Lodepa eyes top honours at Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon
By Amos.Abuga, October 30, 2021
Five-time Lewa Marathon champion Fridah Lodepa has set here eyes on winning the 18th edition of Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon on Sunday.
The decorated athlete who has been training in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet county is contented that after bagging three Standard Chartered Marathon titles abroad, she will be able to reciprocate that form at home.
“I have been training since August, under coach Elkana Ruto,” said the double Kilimanjaro International Marathon champion.
The 2007 and 2010 Standard Chartered Bangkok Marathon winner says she started her build-up for the Nairobi race by training three times a day.
“I was going for morning runs at 6 am.Second session was at 10 am and I would close the day with evening runs at 4pm,” she explains.
As the competition is drawing nearer, the double Pattaya International Marathon champion changed tact four weeks ago, she decided to go for the long runs.
“The first week I did 45km twice, then the following week I ran 38km two times, last week I did 35km, also twice, while this week I have only done one round of 25km,” she adds. The 2009 Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon champion now feels her body is in shape to conquer Nairobi.
“Now that it is only three days to the race, I’m taking a rest with abit of jogging to stimulate my muscles and joints,” added the athlete who was due in Nairobi on Friday to feel the weather ahead of the race.
The 38-year old mother of three said she has never regretted changing her discipline from cross country to marathon which has given her over 20 titles apart from the opportunity to travel and see the world.
This year’s edition of Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon will be run in two phases; the Virtual Run which started on Monday and will end on Sunday and the Physical Run.