Interview with Christopher Cheboiboch

By Matt Taylor

Christopher Cheboiboch, 30, is a veteran on the marathon circuit. He's been runner-up at two major marathons (Boston 2002 and New York City 2002) and was runner-up at this summer's San Diego Rock ’N’ Roll Marathon (a race he won in 2005). While the marathon distance may be nothing new, the 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon will be a first for him—his first race with his new teammates. After 10 years of marathon racing, Cheboiboch decided he was ready for a change in training. In late 2007 he joined KIMbia Athletics and began training under Coach Dieter Hogen and alongside fellow Kenyans Ben Maiyo, Evans Rutto, and James Koskei. MensRacing.com sat down with Cheboiboch at the KIMbia Training Camp in Boulder, Colorado, to ask how the change is working out for him and what his expectations are for Chicago.

MensRacing.com: Christopher, do you know the saying, "always a bridesmaid, never the bride?”

Christopher Cheboiboch: No, I do not.

MR: It's a phrase we use to mean someone who always finishes in second place, but never wins the big one. Do you feel like that?

CC: [laughs] Me, I don't feel like that. I am very fortunate in my life. I finished second in New York and Boston—although I am sure I would have liked to win —that allowed me to do things at home that I couldn't do before racing.

MR: When I was in Kenya last January, I saw the gas station in Iten and someone mentioned that it was yours. Is that true?

CC: Yes, that is my station. Right in Iten. After New York and Boston, I was able to open the gas station and a school.

MR: I recall meeting you at the Sitet Hotel. You were with a group of teachers from your school; a very nice group of people. You must be proud.

CC: Education is very important for Kenyan children. I always wanted to open a school in my area, and racing has allowed me to do this. We have a great school with excellent students and teachers. I am proud. My true dream is the school.

MR: You've been running for many years and have a lot of marathons under your belt. Based on your past experiences, how is training for Chicago?

CC: Training is going very well. You know, I have run many marathons – enough to know that you cannot say for certain how a race will go. But my training has been very strong, and I am confident to run my fastest time in Chicago.

MR: You just joined the KIMbia group this year. How do you like it?

CC: This group is great. Before I joined, I was training alone in Iten. I always knew of these great KIMbia runners and I said, 'I must train with these runners.' I can only push myself so far by myself, but with this group I can push much harder.

MR: And what about Coach Dieter—was it hard to adjust to his coaching style?

CC: Coach is a very good coach. He pushes us very hard because he wants us to be the best. I enjoy training with Coach.

MR: You'll be joined on the starting line by Evans [Rutto], Ben [Maiyo], and James [Koskei]. Is that an advantage?

CC: It’s very good to have them in the race. We train together and push each other, so we can do the same in the race.

MR: So will you work together in the race?.

CC: The beginning of the race is easy. You just follow the pacemakers. The race really starts at 30 kilometers; that’s when it gets tough. If we are all together then, we will work together as much as we can. But in the end, we all want to win the race.

MR: Tell us what an average day is like here at the KIMbia camp.

CC: [Smiles] It’s not very exciting. We go for a training run in the morning. After that, we shower and listen to music or watch TV until lunch is ready. After lunch, we rest.

MR: Sleeping?

CC: Yes, mostly sleeping. But you cannot always sleep, so you just lie in bed or on the couch. After resting, we maybe take a massage. Around 4:00 it is time for more chai [tea]. This is when everyone comes back to life; we drink chai; we talk about home; we might watch some Kenyan videos on TV.

MR: Like what?

CC: Like gospel music videos or other Kenyan music videos. We have many videos here.

MR: And then what?

CC: Then we go for a second training run. When we get back, two guys are on duty for cooking dinner. The rest of us shower, have more chai, and wait for dinner. After dinner, we maybe talk for some time and then go to bed.

MR: So it's not a glamorous life?

CC: A what life?

MR: Glamorous. Fancy.

CC: Oh, no. It is not fancy.

MR: Well, thanks Christopher. Best of luck next Sunday.

CC: Thank you.

Interview conducted September 29, 2007, and posted October 5, 2007.