PuraVida Sports

It’s a grey morning in Ngong Hills, and the silence hangs as the drizzle slowly subsides. This region, perched at an altitude of over 2,000 metres above sea level, is a favourite training ground for elite runners—its thin air helping to build endurance and strength. The road to the Vapor Ministries Track glistens with early rain, and in the distance, the Kipeto windmills slice through the air with steady grace. 

As the clouds and mist lift, the track begins to stir. 

A cross-section of athletes troop in—and so do their coaches. 

The rhythm begins: run, repeat, receive feedback, then repeat again!
Then Hellen Obiri arrives, dressed in all black. 

A two-time Boston Marathon winner, Olympic medallist, and one of the most decorated distance runners of her generation, her name precedes her. 

Yet I’m struck not by her presence, but by her size—so petite, so unassuming. It’s hard to reconcile how someone so slight can power through 42.195 kilometres of unforgiving terrain with such dominance. 

The cameras might add volume, but they miss the quiet steel that drives her forward, stride after relentless stride.
She greets us with a smile, but quickly sets the tone: “Today is about intervals.” No fanfare, no fuss. Just business.

Gearing Up for a Historic Boston

Hellen Obiri, 35, is quietly chasing history. 

With back-to-back wins in Boston in 2023 and 2024, she now stands on the brink of a rare feat: a third consecutive victory. 

The last woman to manage that was Ethiopia’s Fatuma Roba, more than two decades ago, in 1999. 

For Obiri, it’s not just about defending a title, it’s about carving out a legacy.

Since making her marathon debut in 2022, Obiri has wasted no time proving she belongs among the greats. 

In 2023 alone, she claimed commanding victories in both Boston and New York, two of the sport’s most iconic races. 

And this road success builds on an already glittering résumé: Obiri is a two-time world champion over 5,000 metres, an Olympic silver medalist, and the only woman to win world titles indoors, outdoors, and in cross country.

The 2025 Boston Marathon promises a fiercely competitive women’s field. 

Obiri will face formidable challengers like Ethiopia’s Amane Beriso (PB 2:14:58) and Yalemzerf Yehualaw (PB 2:16:52). 

Kenyan compatriots Edna Kiplagat, a two-time Boston winner, and Sharon Lokedi, the 2022 New York Marathon champion, add depth to the field. American 

First run in 1897, the Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annually-run marathon — steeped in prestige, history, and high stakes. Its legacy is matched by its prize purse, with winners earning upwards of $150,000, making it both a coveted crown and a career-defining challenge

With its unpredictable weather, rolling hills, and the notorious climb of Heartbreak Hill, it tests both fitness and fortitude. 

More than 30,000 runners line up each year, but tough conditions can see up to five percent drop out. Its point-to-point layout and sparse support in stretches make it one of the most demanding of the World Marathon Majors.

Training with purpose.

Obiri’s racing style is built on patience, positioning, and power—qualities sharpened through relentless training. 

“I said in my mind let me try to be patient,” she once explained. “And when I reached 42km, I said, ‘can I just use track speed to go?’” That explosive final surge—honed over years on the track—has become her trademark.
Her session at the track might appear simple: a warm-up jog, 12 sets of 200-metre sprint intervals, followed by 10 one-kilometre repeats, and a cool-down. 

It is a carefully designed blend of speed and stamina, tuned to sharpen her kick while building race-day resilience. 

“This session helps me control my final surge,” she explains.
Obiri averages 180 to 190 kilometres a week. Her training is meticulously planned and constantly adjusted in consultation with her coaching team. 

She fits in three to four physiotherapy sessions weekly to keep her body primed. Her schedule features tempo runs, intervals, gym work, Fartlek sessions, and long runs up to 40km. 

Sundays are for short easy runs, recovery and family time.

“Sleep is crucial,” she says. “I’m in bed by 8pm, up by 5am.”

Pushing The Boundaries

Obiri credits the sport’s evolution for today’s record-breaking performances. 

For years, Paula Radcliffe’s 2:15:25 record stood untouched. Then Brigid Kosgei ran 2:14:04 in 2019. In 2023, Tigst Assefa shattered expectations with 2:11:53. 

“There was a time running under 2:17 seemed almost impossible,” Obiri reflects. “Now the bar keeps moving.”

Obiri lights up when she talks about the next generation. 

She’s genuinely inspired by the rise of young Kenyan talent, and sees in them the power to move the sport forward. 

“Women like Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet are redefining what’s possible,” she says. 

“Watching them gives me hope — it reminds me that there’s still room to grow, still limits to push.”

She also acknowledges how smarter tools have played a role. “The spikes I wore a decade ago? They were basic — no cushioning, no energy return,” she laughs. “Now, the technology helps you go further, run smarter, and recover better.”

Fuel, Faith, Focus

Obiri stays grounded in her Kisii roots. Her diet includes brown ugali, matoke, and greens. 

On race day: bananas and eggs. 

“Everyone gets butterflies,” she says. 

“Sometimes I chat (before a race), sometimes I sit in silence. You learn to calm your spirit.”

She does not plan on heading to the World Championships in Tokyo. 

“We have young talent coming through who can shine in the championships – I have done my bit,” she says. 

Still, she’s considering a run in Sydney, the newest World Marathon Major. 

“But for now,” she adds, “I’m focusing on giving Boston my very best.”

More Than A Runner

Obiri is also a decorated officer in the Kenya Defence Forces. 

She joined in 2009, trained in Eldoret, and rose to the rank of Air Force Sergeant Major Warrant Officer II. 

Her Olympic bronze in Tokyo — won after a fall and missed hydration — was a masterclass in grit. 

“You don’t panic,” she says. “You fight your way through.” 

Her coach, Dathan Ritzenhein, describes her simply: “One of the toughest athletes I’ve ever coached.”

Later, as her session winds down, Obiri shares a light moment with fellow athlete Mary Moraa—the 800m World Champion who is putting in her final touches ahead of the upcoming Track Grand Slam in Jamaica. 

Obiri watches her with quiet pride. 

“These were once the ‘small girls’,” she says. “Now they’re making waves in the world.”

When the Work Stops

And when does she do when the season ends? She switches off. “When I’m off season, I go off completely from running,” she says. “Last time, we went to Disneyland as a family. We had time to chat, reconnect, and plan.” 

As we wrap up, Obiri gathers her gear and heads off for her physio session — part of the careful balance of work and recovery that defines her days. 

There’s still an afternoon run ahead. 

For now, the track quiets, and she slips away with the same quiet focus she arrived with.

This is just a glimpse—a reminder of the hours, the discipline, and the unseen grind that happens long before the starting gun ever goes off

A Final Encounter

And just when I thought I could not handle any more greatness, I bumped into Ruth Chepng’etich — world marathon record holder — on my way out of the Vapor Ministries Track. 

I was tongue-tied. In that moment, surrounded by giants, I was reminded why Kenya continues to be the heartbeat of distance running.

(Follow our continued special coverage of the build-up to the Bank of America Boston Marathon with our Special Correspondent in Boston, Douglas Maina)