KIMbia Athletics

James and Boaz talk about their hopes and training with just two days to go. Then the silliness starts with lightning round questioning.

James discusses why he thinks the third time will be the charm with this marathon thing.

Tomorrow: Pre-race lightning round with James and Boaz. We’ll be taping that Friday morning, and logistics will mean that it won’t go live until Friday night. But you’ll see, it will definitely be worth the wait. In the meantime, check out these James and Boaz videos on the Marathon Performance site, and read this Runner’s World interview with James.

James and Boaz do 10 mile repeats with a minute’s rest between. They were to start at 4:55 and work down to 4:50 if they felt okay. Boaz wound up averaging 4:47, James 4:49. This was at about 5,300 feet of elevation.

Thursday: Big Plans for the Big Apple

What happens when a 5-3 Kenyan and 5-10 American get together for a month of marathon training?

Tomorrow: 10 X Mile

James loosens up the old hips before heading over to the ramp for some hill sprints.

Tomorrow: The Odd Couple

Stephen Kiogora–better known as Baba to marathon fans–ran a fantastic personal best of 2:08:24 at this morning’s Frankfurt Marathon. Baba finished third, and was part of the three-man lead pack that splintered at about 35K once winner Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot broke away.

In his debut, Cheruiyot (no relation to the World Marathons Major champ) ran 2:07:21. Baba was close behind Wilson Kigen, who ran 2:08:16. (Kigen’s brother Wilfred had won in Frankfurt the previous three years.) Unfortunately, Baba took a nasty fall as he was entering the arena where the indoor finish at Frankfurt occurs.

Ben Maiyo was seventh in a solid 2:09:58. Julius Koskei (James’ brother) was one place back with a nice debut of 2:10:14.

1. Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:07:21
2. Wilson Kigen (KEN) 2:08:16
3. Stephen Kiogora (KEN) 2:08:24
4. Philemon Kirwa Tarbei (KEN) 2:08:47
5. Benson Barus (KEN) 2:08:57
6. Japhet Kosgei (KEN) 2:09:24
7. Benjamin Maiyo (KEN) 2:09:58
8. Julius Kibet Koskei (KEN) 2:10:14
9. Vincent Kipsos (KEN) 2:10:23
10. William Kiplagat (KEN) 2:10:53

James and Boaz are joined by 2:11 Aussie Andrew Leatherby. Is it us, or are there few things in life better than a gentle run with friends in a nice setting in great weather?

Boaz talks about growing up barefoot, making his marathon debut in New York City, training with Brad Hudson and James Carney, and his culinary prowess.

Tomorrow: Res Run 2 (with a non-KIMbia interloper!),

With coach Brad Hudson on hand for support, James performs a series of 10-second hill sprints on a ridiculously steep ramp. This morning’s workout was a 50-minute run to the track, form and flexibility drills, jog to the hill, hill sprints, jog home. That afternoon James ran an 50+ minutes, and the following morning did a session of mile repeats.

Tomorrow: Meet Boaz Cheiboywo

James describes the odd trajectory of his career, from a 5:15 miler in 11th grade and walk-on at Millersville University, to national 20K and half marathon champion and aspiring elite marathoner.