Brigid Kosgei had already proved no woman was her equal when smashing Paula Radcliffe’s longstanding world record last year. As the rain thundered down on the type of horribly wet, dark Sunday morning that warrants indefinite hibernation under a duvet, she showed the weather was no match for her either — nor the 3.30am alarm call — to retain her London Marathon title.
Life as an elite female marathon runner has been brutal in recent times. Last September, numerous women collapsed and almost half the field failed to finish in a World Championships race that started at midnight in temperatures above 30C with 80 per cent humidity.
A year on, the women competing at Sunday’s London Marathon had to wake in the dead of the night before lining up in near darkness and thundering rain that never hinted at relenting.
That Kosgei was as dominant as ever only highlighted just how superior she is to her rivals, striding with ease atop the rain-soaked streets to make light of the dismal conditions.
While some way off the times she has produced in recent years, her 2hr 18min 58sec was a notable achievement, even given the continuing debate that surrounds Nike’s “super shoes” aiding her around the unique course, which required runners to complete a mind-numbing 19.6 laps of St James’ Park.
“I’ve never run a marathon with it raining from start to finish before,” she said. “As we were going, parts of my legs were freezing so it was difficult to move. We tried our best. It was hard marathon conditions.”
For much of the race, an epic tussle had appeared in store between Kosgei and her Kenyan compatriot Ruth Chepngetich. The world record holder against the world champion was the type of head-to-head deserving of hordes of fans, but coronavirus protocol meant all were shut out, the only sound coming from a helicopter taking television images from above.
The Kenyan duo had not even reached halfway when they passed their first backmarker, handing Britain’s unfortunate Helen Davies the undignified record of being the first runner to be lapped in London Marathon history.
Then, as the 20-mile marker loomed into view, Chepngetich broke and Kosgei streaked into the distance. By the time Chepngetich turned for home, her stride was shortening and American Sara Hall locked her in her sights, eventually sprinting past in the final hundred metres to claim a memorable second place in 2.22:01. It was the first time a non-African had made the London Marathon women’s podium since 2013.
“I just went into hunting mode,” said Hall. “It really made that last lap fly by. I have a lot of respect for these women – they are the best in the world – so it’s a really special moment for me.”
The British challenge had been expected to come from Lily Partridge and Steph Twell, but both women dropped out soon after halfway, leaving the unsponsored Natasha Cockram to claim the British title by four seconds from Naomi Mitchell, in 2.33:19.
Just six weeks ago, Cockram appealed on social media for some racing trainers as her lack of alignment with any shoe company meant she did not have any containing the latest technology. Both Nike and Asics heeded her call and sent her pairs, allowing her to race in the same cutting-edge Alphafly shoes worn by Eliud Kipchoge in the men’s race.
With that problem solved, Cockram then also had to overcome a late ankle injury that put her involvement in jeopardy.
“This time last week I couldn’t even run so wasn’t sure I’d make the startline,” she said. “I was in hospital getting an MRI and ultrasound, so I’m really happy with today.”