Sharon Lokedi has explained how the NYC Half Marathon experience will help her properly challenge Hellen Obiri at the upcoming Boston Marathon.
Sharon Lokedi has sent a strong message ahead of the 2025 Boston Marathon, outlining her strategy to challenge two-time champion Hellen Obiri after delivering a stunning performance at the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon.
Lokedi stormed to victory in the women’s open division, shattering Obiri’s 2023 course record by 17 seconds with a blistering time of 1:07:04.
Her decisive move came in the final 5 kilometers, covering the 15K to 20K stretch in an astonishing 15:26, leaving her competitors trailing.
The triumph adds to Lokedi’s growing list of accolades, including her 2022 TCS New York City Marathon win. Now, she is focused on translating this momentum into success at the grueling Boston Marathon.
Reflecting on her race, Lokedi expressed excitement about the NYC course and how it serves as a perfect buildup to Boston.
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“I felt good. I have been here before in 2022, so this was my second New Cup but on a different coast. I was very excited—honestly, I was so excited to go through Brooklyn Bridge, and I think that was cool. I really loved it,” she shared.
Lokedi believes the demanding terrain of the NYC Half provided the ideal preparation for Boston’s notorious hills.
“The course was actually really good. It wasn’t hilly-hilly, but it was also hilly—it was a mix of everything, which is really good for me going to Boston. But yeah, I had fun out there. I just wanted to run as hard as I could, and I think it went well,” she added.
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Training adjustments have also been key to her preparation. “Honestly, I feel like I just trained the way I usually do—just making sure I’m getting hills, getting tempos, and getting a mixture of everything. It’s a mix—it’s not just hills—so you have to be prepared for anything,” she explained.
Boston holds added significance for Lokedi, who finished behind Obiri in 2024. She is eager to turn the tables and erase the sting of missing out on an Olympic podium this year.
With Obiri eyeing a historic third consecutive title, Lokedi knows she must be at her best.
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“I just wanted to keep running hard and working on my last kilometers, getting stronger. So yeah, I kept doing that all the way to the end. And when I crossed the line, I was like, ‘Oh, okay,’” she recalled.
As the Boston Marathon approaches, all eyes will be on the showdown between Lokedi and Obiri. Will Lokedi’s meticulous preparation and renewed determination be enough to dethrone the reigning champion? April’s race promises to be an electrifying battle on the streets of Boston.
