NAIROBI, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Coach Patrick Sang believes Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge has the strength and character to become the first man to run the marathon under the two-hour barrier.
Sang, a former Olympic steeplechase silver medalist, has been Kipchoge's coach since when he was 16 and has played a major role in what he is today.
However, after his failed attempt to run the marathon in under two hours in Monza, Italy in 2017, Sang has indicated Kipchoge will be ready to bring down the mark in Vienna in October.
"He possesses an unwavering belief in himself unlike anyone I have ever met and he wants all of us to believe in ourselves in exactly the same way, no matter what we do or what goals we have set. He says No Human is Limited and he truly believes that.
"And it is because of this strength of character, this strength of mind that I believe he will become the first human to run a sub two-hour marathon and complete the INEOS 1:59 Challenge," said Sang on Friday from Eldoret.
Sang, however says he has no special way he intends to prepare Kipchoge for the big task in three months' time.
"I don't have to do too much different with Kipchoge. He has shown us all what the human mind is capable of. We are going to build on that mental strength in training and the experience and knowledge we gained from Breaking2 in Monza, Italy. It was a journey into the unknown, it isn't now.
"For us it is important to continue believing as Kipchoge does, to prepare him properly here in Kenya and to keep him fit and healthy," added Sang.
According to Global Sports Communication, Kipchoge's management company, the Berlin and London champion is set to cover 3200km in the next three months as part of his training for the INEOS 1:59 Challenge.
That is like running 77 marathons, or running from Mombasa to Kigali and back then from Mombasa to Nakuru.
Ordinarily, Kipchoge always starts his long run in a group of athletes, but after about 35km, it is left up to him to go the extra mile.
"To be honest, I did not know the capacity of Kipchoge in his attempt to break the two-hour barrier. I knew the mind is strong but in Monza, I didn't realize how strong it is," said Sang.
"It was then that I realized how important belief is. Someone might believe they can do it, but do they truly believe? Is it just an 80 per cent belief? With Kipchoge it is 100 per cent."
According to Sang, Kipchoge has shown the world what is possible and whatever happens in Vienna, he will be remembered in history.
"He will be remembered as someone who has shown others what is possible, he has inspired people to believe that No Human is Limited. He has changed lives and will continue to change lives," he added.
