushing too much and quit running while some adopt 80 easy/20 hard and run forever! still, Kiptum is talented but not wise!
@stephensimmons8657 I don't know who broke the 4min mile and I'm a track athlete and follow channels like this one xd. I guess it doesn't apply for the 95% of the world that don't use miles (I know a mile is around 4 laps to a track tho, running it under 4min was really that big of a thing?)
@@morfos95 I get your point , miles are seldom used these days . As for being a big thing , it most certainly was , you have to remember , no human had ever ran under 4mins for a mile , some even thought it impossible. The 2hr mark mark for the Marathon is similar . The point I was trying to make , albeit not in the most eloquent way was , it will only ever be ( officially) broken once . After that , I do believe it will be broken multiple times , it’s that first one which is the hardest
He underwent so much pain to train for marathon. May his record stand for years and decades so that we can remember this great runner who dedicated his life for this painful sport.
When he says he doesn't feel pain; is it a language barrier issue? Maybe he means he doesn't feel an injury type pain (in other words, an abnormal pain).
It would do Kiptum Justice if they were to have a moment of silence at the Paris Olympic Marathon Clising ceremony. This is so tragic. Let's also remember another promising Kenyan Samuel Wanjiru died tragically as well at almost the same age.
"Ethereal" "for a shot at immortality" wow.... this video has a different message now just a week after posting. My hearts broken for his family. What a beautiful young soul, utterly inspiring
Very interesting topic. Raising a kid in competitive gymnastics, it dawned on me at some point that competitive sports at the upper levels tend to not be concerned enough with the long-run health of the athletes. The ultimate goal is elite performance; even at the cost of life-long health issues. I’m not even saying that these people are necessarily always wrong in doing this, it’s just the reality of the situation and I think this is something that needs to be made explicitly clear, especially when kids are involved.
I think one of the only high level athletes who had a training plan that considered long term health was galen rupp. He actually held back when he was younger, but I’ve seen the same thing with Brandon mcnulty.
Normal people need to accept there are people like Kiptum who are just blessed with a gift for running and adjust their own training considering that fact. EDIT: can’t believe the news. RIP Kiptum
I think that's why I love running so much. I could easily cry myself to sleep comparing my abilities to other runners, but instead I get to focus on my own achievements which allow me to be amazed and happy for those who are more talented than I am. People like Kiptum are an inspiration as to what is achievable, but we all have our limits, and we need to know what they are
@@james_track disagree. His environment, his nutrition, his rest, his equipment AND his natural talent all come into play. At the highest level, you need all of the above to compete.
@@daniaaalbut there’s this unspoken narrative the Kenyan are genetically superior to marathon than westerners Hence we diminish their accomplishments… because they are Kenyans 😂😂😂
Death just robbed us some great times. This year it was to be Rotterdam and then Olympics. just like late Sammy Wanjiru the holder of Olympics marathon record,who died aged 24yrs, kiptum also is dead cause of death, road accident. May his soul RIP.
Tomorrow isn’t promised, right? We’re all responsible for our own training; if it feels good for you, and it works for you, go get it-if it doesn’t, don’t. Clock’s ticking. 🏆
No way. If anything he's fired most people up about the sport. He's a professional elite runner, that's his job. I would be disappointed in him if he was not going for as many KMs as his body can handle to be able to win races and break records . Him not having any pain is fine. I'm sure many of us marathoners have noticed the more training we've done the less pain we've had or atleast it come later in the race. I get your point but really he's a pro not a roll model to show us how to run a marathon with no pain, that's up to us. Enjoyed it
Yep great shout and thanks for such a well balanced opinion. That’s why I love this community. Great respect and a sharing of opinions. Although I long for the day I run a marathon with no pain 😂
@@ThisMessyHappy I went for sub 3 in valencia and got it back in 2022. I can honestly say I didn't have any pain until 41.5 km. I had just trained and completed Comrades ultra. I think that was a big part. FYI have not gone for another sub 3. I have a feeling next one might have pain earlier 🤣🤣
I've read that Dennis Kimetto the WR holder before Kipchoge just jumped into high volume training as an adult. Worked for him short term but his body broke down soon after. Good video and thanks
Maybe another POV: while 300 km/wk sounds other-worldly to most of us, that’s just over a marathon a day on average. If his race pace is approx 2h and if his slow pace is (just a guess) 3h over that distance is that an unreasonable “time on feet” for him??? I’m not sure that our typical reference points apply to such a super-athlete 🤔
Pain indeed is there, but when a runner has prepared very well the pain is hardly felt. KK is a rare athlete carrying hardly any weight. He can combine high volume and quality mileage easier than many people. He was not going around chasing money from race to race; just 1 or 2 big ones a year. So he could afford to rest and recover in between his target races. He was an exceptional athlete with the fastest average of 3 marathons a feat that would take some time to beat. MHSRIP...Gone too soon😢
I really enjoyed this opinion video on a topic I wasn't super familiar with. I've seen Kevin achieve incredible finish times, but didn't know much about his training. Thanks for this video!
Well the news overnight shows living for the moment and doing crazy things, while running the risk of burning out earlier, is often the best way to live your life
I believe we need to train to what suits our body best. At my age (56) and a newer runner,my coach has me training 6 days a week. Look ( NO INJURIES). She pushes me hard but understands my first goal is staying healthy. Before working with her running was 2-3 days a week with injuries.
Not every sportsperson has to be a role model. Kiptum isn't going around saying that everyone should run every day as far they can, even going as far as to admit through his coach that it isn't sustainable. Surely this honesty is better than pretending it's all fine and everyone should copy him. As far as him denying he feels pain during a marathon - maybe that's just the way he has to think to break through the pain barrier. Everybody already knows endurance running is painful, he is just a man in his early 20s aiming to break the ultimate distance running milestone and we should not expect his media appearances to be as calm and assured as Kipchoge, who has 20 years of media appearances behind him.
When it comes to being role model, I think it’s important to account for the fact that Kipchoge is almost twice Kiptum’s age. My guess is that that’s a sort of wisdom that comes with age, aside from the few that seem to be born with it. It shouldn’t be held against him because his invulnerability is not really going to tip the scales all that much when there are a plethora of others in the sport who don’t share it. Perhaps the inspiration to draw from him is not that of vulnerability or openness, but rather sheer commitment and determination.
He at 24 would have run sub 2hrs for the marathon distance i dont think Kipchoge much older could better him a sad day for Athletics i know he was running 40ks a day a massive loss for mankind.
Lets step back a step - anyone copying anyone elses training is daft. Secondly, any 'everyday' runner comparing themselves to elites and copying their training is bonkers! Thirdly, everyones motives are different. Fourthly, to be the best of the best requires a whole different level. Who knows how long he will truly be able to last?
This reminds me of Abraham Kiptum. "Kiptum was withdrawn from the 2019 London Marathon in consequence of the suspension. On 11 November that year, a four-year suspension, and expunging of results, was confirmed. Kiptum's race times going back to 13 October 2018 were nullified."
Spot on, we, as Runners have to set our own expectations & celebrate our success for US not compared to those at an elite level who do this for a living. All the best to everyone in hitting their goals, my first ever marathon is coming up in 21 days & all I want to do is finish it! Malta come at me! 🇲🇹🎉
There's levels and tiers to performance and expectations. Kiptum is not a weekend runner so we can't expect how he trains or commits to be relatable to us the hobby runner. To attain the impossible and once thought improbable, ie the sub 2-hr marathon, he has to train in a way that was not done before. I commend him because it leaves us in awe of what our bodies are capable of. The people who look at a ceiling and wish to push past it or who take on the unattainable are to be lauded. Julius Maddox who's training for the first 800-lb raw bench press comes to mind as well as Bannister and his sub 4-min mile. I can respect the audacity it took to take on those improbable goals and the consequences you accept that comes with it.
I don't think that Kiptum is bad for running. If all the publicity he gains from winning races in this way encourages others, especially youngsters, to start running then that's great. I don't run to emulate anyone, I do it for myself and the enjoyment it brings. It's not always enjoyable at the time but afterwards I feel good about myself and the world and for me that's enough. I personally feel that the volume Kiptum runs will eventually bring on injuries but if he's coached well and listens to his body he'll get through it. He seems a cert to break 2 hours for the marathon and will be remembered in the way my generation remembers Roger Bannister for breaking the 4 minute mile. Good luck to him!
Appreciate that some really enjoy competing against others, but for me the only person I am competing with is myself. I am 45 gotten fit over the past 2 years having taken 15 years off exercise, and I can now plod a half marathon, I love hearing inspirational stories of achievements which are completely unachievable to me, be they 45 second 400m or backyards ultra's, but that's the thing, whether the world record is 1.58 or 2.02 it doesn't impact me, it's a different world. If I can break 3h30 later this year I will be proud of my own progress .... I was really pleased to break 2h for the half last year. Personal targets, personal records is all I have ... But pushing myself forward to be a better physical and emotional version of me is what keeps me trying not trying to emulate something that is impossible.
‘What a man wants, he can achieve.’ All it takes Is effort, persistence and a cheerful indifference to discomfort. ‘Pain is a merciful thing,’ ‘If it lasts without interruption, it dulls itself.’ Emil Zátopek
He's so young still that perhaps tons of easy volume is giving him massive adaptations that take most of years/decades to build up to. Perhaps once that levels off, he will be able to adapt his training again to a more traditional style and extend that career. Either way, should be an interesting watch!
I’m glad someone is asking the important questions. It seems like there’s a correlation between those trying double threshold and those getting injured. Us mortals shouldn’t copy elites.
😮Major marathons are now won by professional athletes. So too in all sports: football, cricket, cycling, etc. I'm pleased to see some real $$ coming into the sport. Those of us that have been and hope to be runners for the long run train differently than the elites. Those that inspire us are certainly more local.
Always interesting insight. I see no issues with his approach of a short but monumental career. Different goals and priorities doesn't make it a bad thing.
It’s the question of what you’re willing to do for the accolades. It was asked awhile back in a Sports Illustrated article where they asked Olympic athletes, if you can take a drug that was undetectable and would allow you to win a gold medal but would kill you in 5 years would you take it? The percentage was staggering that answered yes. We as amateur athletes/runners need to understand that these professional athletes are on another level than us. We can take tips, ideas, even training methods from them but also tweek them to benefit us. It’s an understanding of what your body can do and how these pro athletes got to the point they did.
For me it's totally fine when some people don't experience pain, I've even heard of people how don't really gather lactate in their muscles. If you want to learn from others you need to put it into context. Very good video topic :).
I have this theory: What if we’re all wrong about Kiptum’s motivation all these while? See, we keep going along the lines of being sustainable in training so that he will not get injured and last longer, has it ever occured that Kiptum is in fact, not going for longevity in the sport but to reach a height no one has ever reached and then retire, even if it means wrecking his body to do that? Meaning he is able to endure all that pain just to get to that very peak and then just leave on a high. Throughout the years we have had countless one season wonders who break onto the scene, break an incredible WR only to disappear into oblivion the years following. When Dennis Kimetto broke the WR nobody imagined it would have been possible.
This reply kind of helps me not to overthink about what could have happened if he could have lived longer. Maybe he had achieved what God wanted him to achieve on earth. RIP kiptum
I'm very excited to see what he can do, and I've had similar thoughts to many of those you express, so here are a few of mine in return: I think the pain thing is probably (as some have already said below) a miscommunication, though it could also be that his high training volume - roughly a marathon a day(!) - has somewhat immunised him to that sort of 'pain' Perhaps he's the first of a new generation of runners who can handle that sort of volume, and in future all elite marathon runners will do 250km a week. Clearly, he's not taking a sustainable approach but by August he could be the first man under 2 hours in a race and Olympic gold medallist. At that point, he might have made so much money and achieved all he set out to and could retire by 25. Finally, and I know I have to be very careful about how I say this, my big fear would be that given the stories that have been emerging about other Kenyan athletes, his meteroic rise, his unprecedented training volume, the pain thing and the phenomenal perfomances, that it'll turn out he only achieved it with some help from PEDs, and THAT would be bad for running.
He's not the first athlete running those volumes, back in the day Gelindo Bordin used to run up to 330 km per week...with the longest run in 3 hours so for him between 50-55 km...obviously without carbon shoes
Rob de Castella had 10 days off in 15 years and he was the marathon WR holder in the 80s. Also Japanese elite marathon runners have done even higher volumes than what Kiptum is doing. So if anyone wanted to follow their lead and put effort into training volume, it could have been done. Btw, I follow the same rule, taking days off when I am tired. Normally active recovery meaning an easy run at ca. 5 minutes/km pace or an easy bike ride is better than sitting on a sofa and watching tv. Normally once a month i notice that it gets too boring and then I take one day off and go only to the sauna.
Kiptum was a pacer for Kipchoge. Then he broke off and started pushing his career forward. He’s also 23 years old. His recovery abilities is fast. Hopefully he’s not taking any illegal performance enchancing substances given the fact that he keeps his stuff hidden. He just bursted into the scene seemingly out of nowhere. Other than that, I have never compared myself to an elite runner so I don’t really care. I enjoy the process of training quite a bit and I love seeing those incremental advances month after month and year after year like for example beating my previous 5k time by 1 second just makes me so happy.
The elite of the elite will also strive to push boundaries, this is what makes sport exciting to watch and follow. I know where the outer limits of my bounderies lie and train accordingly