The world’s fastest long-distance runner alive, Eliud Kipchoge, just won the Berlin Marathon 2023 coming in at first place on Sunday. The four-time Kenyan-born marathon runner had already won four Berlin Marathons and several Olympic Medals prior. So what made this win surprising or any different?
Kipchoge’s staggering career, which hardly knows what the word “defeat” even means, or what it looks like to not beat his personal record, was hit by a shocking disruption when he ran his Boston Marathon 2023 in April. The four-time London Marathon winner who set a Guinness World Record for most London Marathons won by a male, posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) after his epic loss, shedding insight into how he was feeling about coming in sixth place, and his prospects for the future.
Eagle-eyed fans took their seats all around the world as we waited to see what would transpire as Kipchoge took his place again at the Berlin Marathon 2023 on Sunday. Sunday saw Kipchoge face a myriad of challenges. Although the weather conditions were near favorable for long-distance running, he was set to compete against 11 other athletes that broke the two-hour mark in their marathon careers, and most importantly, was up against last year’s London Marathon winner, Kenyan athlete Amos Kipruto.
But Kipchoge did not disappoint. Bounding from the starting gun with an opening time of 14:12 for the initial 5k stretch (the breath-taking equivalent of 4:34 per mile), after the first hour he had already left the other athletes close at his heel (Kipruto included) out of camera shot. Kipchoge darted through the blue ribbon in another record-breaking 2:02:42, officially crowning him the only athlete in history to win five Berlin Marathon titles.
As an avid long-distance runner myself (as a hobby not a serious sport), I was curious to know how. What made all the difference? Did Kipchoge switch up his running routine? Did he invest more in his nutritional fuel?
As it turns out, while his training might have been more laser-focused since his Boston loss, there are three key factors he shared in his post-Boston X video, that boosted his career from a setback to an ultimate comeback in today’s glorious Berlin win:
Resilience—”I will bounce back”
Every career is bound to have losses and wins, ups and downs. Kipchoge had an amazingly resilient attitude about his loss. Even though it was a disappointing setback, he announced courageously, “I will bounce back.” In life, and in your career, understanding this perspective and recognizing that it is OK to be human, take risks, and make mistakes, is key to maintaining a growth mindset and experiencing success later on.
Self-awareness—what went wrong
In his video, Kipchoge shared some possible factors that contributed to his Boston loss, for example, an issue with his upper leg, and even going as far as to detail where his mindset was at the start and towards the middle of the race. It takes strength, confidence, and emotional intelligence to recognize where one has gone wrong, instead of blaming external factors, which is often so easy to do. When one chooses to reflect on their failures, hold themselves accountable and most importantly, analyze their mindset, this practice will yield tremendous career success.
What’s your why?—The Paris Olympics
According to Olympics’ own website, the Kenyan athlete selected the Berlin Marathon this year by way of preparation for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. Because he had a strong “why”, an end goal that was greater than the current task—winning the Berlin Marathon—it motivated him and drove his performance all the way to the finish line. When you have a strong “why,” something that extends beyond your current work, it will inspire you to achieve and succeed in all your career goals. Establishing your “why” is crucial to any aspect of career planning, leadership, or ongoing professional development.
With a resilient mindset, strong self-awareness, and setting your sights on the illustrious career goal that awaits, what could the future hold for you? Perhaps the Olympics? Winning an award? Becoming an internationally recognized expert? A stellar promotion?
The universe is the limit.
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