The Moses Mosop interview

© Copyright – 2014 – Athletics Illustrated

Moses Mosop is a 28-year-old world-class long-distance athlete who represents his native Kenya. He competed in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, finishing seventh in the 10,000 metre event. He won bronze in the 10,000 one year later at the 2005 IAAF World Championships in Athletics that took place in Helsinki, Finland.

As a cross-country runner he won a silver medal at the 2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and helped Team Kenya to two gold medals one each in the 2007 and 2009 cross-country championships.

His marathon debut happened at the 2011 B.A.A. Boston Marathon, where he finished with the second fastest marathon time in history behind countryman Geoffrey Mutai in 2:03:06 to Mutai’s 2:03:02; a three minute improvement on the previous Boston record time. According to the IAAF the Boston race is not certifiable as it encompasses a point-to-point route. Mosop set the Chicago Marathon record in the same year running to the time of 2:05:03.

Personal bests:

5,000 m                   12:54.46
10,000 m                 26:49.55
Half-marathon          59:20
25,000 m                 1:12:25
30,000 m                 1:26:47
Marathon*               2:03:06
Marathon                 2:05:03

Christopher Kelsall: You have twice won the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and have run 2:03:06 for the marathon. Which of the two great performances is more rewarding to you? Do you prefer one discipline over the other?

Moses Mosop: Despite my (so far) short marathon career, I believe that I am a marathon runner. People call me a Big Engine, as I was given this body and ability to run fast for very long time. There is something special about it and I want to make it work as good as possible.

CK: Having run under the world record time in the Boston Marathon, is your primary goal to go after an official marathon world record?

MM: I consider that I have run under the official world record and that my time is second fastest in the history. This is how I feel about my performance in the 2011 Boston Marathon.

CK: You and Florence (Kiplagat) have a few children now, yes?

MM: I would just like to say that Florence and I have three beautiful children: Mercy, Olimbia and Maxwell and they are my biggest inspiration.

CK: Why did you choose to move change management companies and end up at International Athletics Consultancy?

MM: I needed a change and I’ve found a successful, but smaller management company in IAC. IAC works for some of the best athletes in Eldoret and Iten (Wilson Chebet, Joyce Chepkirui, Polat Kemboi, Henry Kiplagat, Daniel Chebii, etc.) and as Wilson Chebet is my friend and as I train with him on a part-time basis, I’ve listened and learned from his good experience with Zane Branson and his team.

With a smaller, but successful management company, I can have more personable relationship with the management team and I see this change as a very positive change.

CK: Do you continue to be coached by Renato Canova?

MM: Yes, I do and Coach Canova, my management team and I are looking into ways to improve this situation and communication, as Coach Canova is not in Kenya on a full-time basis anymore due to his job with the Chinese middle and long-distance athletes.

CK: You have run well at a range of distances as well as the three main disciplines, track, cross-country and road. Can you describe your pattern of training?

MM: There is not much symmetry in my training, so there is no real pattern there.

As an example, I broke 25,000m and 30,000m world records close to a month and a half after my marathon performance of 2:03:06 in the 2011 Boston Marathon.

However, when I take rest, it is hard to come back after offseason, legs feel empty, but soon all goes back to normal.

CK: Before running your 2:03:06, did you have workouts that indicated you can run that time? What were you expecting before the race started?

MM: I expected to run 2:06 or 2:07… The training was good, body and mind were strong, but I didn’t dream of 2:03 or 2:04.

CK: Can you describe what it was like to grow up in Kamasia? Is there a good running environment?

MM: Growing in Kamasia defined my life, as I used to run to school and back without shoes and always facing challenges that no child should face. At the same time, that kind of environment shapes your character, you do your hard workouts there and then you become an athlete.

CK: Any chance we will see you compete in the 10,000-metres to take a run at Bekele’s world record or perhaps Tergat’s national record of 26:27.85?

MM: My track days are behind me. It is all about marathon now and some shorter road races. New generation will try to break Tergat’s national record and then Bekele’s world record.

CK: What are your competition goals for beyond 2014?

MM: Fast World Marathon Majors events, some fast half-marathons, being strong as I used to be. I want to dominate the world marathon scene and see how far I can go on all-time list.

At the moment, it is just about full recovery and completing training cycle before my next marathon and some fast road races during summer which are to follow.