News19 Aug 2014


Komon to make marathon debut in Eindhoven

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Leonard Komon taking another Berlin 10km victory (© BERLIN RUNS / Jürgen Engler)

Leonard Komon, the 10km and 15km world record-holder, will make his marathon debut at the 2014 De Lage Landen Marathon Eindhoven on 12 October.

The Kenyan, now 26, has been focusing on his first race over the classic distance for several months.

On 30 March, he won the Berlin Half Marathon in 59:14, the fastest ever debut over that distance, and he has increased his mileage in preparation for his marathon outing in the Dutch city in fewer than eight weeks’ time.

On Tuesday morning, he was driven around the Eindhoven course by the race organisers and his immediate impression was extremely positive.

“I have 2:05 and breaking the course record as my target time,” said Komon. “I think the course is very fast, it is a nice course and if the weather is good, I hope to run a good time.

“Some people in my training group ran in Eindhoven last year and so I already knew a little bit about the course but it is important to see it for yourself and I can say I am very happy.”

Komon’s compatriot Dickson Chumba set the current course record of 2:05:46 in 2012.

“We have still to discuss pace making in detail, and who will do it, we have eight weeks to decide that, but I think I would like to run the first half in 1:02:30 and that will give me the chance to run 2:05, or even faster,” said Komon.

“I have been very happy with my training, I have not had any injuries or any other distractions since my last race (in New York, where he finished second in 28:17 over 10km on 10 May) so I am feeling quite confident I will have a good chance of achieving my targets,” he added.

Komon will certainly have plenty of local support around the streets of Eindhoven after he delivered a heartfelt eulogy to the hospitality of the Dutch road running community, and the country in general.

“One of the reasons I chose Eindhoven to make my marathon debut is that I feel this is my lucky country. I have run many good races here and have always been treated so well.

“I ran my 10km world record in Utrecht (26:44 in 2010), which is not very far from here, and my 15km world record was in Nijmegen (41:13, also in 2010), which is also not very far from Eindhoven.

“I feel very comfortable in this part of Holland. I am used to the conditions and the environment,” he added. “I also hope this is my first step to running the marathon at the Olympics in Rio in two years’ time.”

Organisers for the IAAF

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