2005 ING New York Marathon winners - Tergat and Prokopcuka (© Getty Images)
World marathon record holder Paul Tergat of Kenya, World Food Programme's Ambassador Against Hunger and patron of the IAAF’s ‘Athletes for a Better World’ charity project, gave a special press conference in Milan last week in which he spoke about his dramatic win in the 2005 ING New York Marathon and his future running career.
I never lost faith in my capabilities
In a press conference focused on his humanitarian work for the World Food Programme, the Kenyan marathon star took a chance to look back at his New York achievement. On 6 November, in one of the most memorable marathon finishes in history, he just managed to defeat defending champion Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa after a breathtaking neck and neck battle in Central Park which ended with his 2:09:30 victory.
"I am recovering from a gruelling race which was really a dramatic and painful experience", said Tergat.
"It was a psychological fight in the final 60 metres. The final five miles run on a hilly course were very tough. The key for my success in the final sprint was my mind which enabled me to beat Ramaala into the finish-line. It is from my mind that I found the strength to win this dramatic race. I never lost faith in my capabilities.”
“When Hendrick Ramaala and Alberico Di Cecco launched their attacks to break away from the rest of the field I did not follow them but focused on running my own race.”
A new world class battle
The former five-time World Cross Country champion is looking forward to future challenges including the next Flora London Marathon on 23 April 2006 which will feature a rematch with Ramaala, and another encounter with Haile Gebrselassie who ran 2:06:20 in Amsterdam on 16 October, the fastest time in the year.
“London will be the opportunity for a new world-class battle. I am looking forward to facing a great competition on a fast course. Everybody wants to be there,” confirmed Tergat.
Asked if it was more important for him to set a World record in Berlin or to win in New York, he said: “Berlin was very special for me. It was my first win in the marathon after some defeats in my first attempts over the distance and I broke the World record running 2:04:55. In New York I came back from some hamstring problems after my eighth place in London Marathon, to take the second win of my marathon career at the end of an exciting and thrilling battle. I knew that millions of Kenyans watched me in New York via TV, so this win was very important for them.”
Not ready to rest
Tergat is not thinking yet about retirement. "I want to continue for some years. But at the moment it is unlikely that I will run at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. But I can't rule it out. It depends on my fitness. What motivates me is passion for running. It is not a question of age but of mind which is the key for my success.”
Tergat credits his running success to his Italian coach Doctor Gabriele Rosa. "He taught me to believe in myself. I still remember the first time I arrived in Italy in 1992. My career started in this country. It is here that I set the World Half Marathon record in the Stramilano. Italy is my second home.”
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF
