Elite women’s race in London on Sunday does not have the kudos of the men’s clash but it could potentially produce more sparkling results

It is almost a year ago to the day since Brigid Kosgei smashed Paula Radcliffe’s world marathon record by 81 seconds in Chicago. Her time of 2:14:04 was a phenomenal run but the media coverage on the same weekend was dominated by Eliud Kipchoge, who broke the two-hour barrier just 24 hours earlier in Vienna.

Twelve months later, Kosgei is in danger of being overshadowed again as she enters the Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday slightly under the radar. Most of the attention is fixed on the clash between Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele in the men’s race. Yet Kosgei is an amazing talent who faces a stellar field and, who knows, perhaps her world record might fall again too. Failing that, Mary’s Keitany’s world record in a women’s only race of 2:17:01 could go.

Radcliffe best of 2:15:25, which was set in London in 2003, was thought to be one of the toughest in the book. Yet Kosgei, 26, demolished it on a breezy day in the so-called ‘windy city’. The Kenyan has suggested she can go much faster in future as well.

So how will she fare on Sunday on the 19-lap course in the St James’s Park bio-bubble? “I am not used to running in laps,” she said at her pre-race press conference on Thursday.

That might be true on the roads, but only one month ago she completed just over 47 laps of the track in Brussels when finishing 27 metres behind Sifan Hassan in a one-hour race where the world record fell.

Somewhat cruelly, Kosgei was disqualified in the Brussels event after putting her foot briefly on the kerb with about seven minutes of running to go. It was her first-ever track race, too, but speaking at her pre-marathon press conference on Thursday (Oct 1) she said: “I didn’t realise I’d be disqualified if I stepped on the line, so I went there for speed only.”

Her run in Brussels is proof she is in good form, though. Like many athletes her training has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic and she spent an earlier part of this year training alone, but the Eric Kimaiyo-coached athlete also managed to get a series of 180-190km (110-120 miles) training weeks under her belt.

During the height of the pandemic, she says: “I was training alone, slowly, slowly,” whereas on a possible world record on Sunday she adds: “I will try my best but it wasn’t like last year when I had a group (training together) before Chicago.”

In addition, the weather forecast is not brilliant. But then it was not perfect in Chicago 12 months ago either.

Kosgei gave birth to twins when she was in her late teens and her children, Faith and Brian, who are now seven years old, are looked after by her husband, Matthew, when she is away at events like the London Marathon. Like many east African runners, too, she skipped the idea of a track career and instead went straight to racing on the roads with victories in marathons in Honolulu, Porto and Milan four or five years ago.

The world record-holder will not have it all her own way on Sunday. She faces, among others, reigning world champion Ruth Chepngetich and four-time world track champion and former London Marathon winner Vivian Cheruiyot. “It will be a hard race but I am looking forward to it,” she says.

Such competition could push Kosgei to threaten her world mark. Or, as often happens, the athletes might focus on winning instead of chasing a purely fast time.

READ MORE: Why Brigid Kosgei is the woman to beat in London

Finally, she has some advice for the 45,000 runners who are attempting to complete a virtual marathon

“You must be disciplined and work hard. If you don’t do that then nothing will come easy. Whatever you do (in life) you have to be serious in everything that you’ve been given as a talent,” says Kosgei (pictured below behind fellow Kenyan Vivian Kiplagat in training this week).

The elite women’s race on Sunday might not have captured the imagination in the same way as the men’s showdown but it will definitely be worth getting up early on Sunday morning for the 7.15am start.