Nyashinski explains motivation behind viral hit song dedicated to Eliud Kipchoge
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 11.06.26. | 17:04
Its popularity soared further later that year when Kipchoge adopted it as his theme song ahead of the historic INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, Austria
Award-winning Kenyan musician Nyamari Ongegu, popularly known as Nyashinski, has revealed the inspiration behind his hit song 'Marathon Runner'.
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The talented artist explained that the song stemmed from the lessons of patience, persistence, and the long journey to success, qualities embodied by marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge.
The song, released in April 2019, has grown into one of the most recognisable tributes to the two-time Olympic marathon champion, amassing more than 4.7 million views on YouTube.
Its popularity soared further later that year when Kipchoge adopted it as his theme song ahead of the historic INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, Austria.
During the event in October 2019, Kipchoge became the first man to run a marathon distance in under two hours, clocking 1:59:40 in a non-official race.
Nyashinski explained that the song was inspired by the broader concept of success and the realisation that meaningful achievements require time, patience, and consistent effort.
“Just the whole concept of success, taking time, anything worth having takes time, and being something that you have to put effort into to get something amazing from it,” he told sports journalist Stephen Ochieng.
The vocalist noted that the marathon serves as a perfect metaphor for life and success, where endurance often matters more than speed.
“The whole concept of a marathon is the gratification of completing so many kilometres or miles, and it is the same thing with success. It is just like telling guys we are coming for a spot, and it is a marathon; it is not a sprint,” he explained.
According to the artist, the message of 'Marathon Runner' was intended to encourage dreamers to stay focused on their goals and trust the process even when progress appears slow.
“We are patient, we are arranging ourselves, and we know there is somewhere we will get to,” he added.
The song not only celebrates Kipchoge’s achievements but also pays homage to another Kenyan athletics icon, Kipchoge Keino, while urging future generations to continue raising Kenya’s profile on the global stage.
Nyashinski described Eliud Kipchoge as a once-in-a-generation athlete whose career has been inspiring to watch.
“He is an icon, he is the greatest ever, and he has surpassed those who came before him, and it has been fun to watch his career, and we hope to see others, the ones coming up, also surpass him and continue flying our flag high,” he said.