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Langat takes the longest route
Former Africa cross country Gold medalist who is also the former world cross country silver medalist in Poland back in 2010 Clement Kiprono Langat changes gears and move from track/cross country to marathon.
Fot. Langat with his training compatriots during a 40km long run on Saturday morning in Iten
Langat who had been running for Subaru Fuji heavy industry in Japan said that he has terminated his contract with the Japanese motor vehicle company to build up for Marathon. Langat’s name is known by many for his fighting spirit and struggle in athletics and many believe that his idea of moving to marathon is an incredible move by the athlete.
“I have been running track and cross country for quite sometimes and now it’s time to take it to another level” said Clement.
The Nike sponsored athletes was born in 1992 in Bomet county in rift valley and in the year 2010 his name come on the limelight during the world cross country championships when he won the world cross country junior silver medal where he was signed by Subaru company in Japan to run for the Fuji heavy industry and in 2012 he won the Africa cross country championships in South Africa being the first Kenyan to win the senior men title in Africa cross country.
“I took a very long time trying to run track before I realized I could do better in cross country and I don’t want to waste more of time to make the next move. With the injuries I got recently I have not been performing very well in cross country and now that I’m fit again, I am going to try my best in the road especially half and the full marathon.” echoed Langat.
Langat is a generous athlete and he has a training camp in Iten which supports up to ten athletes and among them is Julius Tanki who was recently recruited to one of the companies in Japan with the help of Langat.
“I love athletics and I would love to see no athletes fail to achieve their dreams just because they can’t afford to stay in the camp. You know most of the athletes here in Kenya comes from humble background and hence hard for most of them to get training facilities, food, housing and other items needed for one to be stable in training. I chose to support this young athletes because I was once a victim and I know exactly how it feels to be there.” – said Langat.
His training is quite different as he claimed that other athletes training programs doesn’t work so well with him.
“Personally I don’t do gym training a lot as most established athletes do. People like Anthony Maritim, Eliud Kipchoge among other do a lot of gym but I tried and it didn’t work with me. I prefer long runs hill works and speed works in my program.”
Langat who is currently training with the reigning Paris marathon winner Mark Korir said that he is targeting either Dubai or Tokyo marathon for his debut.
“Right now I don’t want to rush into competitions, I want to spend enough time training and maybe end of this year or early next year you might see me in some marathon race somewhere. I want to try see if I can make it to Dubai or Tokyo marathon for a start and then I will see how is goes from there” said Langat.
