Jacob Kiplimo has urged fans and pundits to manage their expectations ahead of his much-anticipated marathon debut at the 2025 TCS London Marathon this Sunday.
Despite breaking the half marathon world record in February with a stunning 56:42 performance in Barcelona, Kiplimo is approaching his first full marathon with caution.
Speaking during Thursday’s media event in London, the Ugandan star acknowledged the heightened attention following his record-breaking run, but insisted his goal this weekend is modest.
“That day, I was just going there to run a good race, but unfortunately, I get the record,” Kiplimo said with a laugh. “I’ve seen a lot of people posting that I will be the one [to break 2:00:00], but I think on Sunday, I have to first run a good race. I am not even targeting to run the fastest time. I am going to run my own race, to run a good personal best.”
Pressed further on what a good race would look like for him, Kiplimo replied, “To be just in the podium.”
Kiplimo’s coach, Iacopo Brasi, echoed the sentiment, firmly dismissing the idea that Kiplimo could challenge the sub-2-hour barrier in his first attempt. “Not now,” Brasi said when asked about the milestone. “We’ll see.”
While Kiplimo has ramped up his weekly mileage—moving from 120-150 kilometers to as high as 220 km per week—both athlete and coach emphasized that London will be more about gaining experience than chasing history.
“This is a test for him,” Brasi said. “We are confident because we don’t have any problems during the preparation. But marathon is not just the body, but also the mind is very important.”
The lead group is expected to target a halfway split of around 61:00, and Brasi believes Kiplimo will be right there. However, he reiterated that how Kiplimo feels during the race will be more telling than his final time.
For Kiplimo, the jump in endurance work has already paid dividends. He credited his marathon build-up—particularly a 38-kilometer long run two weeks before Barcelona—for helping him shatter the half marathon world record.
“What helped me is the endurance, because I was preparing for marathon,” he explained.
As one of the biggest names in the field, Kiplimo’s presence adds intrigue to an already star-studded lineup.
But come Sunday, the 23-year-old wants to let his legs do the talking—without the weight of unrealistic expectations.
