Mary Jepkosgei Keitany is a Kenyan long distance runner. She is the world recorder holder in a women-only marathon, having won the 2017 London Marathon in a time of 2:17:01.
Her half marathon personal best of 1:05:50 is a former women’s world record. She also has held the world record at 10 miles (50:05 minutes), 20 kilometres (1:02:36), and 25 kilometres (1:19:53), all of which were set in road races.
World Record Holder Mary Keitany shares her spectacular journey in this exclusive interview with Namita Nayyar, President Women Fitness.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You are known as one of the best women long distance runners, with your personal best of 1:05:50 in the half marathon, being the former women’s world record and having also held the world record in the women’s 10 miles, 20 km, and 25 km. Walk us through your spectacular journey and tell us how it all began?
Ms. Mary Keitany:
Everything started when I was having my last days at school and was looking at some friends running so I started as well. At the beginning I was not doing much because I did not know much about training but following some other athletes I started to improve.
In my first trip outside Kenya I won Seville HM in 2006 in 69’07” and after that in the next 40 days I won 3 of the 6 races I ran and everything started.
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All Written Content Copyright © 2017 Women Fitness
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
As of 2017, you are the world recorder holder in a women-only marathon, having won the 2017 London Marathon with a time of 2:17:01. How do you feel about being the first of a kind to set a benchmark and to be able to inspire so many like you?
Ms. Mary Keitany:
I was also inspired by Paula Radcliffe when she ran the World Record only women as well as the World record in a mixed race with men pacers. I know the record are there to be beaten and maybe very soon my WR will go because there are so many talented young girls in Kenya and Ethiopia. In any case I’m very proud to be the owner of the World Record at the moment.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Introduce us to a day in the life of an athlete, preparing for a Marathon.
Ms. Mary Keitany:
It is a very committed day. Wake up early in the morning (5.00 or 5.30 am) and start with the first training at around 6.30 am depending which is the kind of training.
Back home, shower, some Kenyan tea and relax. Lunch and some small sleep if the children are at school and in the evening at 5pm another training.
Two or 3 times a week I go to see the physiotherapist for massage and Tecar therapy.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine that you may like to share?
Ms. Mary Keitany:
Honestly there is nothing secret in my training. I train hard 2 times a week with some middle or long workout and every 3 weeks a long distance training of 35 km or 38 km.
The work out can be on the track (10 times 1000m or 6 times 2000m) or also some fartlek outside the track.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Mary Keitany:
No I don’t have a special diet but I like the Kenyan food like chapatti or ugali with chicken or some meat with vegetables and the fruits of Kenya. I normally drink water or soda or Kenyan Tea (tea with milk).
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Training for professional sports requires you to be out in the extreme weather. How are you able to take care of your skin and hair?
Ms. Mary Keitany:
That is the most difficult part for a woman. I’m always under the sun and in the dust of the Kenyans roads. To be in order with my skin I should have shower every time I rain and put some creams. The hair are still more difficult and one time every 2 weeks I have to go to take care of it.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Who has been your greatest influence and motivator in your success in the field of your career?
Ms. Mary Keitany:
For sure I have to say thank you to my husband who always supported me and to my children (Jared 9 years old and Samantha 4 years old). They are motivating me a lot to build a future for them.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Having participated in multiple events like the London Olympics, New York City Marathon, London Marathon, etc. tell us about one of the most memorable experience that you may have had at these Marathons and Games.
Ms. Mary Keitany:
The best moment for me was on 2014 coming back to the marathon in New York after the maternity of Samantha and be able to win in the last 300m after a shoulder to shoulder race with Jemima Sumgong all the marathon. I will never forget that because after 2 year out of my sport I was not sure to be ready to win and that was a big emotion which I never will forget.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding long distance runners who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in this field?
Ms. Mary Keitany:
Commitment, discipline, motivation and also to enjoy on the fatigue what you are building every day. Whatever is your goal. Having near you people that understand how important is what you are doing and supporting to achieve it. You don’t know how long your career is. Just have challenges in front of you and try to achieve it.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Being a mother to two beautiful children, you have to manage your personal and professional life both. What advice would you give to new mothers who have to do the same?
Ms. Mary Keitany:
To be a mother and a top level athlete is not very simple because sometimes you have to sacrifice something in one of the two commitment.
As I said before to have the help of the husband or other people in the house is making simple. In any case it is important to have in mind that children can make you tired but also is the motivation to make them happy after a big race where they are waiting for me at the finish line or waiting for me at home after a long trip to go home after a race in USA or Europe.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Tell us about your preparations for the future Marathons.
Ms. Mary Keitany:
The preparation is the success to achieve something good in a race. Of course you have to be healthy always to make a good preparation but a good training is making you confident before and during the race. I think my preparation is going well and hope to be able to win in the next races.
My preparation is based on a more than 200km a week and a lot of commitment. Maybe be able to before the end of my career to beat again the World Record and also to try to win the Olympic Games in 2020 Tokyo. But let’s go step by step.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What do you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Mary Keitany:
Women especially in Africa are making a big move ahead in their life. We are not only to be considered mothers but able to achieve something good outside the family.
I hope that all the women can support themselves and be part of a new way to afford the life. Women must not be afraid of anything. Many years ago the women could not run a marathon and now I can beat a lot of men if they run with me. We can also compete with the men in any field but always thinking that we are women (different about men..) and we are playing an important role in every society.
Women Fitness Team extends our heartfelt gratitude to Marie Keitany for taking out time from her busy schedule and doing this interview with us.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2017 Women Fitness