Kenya's Kipchoge ready to run marathon under two hours in Italy

Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya said here on Wedensday that he is ready to make history by running the marathon in under two hours in Italy.

"I like challenges and that is what inspired me to take up this task. It is something that offers to change the unthinkable by running the marathon under two hours and for me to be part of this experiment means a lot," said Kipchoge before jetting out to Monza, Italy, for the marathon this weekend.

The Nike's Breaking 2 project will be held on any day from May 6-7 depending on the weather condition on a surface that usually hosts the Italian Grand Prix in Formula One, reports Xinhua news agency.

And Olympic winner Eliud Kipchoge is very optimistic in his countdown to Nike's Breaking 2 project this week in Monza run on the formula one course, which will see him endure some 17 laps.

In Monza, the Kenyan together with Lelisa Desisa from Ethiopia and Zersenay Tadese from Eritrea are going to attempt to break the two hour barrier on Friday or Saturday or Sunday (depending on the weather) with the help of pacemakers -- among them Bernard Lagat, Stephen Sambu, Sam Chelanga, Andrew Bumbalough and Chris Derrick.

In his training camp in Kaptagat, Kipchoge talked to journalists about his expectations on the project, which is within the framework of the IAAF project 'Day in the Life of Eliud Kipchoge'.

Kipchoge, whose personal best time stands at 2:03:05 hours, is 100 per cent confident to run a sub 2 hours and accomplish his mission.

"I don't mind the gap," he said referring to the big time difference of his personal best to the 2 hours target.

Kipchoge, however, knows that even if he accomplishes his task, there can't be an official world record attributed to it and his name.

"I know as much, but if it is just a world best, I don't care. I would be the first man to run under two hours. And I want to make the history," he said. "I treat myself as the best athlete."

Kipchoge talked about money as a catalyst for him taking the challenge saying that running brings food on the table.

"However, I don't want money to destroy my concentration. I want to conquer what I believe is a big challenge in my life. I remain the same because even when in training camp, we still clean our rooms, we clean our toilets ourselves," he said.

Kipchoge noted that nothing has changed for him personally after Rio. "I am still the same guy and even after Monza, it will still be me, a simple man minding his own business," he said.

--IANS

pur/dg