Paul Tergat

Paul Kibii Tergat (born 17 June 1969) is a Kenyan former professional long-distance runner. Quotes If I run with others then all sessions become full-speed burners; thus I prefer to run with others just for speed sessions. My upbringing gave me a strong will, a mental aggressiveness in what I wanted to achieve. It hurt (running). And I come from an area where there had never been an international runner, and so I had no idol. When I joined the military at 18 this changed. I met people that I admired a lot and that was an exciting moment for me. It’s probably the toughest distance race in the world to win. World class runners from 1500m to the marathon contest it and instead of just three runners from each country, like in the Olympics or World Championships, in the senior men’s race, there are nine. Like most Kenyans, I have trained three times a day, but I find two is enough. If I run with others then all sessions become full-speed burners; thus I prefer to run with others just for speed sessions. If someone beats me, then I am happy for him; he will have obviously worked harder for the result than I did. I live close to the Armed Forces camp, but not with the other runners. This suits me as if I need training partners, they are there, but it allows me to be with my family. I like to be able to relax with the family in front of the TV, playing with the kids. Without a lot of self-sacrifice I would have never made it… It takes discipline to train day in, day out… If you are not determined to do your best then it is better not to try at all In Kenya there is the belief that if you train hard you will succeed. This we have proven. I came down (in weight) too quickly. Sure, I could have run well, but I did not have any strength. I used to finish training sessions close to fainting. Go into competition with confidence from your training. Ask yourself: ‘Can I give more?’. The answer is usually: ‘Yes The most important thing is not the other runners, but my own fitness. Then, everything takes cares of itself. One thing, my friend, you must understand is that I lost when I did the best I could. I didn’t have anything, force or energy left. So I didn’t feel bad. I took it as a challenge. It was encouraging for the next competition. We have to agree that since I’m a sportsman, there will always be a winner and a loser. And so we have to accept that for me I don’t feel that I lost. That day was his day, so I don’t have anything to complain about. It changes you as a person. I cannot imagine that in the future a marathon runner will run sub-2:00 as I think we have nearly reached the limit. I set a new standard and showed that it was possible to run a marathon in under 2:05 hours. With the necessary passion, the absolute determination, and the belief in your success it is possible to reach a world-class level—no matter if you are coming from a poor or a wealthy family. For me, the sport is not all my life. I have so many things that make my life interesting and not boring. It’s only that the passion that I have for the sport, you’ll never take that from me. I love it, I love it! I do my running through love. When you do it for money and you lose, well this means the finish of you. Children from rich families have better opportunities and possibilities, however, in Kenya, poverty is the reason for the development of the great number of top runners. 20 Paul Tergat quotes to Energise and Inspire, May 12 2017 External links Category:Track and field athletes Category:Sportspeople from Kenya Category:1969 births Category:Living people