Eliud Kipchoge's coach on what it takes for Faith Kipyegon to transition to marathon
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 08.11.25. | 16:53
Despite the uncertainty over when the shift will happen, Sang remains confident that once the right time comes, Kipyegon’s talent, discipline, and mental strength will carry her to success on the roads, just as they have on the track
Eliud Kipchoge’s long-time coach, Patrick Sang, has explained why Faith Kipyegon’s much-anticipated move from track to road running may take longer than many expect, noting that the process is far more complex than it was for the marathon legend.
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The veteran coach, who has guided Kipchoge to global marathon dominance, said Kipyegon’s transition demands patience, careful planning, and most importantly, the right mindset.
“The way I look at the transition for any athlete, even for Eliud, when he moved from track to road running and eventually the marathon, is how their mindset is.
It is not what I want for them; it is the mindset. That mindset gives you room to experiment, and when it’s flexible, it allows you to test new directions,” Sang told Citius Mag.
Kipyegon has made no secret of her desire to one day conquer the marathon, having already ruled the 1500m and 5000m, where she boasts four world titles, three Olympic gold medals, a world record, and a collection of other global honours.
“I like challenging myself, and this coming season, I want to challenge myself by going for longer races. This is the way to go because I have to do longer races so that I get used to it.
I will not stay at 1500m for long, and I will soon move permanently to the longer distances,” Kipyegon told Telecomasia.net in a past interview.
Sang revealed that he has already begun experimenting with different training approaches for Kipyegon this season to assess how her body and mind respond to the increased load.
The goal, he said, is to identify early indicators of readiness before committing to a full transition.
“At the beginning of the season, I started experimenting to see what the parameters were telling me, whether she’s likely to go in that direction,” he explained.
However, Sang noted that Kipyegon’s situation differs greatly from Kipchoge’s. For the marathon legend, the move to road running happened almost by chance after he missed out on the London 2012 Olympic Games due to a hamstring injury.
“In Eliud’s case, it was more like trying something new. He had achieved everything on the track, and when he could not make the Olympic team, we said, ‘Why don’t we try the marathon?’ We did not know much then; it just happened,” he said.
For Kipyegon, the decision is more deliberate. Her global reputation as a middle-distance queen and her clear intention to move up in distance mean the process involves broader consultation with her team, sponsors, and other stakeholders.
“The case of Faith is totally different. She has already shown the indication that she wants to go there. The consultation will be even broader than with Eliud, as you must consider who is behind Faith in terms of partnership, their perspective, and what Faith herself wants.
As a coach, you have to find a way to marry all these views and go on the journey together,” Sang continued.
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Despite the uncertainty over when the shift will happen, Sang remains confident that once the right time comes, Kipyegon’s talent, discipline, and mental strength will carry her to success on the roads, just as they have on the track.
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