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Tanak also promised to do that while wearing one of Kipchoge’s marathon shoes that were gifted to him while visiting Kipchoge’s training camp at Kaptagat in Gishu County, in southwestern Kenya.
M-Sport and 2019 World Rally Champion Ott Tanak has promised to attempt running a marathon below two hours, a feat only achieved by Kenyan marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge.
Tanak also promised to do that while wearing one of Kipchoge’s marathon shoes that were gifted to him while visiting Kipchoge’s training camp at Kaptagat in Gishu County, in southwestern Kenya.
As a token of their camaraderie, Tänak gifted Kipchoge one of his official racing helmets, though the marathon legend did not state whether he will be attempting a rally any time soon.
The Estonian together with French teammate for M-Sport Pierre-Louis Loubet had been hosted by Kipchoge as they sought inspiration from the athletic icon.
The two WRC stars will be competing at this weekend’s WRC Safari Rally in Kenya in the M-Sport prepared Ford Pumas, where they will aim to break the dominance by Toyota, who have won each of the previous two rallies since the WRC returned to Africa.
The meeting took place at Kipchoge's training camp in the picturesque Kenyan highlands, where they engaged in a light jog and exchanged knowledge across their respective sports.
5000m and 1500m women's world-record holder Faith Kipyegon, two-time New York City Marathon winner Geoffrey Kamworor, and 2009 10,000-meter world champion Linet Masai were also part of the meeting of stars.
During their visit, the WRC stars embraced Kipchoge's commitment to the environment by participating in a tree-planting ceremony to commemorate their meeting.
They then embarked on a light jog alongside Kipchoge and his esteemed Kenyan counterparts, experiencing firsthand the training routines and techniques employed by the marathon legend.
"It is good to meet other sportsmen from the other sectors. I am happy to host them and exchange knowledge,” Kipchoge explained.
“The training is different, but we share the values of trust and working hard. What I have learned is they are working as a team, as we are on our side,” he added.
Ott Tänak, filled with enthusiasm, commented, "It's been a mega experience, and Eliud is quite a quick guy to have a jog with!”
“To see here how professional people like this are working together, it's actually not too far off from rallying.”
“We are all people, and we are all doing professional sports. Whether it’s motorsport or a marathon, both of us are pushing to the limits and trying to get the maximum out," he said.
Pierre-Louis Loubet echoed Tänak's sentiments and expressed his admiration for Kipchoge, stating, "It was fantastic, before today I was a big fan of [Kipchoge].”
“My cousin is a runner, so we are all fans of him in my family. To see him in reality is a great honor. He is so humble. A lot of people have to spend a day with him to understand he is such a humble guy."
Kipchoge, widely recognized as one of the greatest athletes of all time, holds the remarkable distinction of being the only human to complete a marathon in under two hours.
He also boasts the official world record time of 2 hours, 1 minute, and 9 seconds, as well as four of the fastest six times in marathon history.
In addition to his marathon accomplishments, Kipchoge has earned two Olympic gold medals in the marathon event, along with a silver and a bronze in the 5,000-meter distance.
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