'It Was a Hard Time' - Eliud Kipchoge Explains How 2025 Prepared Him for His Most Demanding Years

Eliud Kipchoge has reflected on a challenging 2025 season that tested his limits and set the stage for an even more ambitious future.

Eliud Kipchoge has explained why the next two years will be demanding and how competing in three marathons in 2025 prepared him for that.

The five-time Berlin Marathon champion started his season with the Tokyo Marathon where he finished sixth before heading to the Sydney Marathon where he finished ninth.

Eliud Kipchoge capped off his season with a 17th-place finish at the New York City Marathon and as he transitions into the next chapter, he hopes to continue inspiring thousands of athletes from across the globe.

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Eliud Kipchoge Explains How the 2025 Season Has Been a Game Changer

The 2025 season has been uniquely demanding for Eliud Kipchoge and he views it as preparation for an even more ambitious schedule ahead.

"It was a hard time, but I did not change my training so much," the two-time Olympic marathon champion explained in an interview with The Athletic.

"In the next two years, I will be doing seven marathons. One year might be four marathons, and the other year might be three, so it was a good test for my body."

Eliud Kipchoge’s unparalleled marathon career began after a pivotal moment in 2012 when he failed to qualify for the London Olympics in the 5,000m.

"I decided to move to the road, just to run, to see how it feels," he recalled. A strong half-marathon debut in Lille, France, that year set the stage for what was to come.

"I didn’t know that one day I would actually try to push the limits, run the fastest marathon ever, make history," he admitted. "It came later, when I actually adapted to the marathon and I asked myself, ‘What can I do that nobody has actually done?’”

Over the next 13 years, he answered that question repeatedly. His achievements include five wins and two world records in Berlin, four victories in London, and course records in Chicago and Tokyo. He also famously broke the two-hour barrier in the unofficial Breaking2 event.

"I have set the bar enough to tell people... that longevity is the key," Eliud Kipchoge stated. "The more you stay in sport, the more you empower many people."

Looking ahead, Eliud Kipchoge plans a global tour that will include a marathon in Antarctica, driven by a desire to connect sport with charity.

"People are into humanity, and most marathons are into charity," he said. "People are happy to register, to donate and see lives changing, which will bring more joy to sport."

Eliud Kipchoge Reveals Details of His Private Chat with Barack Obama

After finishing 17th at the New York City Marathon on November 2, Eliud Kipchoge celebrated his birthday three days later with a slice of pizza before heading to Washington, D.C.

He had a meeting with his hero, former U.S. President Barack Obama. It is clear his influence now extends far beyond the world of athletics.

"We talked about legacy, the future, leadership and mentorship of our youth around the world and in Africa," Eliud Kipchoge explained.

"And, above all, how I can use sport to bring change, to mentor people to lead in a good way, to empower communities and to really make everybody think in a positive way to improve the world."

Eliud Kipchoge is now fully focused on his global tour and he envisions his foundation establishing headquarters in cities worldwide.