Eliud Kipchoge: Inside the camp, and the mind, of the greatest marathon runner of all time

He’s the greatest marathoner in history, a national hero in Kenya, and an icon for runners around the world. But despite his fame and wealth, Eliud Kipchoge chooses to live the most basic lifestyle. Cathal Dennehy travels to the highlands of Kenya for an inside look at his training camp and to meet a champion with a quiet, complex personality

EYES OF THE MASTER: Officially, Eliud Kipchoge is 36, though it’s understood he’s actually a few years older and he’s been at the top of his sport for 18 years… and counting. Photo: Bob Martin, Getty Images

Two stories you need to know about Eliud Kipchoge, each painting a picture of a man who is, well, different.

The first is from Vienna, October 12, 2019. Earlier that day, Kipchoge had become the first man ever to run a sub-two-hour marathon, clocking 1:59:40, a time that didn’t count as an official world record due to the use of rotating pacemakers and Kipchoge being handed his drinks from a bike (rather than picking them off a table).