Eliud Kipchoge: The Philosopher of Running

00:00:00: Sometimes I'm really tired, sometimes i don't feel like going out.

00:00:06: But sometime as I get out of the door you know and get a kid a five year old kid actually will run and tell me no I am running to cause of you!

00:00:15: I went to my final world championships for the Iron Man Hawaii having just heard about your success And being motivated and carrying this with me To the finish line.

00:00:26: so Here is my chance to personally thank you for this motivation.

00:00:30: It turned out to be the best race of my life also, but do you sometimes just before the start line feel the weight of all these preparation?

00:00:38: because there are millions of people watching every race?

00:00:42: There're a million's of people counting on your show up.

00:00:46: I'm carrying heavy load and now at starting line i am really feeling that loader.

00:00:52: And thats where tension comes.

00:00:54: it not about running very fast But it's about starting and going beyond the finishing line.

00:01:02: And that why sport continues forever, we don't own records.

00:01:06: Sport owns records!

00:01:07: Everybody who is running is enjoying freedom but if you are not running after you're in prison.

00:01:39: So, it was in October.

00:01:46: Going to the start line of The Iron Man in Hawaii we were twelve hours ahead time and you had more or less just finished your two hour, well your one fifty nine forty record race And I went my final world championships for The Iron man Hawaii.

00:02:07: having heard about your success and being motivated, carrying this with me to the finish line.

00:02:13: So here is my chance personally thank you for this motivation.

00:02:17: it turned out be best race of life also!

00:02:22: And... It was a record breaking day across.

00:02:24: so I would like start with records actually.

00:02:28: Maybe just easy.

00:02:30: what does that mean?

00:02:33: I think on my site I think it means how when you set a call and You work on it.

00:02:47: If affected And your accomplished that core, I can say that's what a record is.

00:02:54: It's setting on something working on something for very long time being on it all the Time going through all the challenges hub and town but at the end of it?

00:03:06: in a happy way and you know, I call it that.

00:03:10: When you have such long preparation And essentially You are aiming to perfect your craft?

00:03:17: i see you Very much as the philosopher of running.

00:03:21: i've always looked at for your calmness and your composure.

00:03:25: Having raised as professional myself over twenty years i Know this is something you carry on outside But do sometimes just before the start line, feel the weight of all this preparation and all the people who have come together.

00:03:43: Is it something that you sometimes feel on your shoulders also weighing down?

00:03:49: Absolutely yes!

00:03:50: That's a hundred percent because I load these in my shoulders for two three four five months.

00:04:01: At starting lines i'm really feeling that load.

00:04:05: Hey, it's really heavy and that's where tension comes in.

00:04:11: And you know immediately when you just feel everybody say hey no I've been working for the last four months three months five months but this is only running.

00:04:21: It's a day whereby maybe two to two hours five minutes or ten minutes That i need to put all my mind whole my heart All my energy here and perfected thought that two hours or four minutes, five minutes will sum up the whole performance of hard work.

00:04:45: Of focus on patience and discipline.

00:04:49: all these actually are in my shoulders but after time then it really goes down.

00:04:56: I forget to start a new channel.

00:04:59: I wondered preparing for this conversation the bigger meaning because you say that records belong to the team, they are there to inspire others.

00:05:11: I wondered actually and this came to me ironically of course running this morning i had to prepare for this episode going for a run whether records belonged to the sport we get to carry them for a little bit.

00:05:27: but And I wonder how that sits with you.

00:05:34: You know, we attach our name and people say yes so-and-so the world record holder.

00:05:40: but i think you probably have a slightly different approach to it?

00:05:45: Actually...I would give an example that records belong to sport and sports actually own their records!

00:05:54: The sport is offering us a chance To showcase what talent or what we are aiming for and perfected And that's why sport continues forever and for ever.

00:06:05: We don't own records, sport owns records.

00:06:09: You know It is the sport like a dancing floor.

00:06:14: On my self-preventing record I am like a dancer.

00:06:17: The music actually has provided flow from the dancer to dance.

00:06:24: Also on the other hand sport Is keeping me as hell with the flow.

00:06:29: Totally run in that flow inspire people, motivate people and you know show people that when we run will become one.

00:06:37: When we run they'll come healthy or minus becomes actually easy to work on new thing in a good way.

00:06:46: so all-in-all at least sort of people who are pregnant.

00:06:51: the records On my side And on few don't own records.

00:06:57: but the sport itself are the honours of the records.

00:07:01: Yeah, I mean...I can really relate because it's something that is a stepping stone.

00:07:08: Like i said..i had two records myself and they were broken And people from the outside struggle to understand.

00:07:16: you could be happy for this.

00:07:18: You feel like your part of the curve or sport going somewhere.

00:07:25: It seems as if an outside perspective is very difficult to celebrate that there is an evolution, something moving on.

00:07:32: But for you did you ever celebrate these records?

00:07:37: And do you celebrate someone else breaking a record?

00:07:41: Absolutely!

00:07:42: Me and my team are called the Celebrate Records.

00:07:45: We celebrate records actually by we gather together with define what meaning of record it's which actually the sport has given us.

00:08:00: And we need to celebrate because you're on one, but soon We have a lot of people in this arena that they will take it.

00:08:07: But let's celebrate is because we are But when somebody else takes we celebrate again because it is small.

00:08:13: This is what actually makes Interesting these words.

00:08:16: make us do a cup in the morning and no go for around Go for something and she can make up to break the world record.

00:08:23: So we were all round where we celebrate with talk You know, we try to get the young people to understand what a rego is.

00:08:31: What a performance it's you know or that but and also to understand about all of them.

00:08:36: they don't own this sport at Honours But actually The sport is giving us actually a platform To do It.

00:08:45: So let Us Do It.

00:08:46: Let Us I always tell Them We need to fight for the space in This Arena.

00:08:52: We Need to Jump In This Arena Of Sport Fight For That Space.

00:08:56: show the world that I'm here.

00:08:58: That i need to fight for this space and you know, I need to run!

00:09:00: I need break a

00:09:01: record!!

00:09:02: That's how do fighters...that is how to own sport..and thats how to on the wall.

00:09:06: Thats what I always tell them because This one belongs all of us.

00:09:09: and You know Sport is giving as real platform whereby we can showcase our talent.

00:09:17: We can showcase out to practice records.We can enjoy sport in these platforms.

00:09:22: It belongs to everybody left right center north or east And you know, it's a truthful thing.

00:09:28: Honestly sometimes I wish i could just take what you say and bottle it up for those days when the motivation is not there and just take a sip... ...and find the motivation to go out.

00:09:37: but where does this come from?

00:09:41: Because you just mentioned The Next Generation.

00:09:43: You sit down with the kids..you tell them What It Means & What the records are & What Sport Is.

00:09:49: But For You also started somewhere your upbringing, you were the fourth child.

00:09:54: You we're running.

00:09:56: it was a form of transport before it became a passion I assume.

00:10:00: but this wisdom did you just gather over time?

00:10:04: or Was there something that you had with your coach?

00:10:07: Or is It Just...you know because you are such a philosopher Of The Sport?

00:10:11: What i Know Is That i was actually in my head and My heart Is That I've Kedded For A Long Time.

00:10:17: This Might be In Sport And I Have Learned A Lot.

00:10:20: I have gone through a lot, seen a lot in sport.

00:10:23: I've trained every day if i miss it and am sick or traveling.

00:10:28: I see that you know sport is about human beings.

00:10:33: Sport is about humanity where everybody will need to connect with other people for us to enjoy the sport.

00:10:41: And on my way I realised this world belongs to all of us.

00:10:48: You do the best thing for another person to come and do it.

00:10:52: And that's where next generation comes in, because you know personally I believe everybody who is younger than me is more or is better then me hundred times.

00:11:06: Everybody who is younger than me Is more better Than Me hundred times.

00:11:11: That why i took full care of The Next Generation Of Everyone Who Actually Younger Than Me.

00:11:18: I fight for those, then it's the next generation.

00:11:21: I fight people who is actually younger than me.

00:11:24: I show them they way and talk to what i'm telling people in Africa or Asia?

00:11:29: In Europe?

00:11:30: America?

00:11:31: Everywhere!

00:11:32: It's same thing that I care about because every one of you are younger but I believe there better than myself.

00:11:41: But better in which ways do we have more potential?

00:11:45: ?

00:11:47: Absolutely yes.

00:11:48: They are better in energy, they're better at thinking.

00:11:52: There's better anything that we do and I want to keep them knowledges.

00:11:55: I'm going to give what is required of me for them more than i do You know?

00:12:01: I want make them actually know the hard work And you know it's worth actually drawing us into this platform and performing on a platform or sport.

00:12:12: So generally anybody younger then me is better in performance is better in thinking, it's better than everything.

00:12:21: I trust them that they're better at everything because there are people who think in a good way and really the older person still running and I believe all those behind my back are better.

00:12:33: but i'm here to show you how one day they will luckily show other people their way cause we passed the pattern for the beautiful world!

00:12:47: that the younger generation or many other runners are also better than you at being distracted.

00:12:56: And how do you help people and next-generation find their focus?

00:13:03: You know, there's so many distractions!

00:13:04: One of things I admire most is to maintain this focus... ...and wonder if they have any tips for the future generations who can actually find it.

00:13:15: Yes, you know the first thing is that I always say if you come to my camp.

00:13:20: I put a big poster which says leave this place better than you found.

00:13:26: Personally have done the best to make the place beautiful But I want young people leave these things that had come more fruitful then i left.

00:13:36: On other hand it's like give them some few tips That when wake up in the morning please go for training.

00:13:43: After going after finishing the training, please come and ask yourself what have you done?

00:13:52: Did you train well or was there any pain somewhere?

00:13:56: The third thing is that I always tell my young people don't handle a mobile phone before nine o'clock.

00:14:08: Just leave it!

00:14:12: see the messages that fly to your families, flight you a friend.

00:14:17: Fly it to everybody!

00:14:18: See what's happening in the world enjoy watch their writings or YouTube.

00:14:23: go-to-cocoon.

00:14:24: Go everywhere and see whats going on around The clock but after nine o'clock And thats what elves young people.

00:14:34: not be much of this screen and not be destructive.

00:14:37: Those are my tips.

00:14:38: I always keep for them.

00:14:41: because What really strikes me?

00:14:43: your coach Patrick Sang, he said everybody starts running hoping they'll be someone.

00:14:50: And this is so relatable for me because... This was a reason in my path to become an athlete.

00:14:56: I really wanted to be someone but with it come luxuries, come shiny things.

00:15:05: You clean your camp yourself, you have sweeping duties.

00:15:10: The stories happen to all the many times.

00:15:12: but what really interests me is how do maintain focus on purity and beauty of running when you could just hand off things that are easy-to-do like cooking or cleaning the first things we try to eliminate when we say, We have made it.

00:15:34: And you maintain this focus and This wisdom essentially in my eyes?

00:15:38: I wonder if You ever got distracted or If you had good people Or if It's just not In your nature

00:15:47: Personally For four months and success Cannot distract me at all Because i always Put myself At a center and put success at the other side.

00:16:02: Then I ask myself, hey... In the evening always sleep in one bed.

00:16:10: then why all these things?

00:16:12: Why do i need actually to say that im not doing this.

00:16:14: and this because you know..I have succeeded!

00:16:17: I have performed many, I've received money.

00:16:22: it's not about the farmers those are actualy what comes after the performance, but all in all it's that human team.

00:16:32: It's that person!

00:16:34: That character you need to take care of and to enjoy life is to be that person who you talk with one another.

00:16:45: To enjoy your life means being humble under a crown where when you become yourself You don't lose focus.

00:16:55: You think in a good way, you know?

00:16:56: You enjoy life because...you don't feel like we're king or queen.

00:17:01: That's the life that are worth fighting for.

00:17:05: I agree.

00:17:06: it really is something that i think lot more athletes probably live on outside.

00:17:12: Think its through media and social media.

00:17:15: How American sports they glorify having everything at your disposal At all times.

00:17:20: You know, the team is much more about performance.

00:17:24: that makes it easier on a day rather than being ones to live sport together.

00:17:30: Which brings me one of your quotes which was motivation plus discipline equals consistency and I agree so much.

00:17:40: but having trained for twenty-plus years i've experienced many days where it was just the discipline that got me out of the door.

00:17:51: You know, motivation ebbs and flows!

00:17:53: It comes and goes... How does this feel for you?

00:17:57: Where do you find motivation when.. When you are tired?

00:18:02: Uh, partially and foremost is that I have a lot to follow in.

00:18:07: sometimes i'm really tired.

00:18:09: Sometimes I don't feel like going out.

00:18:11: sometimes I didn't feeling like running but sometime as I get out off the door you know And get a kid a five-year old kid, actually who runs and telling me no I am running because of you.

00:18:24: He didn't feel motivated.

00:18:26: sometimes i go back to the streets And somebody's actually saying hey just want to say hi but know that you inspire me?

00:18:34: I'm now walking.

00:18:36: Let let me tell you one story about One man ago.

00:18:41: Yeah in my home we received their visitor.

00:18:44: We talked.

00:18:45: he is living in Europe.

00:18:49: She's actually petal in cancer, a lung cancer.

00:18:52: But you can't know.

00:18:53: the ladies are having cancer and they told me that she has been running for the last five years but he is feeling fit but she has cancer...but she's running because of....because..you know.....she watches what I'm saying!

00:19:11: She watches my

00:19:11: raises!!

00:19:12: And now she's believing She's not limited at all, as far as disease is concerned.

00:19:18: Then I thought like just come with spend three days in my home.

00:19:23: they go for a choking together They went for a run with my wife and you know i learn alot And those are the people which actually giving me huge motivation Those other people who actually make me to get out of bed In the morning and then we'll go for our own.

00:19:42: You Know For Me the outside world is the text message that I think, it's still the sentiments people are clearly saying.

00:19:53: That they're giving me, that they're inspiring me and motivating me.

00:19:58: you know?

00:19:59: If i don't feel like going to go and run then we ran for that person who was actually Nairi.

00:20:04: Then we ran with a person in that island of South America who were running every day because of me What could be printed in the street and one time he realized that there is somebody who's saying let us make China an animation.

00:20:21: No, those are beautiful things which makes me to just work up.

00:20:25: run until people.

00:20:26: let us run together.

00:20:28: The flip side of That coin.

00:20:30: if as an athlete I would think it's

00:20:32: pressure

00:20:34: because There are millions of people watching every race.

00:20:38: They're a million of people counting on you to show up.

00:20:43: For many people the definition of success is connected to a race result.

00:20:50: Does that does that ever way heavily on you?

00:20:55: Actually, that's happens a lot only because sometimes I don't perform.

00:20:59: But many people actually try and say no why do you perform?

00:21:02: they want to see me winning but i'm trying To tell them.

00:21:07: I've been running for five months.

00:21:09: all my booty has been good but only these two hours and it's the one day that my body does not respond.

00:21:16: Then I tell them, hey!

00:21:18: It is not about running very fast But its about starting And going beyond a finishing line.

00:21:26: That what success is People understand.

00:21:29: Now people have learned they need to start a marathon And finish a marathon.

00:21:34: Thats real accomplishment.

00:21:36: They learn alot And you know...people are learning slowly by slowly.

00:21:39: But at the moment, people have understood that if you don't actually start anything that you are vocally capable of.

00:21:49: You cannot do any thing but you need to start to work out in the morning and run for an hour And that's accomplishment!

00:21:57: You feel that freedom in running.

00:22:00: We feel that pain when running.

00:22:02: That makes sure we learn many things and enjoy life.

00:22:07: I feel that your motivation to run is because running, as...I would call it life.

00:22:14: Whereas the person you speak to-you know?

00:22:16: The lady who's doing her first parkour on.

00:22:20: for a lot of people in the world, running means an end.

00:22:23: You want to..you wanna feel better or clear your mind and lose some weight.

00:22:29: this kind of thing And its something i see so much.

00:22:35: apart from that I wonder, has it ever actually occurred to you?

00:22:38: That for a while... You couldn't run because of injury.

00:22:43: Because something that had set back.

00:22:46: and what did they do with you?

00:22:49: It happens sometimes when we wake up with a real injury And just call it off.

00:22:56: Try to treat your injury and come again cause there's not ten of the world by having that injury.

00:23:02: People should learn everyday is no dacoit day.

00:23:07: Today you might be under person, with a lot of energy tomorrow at the other day fifty and there are some days that we work up to twenty percent battery.

00:23:16: You don't feel like going out!

00:23:17: We're really lazy.

00:23:19: but all in all is that... The moment when put our feet forward.

00:23:24: then your mind will come and enjoy running.

00:23:29: so I encourage everyone if they do not want go out just walk Just walk.

00:23:38: Bring your mind to that, uh... To those who put you off feet just take them forward for it.

00:23:44: Just work try to run and in the next ten minutes You will be actually a hundred percent okay?

00:23:48: And we'll enjoy the run.

00:23:50: What does it do to you in your mind though when you have to sit still like Actually, you know because I know as an athlete i go crazy i go absolutely crazy.

00:23:59: Do you maintain this focus and just say ok well i have this injury.

00:24:04: Are you rational in that moment?

00:24:06: Yeah, absolutely.

00:24:07: I said a lot is coming actually in my mind but then ask myself if i think alot and rethink another thing?

00:24:15: And have an injury Then I need actually to say hey let me just take small time follow what the bishop is saying or the talk that he's saying and you know, get rid of injuries with immediately rather than actually forcing it go for long time.

00:24:31: so its there.

00:24:33: The good thing is that I am able to convince my mind, to actually relax and walk in a good way when i have an injury.

00:24:42: And wait for the injury to go off.

00:24:46: Yeah it's something that took me a long time.

00:24:50: you keep training diary right?

00:24:52: Absolutely

00:24:53: yes!

00:24:54: For always

00:24:54: and forever.

00:24:55: Yes what do we have now is the twenty-fourth one.

00:24:59: Do you ever look back at what you wrote down?

00:25:03: Is it, do write down the numbers or your feelings also?

00:25:07: Not my feelings.

00:25:08: I always write a time and the kilometers that I cross every walk out of my official when i'm sick When I attend a fish show ,I always write.

00:25:19: so its have lots of tharis.

00:25:22: I normally sometimes feel like going but soon I'll just compile all them.

00:25:28: See, read for the whole day and know.

00:25:31: Just learn what I've been doing over the last few years.

00:25:34: Always keep us tired of the shoes that we're using everyday And soon i'll just combine them to see What have you been doing all day?

00:25:43: It's

00:25:45: a big fat book!

00:25:47: Yes...

00:25:48: I have to ask.. Just out of athletic curiosity A normal week nowadays Training wise ..what does it look like?

00:25:57: Roughly, you know kilometers or intensity?

00:26:00: just it's my athletic curiosity.

00:26:03: Yeah I still run as I still have about a hundred and eighty to two hundred kilometers a week.

00:26:12: I'm still one.

00:26:14: do i still push?

00:26:15: my body is really try to come up with the young people.

00:26:19: it's yeah, a hundred and eighty two to two hundred kilometers is probably uh record.

00:26:25: It certainly I think more than i've ever run.

00:26:27: so its still keeps you going.

00:26:31: before we finish off I would love To learn about your philosophy of running for the purity of running versus racing?

00:26:45: where you run for your heart, and the racing to have some kind of a target.

00:26:50: but what does it actually feel like?

00:26:54: There are two things.

00:26:58: Running to race and running to enjoy... To have freedom!

00:27:04: Always say that everyone who is running enjoys freedom.

00:27:08: But if there's no running, then you're in prison.

00:27:11: So the first thing to take my heart, to actually go in a good way.

00:27:19: I ran to make the flood or maybe try and tell everybody that they wake up.

00:27:28: this is their only way of enjoying life.

00:27:30: but then came these things like...I had to break a record!

00:27:35: I had to perform!

00:27:36: And run a marathon!

00:27:37: I have to run for such time!

00:27:41: Then I ran.

00:27:44: really I train in a hard way to perform without that people are killing the whole world.

00:27:50: But at the back of my mind, I enjoy running simply because it's something which has value for me and gives me ideas on what i'm working every day.

00:28:07: It makes me give value to this sport.

00:28:12: Those are two different things.

00:28:14: Eliud, thank you so much for showing us that limits are very often a sign of imagination and passing the baton also to next generation.

00:28:23: Thank you for your inspiration over all these years!

00:28:25: I wish you good health, lots of happy training miles... ...and want really just thank-you for this time that you've taken.

00:28:43: Elliot, all the very best.

00:28:45: Thank you!