Eliud Kipchoge

“I was not so lucky to grow up with toys as I grew up in a remote area of Kenya.”

“It's important to run clean so that you can inspire people, to give an example to the young generation.”

“I started running because my neighbour, Patrick Sang, was an athlete and I wanted to be just like him. Patrick came from the same village as I do and my mother used to be his teacher. I was so inspired by his success.”

“One of my first races came over 10km in 2002. I won that race and it felt great. I would say that is when I first fell in love with running.”

“Mentality is where the success is. I will teach the kids how to think in a positive way.”

“Thinking positively and confidently changed my life. If you stay consistent and work hard, you can be successful for a long time.”

“It's like the first man to go to the moon, I will be the first man to run under two hours, this is crucial.”

“Athletics is not so much about the legs. It's about the heart and mind.”

“The best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago. The second-best time to plant a tree is today.”