Eliud Kipchoge, renowned as one of the greatest marathoners in history, will step down in distance to race a 10K on Dec. 1 at the Thailand 10K, held as part of the 2024 Bangkok Marathon. This event, marking his first non-marathon race since the 2016 Delhi Half Marathon, is part of a new collaboration between the Bangkok Marathon and the NN Running Team.
Over the past decade, Kipchoge has dominated the marathon scene.
With two Olympic gold medals, 11 World Marathon Major wins, and a world record set in 2018 that he held until 2023, his impact on the sport is unparalleled. In 2019, he became the first person to unofficially break the two-hour marathon barrier, running 1:59:40 at a special event in Vienna, though it did not qualify as an official record due to pacing and course conditions.
Known as the marathon GOAT for his resilience and consistent performances, Kipchoge has rarely faltered in competition. However, recent challenges have reminded fans that even the greatest athletes face setbacks.
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At the Paris Olympic marathon, Kipchoge sought a historic third consecutive Olympic gold.
But his race ended in his first-ever DNF (Did Not Finish), with the athlete citing hip pain that forced him to withdraw. Reflecting on the experience, Kipchoge said, “This is my worst marathon. I have never done a DNF. That’s life.” This was a humbling moment in his career, and while he said he would continue to race marathons, he also highlighted that some changes may be needed as he navigates the latter stages of his career. Kipchoge turned 40 on Nov. 5, although it is widely believed that he is in fact a few years older, as Kenyans of that age typically didn’t receive birth certificates.
In addition to racing the Thailand 10K, Kipchoge and the NN Running Team are launching a tour across Southeast Asia in partnership with Amazing Thailand to promote running in the region. Kipchoge has often spoken of his vision for a “running world,” describing how he believes running fosters happiness, health, and peace, “There is tremendous potential in the Asian running world, and I am happy to start working together with Amazing Thailand to promote running in the Asian region.”
Kipchoge hopes to inspire a new generation of runners in Asia, encouraging deeper interest and participation in the sport. “I have always said that I want to make this world a running world, because a running world is a happy world, a running world is a healthy world, and a running world is a peaceful world. This partnership contributes to my personal ambitions.”
While exploring shorter distances, Kipchoge still remains focused on his marathon goals.
In a recent interview, he confirmed his ambition to complete all Abbott World Marathon Majors before retiring. Having completed Berlin, London, Tokyo, Chicago, and Boston, only New York and the newly promoted Sydney Marathon remain. Kipchoge is determined to check these off his list before officially stepping away from competitive running.
The Shanghai and Cape Town marathons are also expected to be added as World Marathon Majors in the coming years, bringing the series to nine events. It’s unclear if Kipchoge plans on running these events as well.
Kipchoge’s upcoming appearance in the Thailand 10K offers fans a rare opportunity to see him race outside the marathon distance, a move they haven’t seen in nearly 10 years. With an impressive personal best of 26:54, who knows what he will be able to accomplish after nearly 10 years focusing solely on the marathon.
