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The new world record-holder in the women’s-only marathon reflects on her London victory, admitting she is still struggling to wrap her head around it
Peres Jepchirchir made history at the London Marathon last week as she sprinted clear of three rivals to claim the women’s-only world record of 2:16:16 – breaking the 2:17:01 Kenya’s Mary Keitany ran in London 2017.
The 30-year-old made a definitive move to win as she left Tigist Assefa, who smashed the overall women’s world record when she ran 2:11:38 last year, with 600m left to go – smashing her PB by exactly one minute.
In 2023 the Kenyan finished third in London, behind Alemu Megertu and Sifan Hassan, who did not return to defend her title.
However, it has not been an easy ride to victory for Jepchirchir as she was forced to pull out of the New York City Marathon last year due to an injury, making her win in London that bit more special.
Speaking at the fourth edition of the adizero Road To Records event in Germany, the adidas athlete revealed she takes her marathon preparations slightly differently to others. She mentioned that unlike many, she refuses from eating anything on the morning of a race.
After her historic win in London, Jepchirchir now focuses her attention on making the Kenyan Olympic team, which is due to be announced in coming days.
Her strong return, alongside being an Olympic champion, makes it almost impossible for the distance runner not to be selected.
Jepchirchir spoke at the Road To Records Event below:
Peres Jepchirchir (Getty)
How do you feel after your win?
I am so happy and I feel so grateful to celebrate my win in London and my new world record. I am happy, despite the pain in the legs.
It is not easy for yourself to accept that you are the winner. It has took me a lot of time to understand myself because I was still in a dilemma, thinking ‘was that me? did I win? did I break the record?’
I was so exhausted afterwards so it has taken a lot of time for me to sleep. I am happy, I am tired and you have so many people trying to call you and it is hard with all the missed messages.
And even up until now I am still thinking, “It’s me Peres, I’ve done it.”
When did you realise that you were going to win London Marathon?
By the time I was at the 40km mark I knew I was going to win it. For me I didn’t run it at the front the whole way, I just ran behind and I felt very relaxed.
If you remember last year in London I was in front from 25km until near the end and I felt a lot of fatigue and my legs were tired, and I didn’t make it last year.
This year, at 40km I was thinking ‘let me wait’ and then at 600m left to go I went.
Did you have the world record in your mind?
Last year I did not prepare well at all. I only prepared for two months because I was out with an injury so I told myself I am supposed to visit back to London but I was not expected to run the world record. My preparations in the build up were to be in London and to win.
How was it to run against such a strong field of elite women?
For me it felt really good because the top three women were all running with adidas. I was also so happy to run with the world record-holder [Assefa].
It was the toughest competition I have ever run. I knew we could maybe break some records because the field was so strong.
Peres Jepchirchir, Tigist Assefa and Joyciline Jepkosgei (LM Events)
Did you feel anxious during your preparations?
My preparation went very well. Last year we had to cancel the New York marathon because of my sore muscles. We decided I either do New York and no more future races or we focus on more races so I came back to Kenya and I trained well.
Everything was good during training but I felt a lot of tension because of how much of a strong field it was.
At the time I was preparing I was thinking ‘you haven’t prepared very well’ but the pacemakers were telling me I was fine but I was not trusting myself too well because the tension was so strong.
Now we are preparing for an Olympic year people will be following me more. It is difficult to be as strong sometimes because maybe people are looking on you and they do not want you to let them down.
So pressure is everywhere, when I am going into the race I have a lot of pressure from people who are watching me and wanting me to do good things.
Do you have any pre-race marathon rituals?
For me to eat even before the race is so difficult because of all the tension.
I can say that I maybe eat a little bit of rice before I go to sleep and in the morning before a marathon I do not eat anything.
Peres Jepchirchir
What message would you give to women who can look up to you?
I am grateful and I am happy to be a woman to be winning and winning and winning.
I think I am a good example for women and I have shown them the way and if they saw me maybe they can say ‘if Peres can make it then so can I.’
Women are women, we are the same. Although the competition is so high, we are all women, we are not competing with the men so we have to believe to trust yourself. You need to tell yourself ‘yes you can.’
We have to believe ourselves, love ourselves and trust ourselves that we can make it.
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