Interview with Evans Rutto

By Matt Taylor

On Next Sunday , October 7, Evans Rutto , 29, will return to the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon after a two-year hiatus from the sport. In 2003, Rutto ran the fastest marathon debut ever — 2:05:50 —and he ran it on the Chicago course. After winning in Chicago, he went on to win the 2004 Flora London Marathon (2:06:1 8 6) and then defended his title the following year at the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon (2:06:16). He took time off from running, but now he's back. MensRacing sat down with Rutto to find out how he feels about heading back out on the Chicago course and whether his comeback will be as exciting as his debut .

MensRacing.com: Thanks for taking time to talk today.

Evans Rutto: It’s no problem.

MR: So you’re one week away from the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Are you nervous?

ER: [Laughs, nervously] Of course I’m nervous. This is the Chicago Marathon. It’s been some time since I raced Chicago. I will be nervous until the gun sounds. Then [he waves his hand in front of his chest] it will go away.

MR: When I saw you in Kenya back in January, you were training, but you were not in good shape at the time. Are you surprised to be where you are right now?

ER: Me, I’m not surprised. I’m very thankful, but not surprised. The last two years have been tough, but I knew if I did the work, I would get back to this point.

MR: Well, now that you’re here, what are your expectations for the race?

ER: I cannot say what will happen in the race. It’s been a long time since I raced a marathon, but my training is going well. I’ve been picking up training very well. I feel strong. It’s not the same as in 2003 or 2004, but I feel very strong.

MR: And what about your competition?

ER: I’ve seen the list for Chicago and there are some very strong guys in the race. They all race well, and some, like [Felix] Limo, [Ben] Maiyo, and [Daniel] Njenga, have run very, very good in Chicago. It will be a very tough race.

MR: Your coach, and others who have followed your career, say that you are a very aggressive runner. They point to Chicago 2004 when you pushed the pacemakers to run faster than they were supposed to. What type of runner do you consider yourself?

ER: You know, I cannot judge myself. When I am feeling strong, I push. That is the Kenyan way, right? The competition is very strong at this level of racing. If you are not able to push, you will not win.

MR: But even last week, during your 30K workout, it appeared that you were talking to John Yuda [who was pacing the first 15K]. After he dropped out at 15K, I asked him why he ran faster than the pace and he said, “Evans kept pushing me to go faster.”

ER: [Smiles] I felt very good in that workout. I wanted to run fast.

MR: Let’s go back to your early days. How did you become a runner?

ER: My father brought me into the sport. He told me he was a runner, but I was not sure at first. Then he would win some cows, or maybe some goats. That’s when I realized he was a runner. After that, when I went to school, I trained very well and started winning some local competitions. At the same time, there were guys in Marakwet [a district in Kenya] like Moses Kiptanui, who became very good. He was breaking records, building a nice house, and driving a good car. This inspired us to be runners. We wanted to have the same life they had. It was a very good life. So I just keep training and training.

MR: And when did you really make it as a runner?

ER: I ran my first big international race at 22. That year I also finished fifth at the World Cross Country. That was really the beginning of my career, 1999.

MR: You’ve been in Boulder for eight weeks now. It’s much different from Kenya. Do you enjoy coming here?

ER: Yes and no. It is necessary to come here. At home, there are too many distractions for the athlete. Here, no distractions. Just training. But you know, me, I miss my family. I have wife and three children at home. It’s hard.

MR: Now you just have one more week and then you’ll be reunited with your family in Kenya. How excited are you to race, and then to get back home to Kenya?

ER: You know, this is the best time for us. The training is much easier this last week. We get energy back. Yes, we are nervous, but we also know it is finally time. We love to race. After the race, no matter how it goes, we get to go back home. I am hoping for a great race in Chicago.

MR: Thanks, Evans. Good luck in Chicago.

ER: Thank you.

Interview conducted September 30, 2007, and posted October 5, 2007.