World Half Marathon silver medallist Bedan Karoki training. He is readying for a busy games'schedule. [Photo.runblogrun.com]
World Half Marathon silver medallist, Bedan Karoki is preparing for the busiest three months of his running career as he is set to feature in as many numbers of road races during that period.
Karoki has upped his training in readiness for the lucrative Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) 10km race in Dubai next month before switching his attention to the World Half Marathon in March followed by the gruelling London Marathon in April.
The Dubai race will take place on February 10 with 13 Kenyans among 20 elite men athletes set to square it off with Karoki seeking to defend his crown.
That race, alongside the World Half Marathon where he will represent Kenya together with two-time and defending champion Geoffrey Kamoworor, Leonard Barsoton, Joram Okombo and Barselius Kipyego in Valencia, Spain on March 23, will serve well as preparations for the London event slated for April 22. “I will use the two half marathons as a build-up for London.
"I am in shape and I am just polishing a bit of speed since half marathon needs speed,” he said.
While it might be easy in the United Arab Emirates, Valencia will present its fair share of challenges for Karoki as he is up against Kamworor who has denied him victories in local races as well as World Half Marathon and Cross-Country.
“I am confident of winning gold in Valencia to increase my medal tally in the event,” Karoki said after a speedwork session at Nyahururu Stadium yesterday. Karoki made his debut in half marathon in 2014 and has since posted good times in various events including 59:36 for a silver medal in the 2016 World Half Marathon behind Kamworor in Cardiff, Wales.
He competed in the 2017 London Marathon where he finished third in a time of 2:07:41 behind Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele and Kenyan counterpart Daniel Wanjiru who won the race.