Joyce Chepkirui

thumb|Joyce Chepkirui during 2013 London Marathon Joyce Chepkirui (born 20 August 1988) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in road running events. She established herself as a half marathon runner, winning races in Granollers, Bogotá and Gothenburg. She set a best of 1:06:19 hours to win the 2014 Prague Half Marathon. She also competes in 10K road races and her personal best of 30:38 minutes makes her fifth fastest woman ever. Quotes I have had very good training and will be happy to see who the opposition lining up against me is. I want to run a fast time and look at making the Kenya team for the World Championships in 2019 in Qatar. "Chepkirui targets Mattoni Olomouc Half Marathon course record", Athletics News, June 20, 2018. I have no plans to compete on the track this season. My focus is on the road race and hopefully, I will string together good results and put my name up for selection to the marathon team for the World Championships next year(2019). "Chepkirui targets Mattoni Olomouc Half Marathon course record", Athletics News, June 20, 2018. I love to compete and run as fast as I can. It is road, time and me. "Joyce Chepkirui and husband Erick Kibet about running" “As a kid, you have a lot of energy so I loved running around.” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “Winning was not my primary target,” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “I went to New York aiming to finish on the podium and I knew it would be tough. But when the opportunity came, I pushed for the win.” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “The New York course was tough and hilly, but winning felt incredible. It proved that my training had paid off. I had prepared well and that was evident in the race,” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “I wasn’t afraid. I told myself I had to go for the win because I had put in the hard work,” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “The competition was intense, but I was happy with my time, especially since it was a sub-2:20 finish. This proved to me that I am on the right track.” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “Berlin was fast, but I had my sights on the podium. It was a great race,” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “I missed the water station at the 15km mark and had to go back and that cost me time but I was pleased with the results. London is a tough course with strong competition and it was where the women’s only world record was broken.” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “I’m praying for an injury-free season. I don’t have any races planned yet, but my fans can expect good things from me,” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “It’s all about building the foundation for the season. Every race counts.” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “I don’t have a personal coach, but I work with a small group of athletes and three of my pacers. I get my training programme from my management and it’s been working for me.” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) I used to hear stories that my mother was a good runner and that motivated me to keep going Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “We didn’t always have enough to eat. Sometimes I would go to school hungry and would sometimes miss school due to school fees.” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “Kemei spotted me while I was competing during school games and he took me to his camp where I focused on the 1500m.” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “As an athlete you need proper running shoes to be able to train effectively. Due to the financial situation at home, I could not get a good pair of shoes so I used to borrow from my colleagues at the camp.” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “Getting money to facilitate my transportation was a big challenge but my coach would step in and assist me,” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “My coach had really motivated me before the youth games and had told me to do my best. We had to work on my speed to ensure I am in prime form,” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “I got good money from the championship which helped ease the financial burden on my parents. They were now able to pay for my school fees as well as my siblings. From there on, I put more focus on my running because I knew it was an avenue I would support my family with.” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “I did not have sufficient time to train because I was also focusing on school hence I failed to defend my title,” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “I was not performing well on the track in my senior career as it was the case at both youth and junior level and so I decided to shift to the roads starting with the 10km. I then graduated to the half marathon before transitioning to full marathon,” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “My family has been greatly supportive of me in my running career. They give me the motivation and drive to push on.” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) “The young female athletes should exercise discipline in their careers and also put God first in everything. This will help them grow and become great athletes.” Struggles to stardom:Chepkirui’s journey to the topThe Star(January 17, 2025) I like long runs, about 30 kilometres, at a moderate to fast pace. They last long and you have a feeling that you are doing something good. Work, rest and play – Joyce Chepkiruiworldathletics(November10, 2014) Competing at a high level, travel, and shopping with friends when I’m overseas. Work, rest and play – Joyce Chepkiruiworldathletics(November10, 2014) My husband and coach, Erick Kibet. He understands me well and he helps me in training to ask a lot of questions of myself. Work, rest and play – Joyce Chepkiruiworldathletics(November10, 2014) I live and train in Iten and I like training at our local track, at Lornah Kiplagat’s gym or on the many different roads we have for long runs or fartlek sessions. Work, rest and play – Joyce Chepkiruiworldathletics(November10, 2014) The fact you often have to function on schedules which don’t suit you and your needs. Of course, it is a very small price to pay. Work, rest and play – Joyce Chepkiruiworldathletics(November10, 2014) I listen to various Kenyan music and I like some modern and old R&B. Work, rest and play – Joyce Chepkiruiworldathletics(November10, 2014) Spending time with my family and visiting some good friends, like Wilson and Caroh (Wilson Chebet the three-time Amsterdam Marathon winner and his wife) or Emily and Edward (Emily Chebet the two-time world cross-country champion and her husband and coach Edward Muge). We talk, catch up and relax. Work, rest and play – Joyce Chepkiruiworldathletics(November10, 2014) Good training. I get peace from training well, resting well, having a massage. From this, I gain confidence and then there is no reason to stress. Work, rest and play – Joyce Chepkiruiworldathletics(November10, 2014) Emily Chebet. We are good friends, she is very kind and sometimes funny, and I feel close to her. Work, rest and play – Joyce Chepkiruiworldathletics(November10, 2014) I like being around home. Home is home, and with dogs, cows, sheep and chickens around there is always something to smile about. Work, rest and play – Joyce Chepkiruiworldathletics(November10, 2014) I just love flowers. Since a young age I loved smelling them, looking at them and picking them. After races, if I make the podium, I usually get flowers and I make sure I always give them to young spectators. Work, rest and play – Joyce Chepkiruiworldathletics(November10, 2014) I don’t have a favourite flower. As long as they are big, colourful and smell nice I am happy. Work, rest and play – Joyce Chepkiruiworldathletics(November10, 2014) Flower farming is good business in Kenya and I might try it in the future. It is serious work and for now I just have flower beds around house, which I keep neat and healthy. Small errands at home, like keeping an eye on flowers or fixing this or that, create a positive distraction from upcoming competitions, injuries or any other challenge you face as an athlete. Work, rest and play – Joyce Chepkiruiworldathletics(November10, 2014) Tough question. Hmm… I remember the Prague Half Marathon from this year and the bouquet I got. It was green, with small red flowers and big yellow sunflowers. After the ceremony, on the way to press conference, I gave the bouquet to a young boy spectator and his eyes became bigger than his glasses. He was very, very happy and shy. Work, rest and play – Joyce Chepkiruiworldathletics(November10, 2014) Maybe a rose. It is a classic. People are familiar with what it looks like and the meaning of a rose. Work, rest and play – Joyce Chepkiruiworldathletics(November10, 2014) External links Category:Living people Category:Women from Kenya Category:1988 births Category:Women born in the 1980s Category:Runners Category:Sportspeople from Kenya