Peres Jepchirchir opened up about one of the things she skipped in her early career that no youngster should.
Former Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir has opened up about one of the key measures that she should have taken seriously in her early career that haunts her to date.
The reigning London Marathon champion noted that during her time as a student, she would compete in track races but never took them seriously.
After completing her high school education, Jepchirchir immediately switched to road running, a move that has cost her a lot and she would not wish that even on her worst enemy.
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The world half marathon champion disclosed that ignoring her track career has caused so many injuries and slowed her down career wise. Despite having won a series of major marathons, in the recent past, Jepchirchir has been forced to withdraw from major races due to injuries.
She explained that athletes who immediately started road running tend to have less longevity than those who actually competed in track races before making the switch.
She urged the young runners to ensure they invest in their track careers before switching to road running to avoid the injuries and less years in the sport.
“Back in school, I used to run track and field but I was not that serious. When I finished high school, I went straight into training for the road races because all my teammates were road racers at the time,” Jepchirchir said in an interview with Sports Wave Africa Foundation.
“I think so because in road races there are many injuries now and then, like for me in 2023, I didn’t run at the New York City Marathon and last year, I didn’t also run in New York because of an injury.
“In road races, there is a huge impact and injuries are always on and off but those people who have competed in track races have matured enough to run.”
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Peres Jepchirchir at the 2024 London Marathon
The 2023 season was tough for Jepchirchir who was hoping to compete in the streets of New York and hopefully reclaim her title. However, the Kenyan distance sensation suffered a calf injury during her final workout before the race.
She had travelled to New York and was hopeful about competing but had to withdraw last minute since things were getting out of hand.
The same happened in 2022 where she could not defend her New York City Marathon title despite having won the Boston Marathon title earlier that season.
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At the Paris Olympic Games, Jepchirchir was aiming to defend her title but could only afford a 15th place finish.
A great example of an athlete who has progressed well is Hellen Obiri who transitioned from track races to the roads and her consistency is to be admired. Obiri made her full marathon debut in New York in 2022 where she finished sixth.
She bounced back in 2023, winning the Boston and New York City Marathon titles before defending her Boston Marathon title in 2024. She then proceeded to the Paris Olympic Games where she won bronze for Team Kenya in the marathon and then rounded up her season with a second-place finish in New York.
