David Rudisha’s advice to Marco Arop after stellar half marathon debut

Canadian middle-distance star Marco Arop recently made waves in the athletics world with his unexpected foray into long-distance racing.

The reigning 800m world champion and Olympic silver medalist stunned many on 16 December, when he won the Rocket City Back Half Marathon in Huntsville, Alabama, clocking an impressive 1:11:15 on a challenging course.

While the achievement was remarkable, world 800m record holder David Rudisha believes it may be premature for Arop to venture into such long races.

In an exclusive interview with Mozzart Sport, Rudisha shared his thoughts on Arop’s bold move.

"For now, I think the half marathon is too much for a middle-distance runner like Arop. He should have progressively tried to do something like moving to 1,500m or a mile or so. The 800m needs so much speed, but if you go too long, it might affect your rhythm and speed,” Rudisha said.

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Arop, known for his fearless racing style, had a stellar 2024 season in his primary event, clocking 1:41.20 to set a new North American record, making him the fourth-fastest man in history over 800m.

His ambitions extend even further, as he aims to break Rudisha’s world record, a mission his team has dubbed “Project 99.”

He aims to run 800m in under 100 minutes.

But Arop is not solely focused on the two-lap race.

This year, he will be part of Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track league, where he will also compete in the 1500m alongside fellow middle-distance stars Josh Kerr, Cole Hocker, and Yared Nuguse.

Rudisha went on to express curiosity about Arop’s training methods.

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"I do not know the type of training or technique they are doing, whether it is trying to build endurance. It is good to try, but I do not think it was wise for him to move such a long distance. I think he should have tried to move slowly, and maybe towards the end of his career, he could pull off such a move," he said.

Rudisha’s advice carries the weight of experience.

On 9 August 2012, Rudisha set the world record of 1:40.91 at the 2012 London Olympics. The 800m great led from gun to tape to win gold in what was acclaimed "The Greatest 800 Meter Race Ever".

In doing so, he became the first and, so far, only runner to break the 1:41 barrier for 800m.

More than a decade on, the record still stands. His average speed per 200m section was 25.22.