NAIROBI, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Olympic Champion Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya relishes the challenge he expects in his quest to reclaim the London Marathon title and says it will inspire the athletes to post fast time.
The Kenyan, who is running his eighth marathon, having lost only one, leads a galaxy of Kenyan stars eyeing to better the course record in London, which he set in 2016, missing the world record by eight seconds to win in time of 2:02:57.
Now Kipchoge, who is arguably the greatest marathoner of the modern era, heads back to London with special 'Nike Flyprint' performance footwear to reclaim the title.
"The focus is on winning in a fast time. I went for the record in Berlin and failed, now all I want is run fast. This new shoe cannot absorb any water," Kipchoge said Wednesday.
"So, its really a plus to me and to runners who will be running in some months when the weather is not really friendly."
The 35-year old Berlin champion became a fan favorite following the Nike Breaking2 experiment, where he ran a 2:00:25 on a racetrack in Monza, Italy over a control circuit.
But with hopes of becoming a legend still active in his mind, Kipchoge is not ruling out running a world record in London.
The current mark of 2:02:57 is held by compatriot Dennis Kimetto set in Berlin in 2014, surprisingly the only race Kipchoge has ever lost since his debut at the 42km distance in Hamburg in 2013.
"Everyone is keen to win this type of races. London is a major race. But I know this is what inspires me and in my mind there is no doubt that what will make me a legend is running a world record in the long distance," said Kipchoge.
The Kenyan hopes his new shoes will help him recover fast. "I have used them before and when you run with this kind of shoe with all the efficiency inside it, to recover, it's really fast," he said.
Kipchoge will however, not be running against the clock as he faces one of the strongest line-up ever assembled in London led by defending champion Daniel Wanjiru, London Marathon silver medallist Kenenisa Bekele, Mo Farah, two-time world champion Abel Kirui, Lawrence Cherono and Bedan Koroki, who was third in last year's race.
Others are from Ethiopia Tola Shura Kitata, Guye Adola, second at Berlin Marathon, Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, Yohanes Gebregergish and Eritrea's Amanuel Mesel.
