How Catherine Ndereba inspired Ruth Chepng’etich into athletics

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ATHLETICS How Catherine Ndereba inspired Ruth Chepng’etich into athletics

Abigael Wafula 16:15 - 31.03.2023

She revealed that she will be competing at the N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon on April 30.

Two-time Chicago Marathon champion Ruth Chepng’etich is keen on following in the footsteps of legendary marathoner Catherine Ndereba.

Chepng’etich revealed that she started running in primary school but was not intentional about it at the time. She added that she started taking athletics seriously in 2015.

The 28-year-old's inspiration came from Ndereba who had ruled the track and roads. Ndereba is a four-time Boston Marathon champion and also a two-time Chicago Marathon champion. 

Ndereba broke the women's world marathon record in 2001, running 2:18:47 at the Chicago Marathon. Now retired, she serves as an assistant commissioner of the Kenya Prisons Service.

“In primary and secondary school, I did not take running seriously but Ndereba is the reason behind my motivation in the long-distance races. She has won the Boston Marathon four times and she has also achieved a lot in her career,” she said.

On her part, Chepng’etich has also achieved a lot in her career from breaking the women’s half marathon record at the 2021 Istanbul Half Marathon. She also ran the second fastest time to win last year’s Chicago Marathon.

Chepng’etich narrated the training routine that enables her to achieve great milestones in her running career.

“I train from Monday to Saturday. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I do speedwork. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays I carry out light training and then on Saturday I do the long runs,” she said.

She revealed that she will be returning to the streets of Istanbul for the N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon slated for Sunday, April 30.

“Istanbul is very special to me because the streets are beautiful and the environment is conducive. The course is also faster,” she said.