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Completing a marathon below two hours and 10 minutes is considered an arduous task, but Kenyan athlete William Kipsang is determined to do just that at the ninth Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon on Sunday.
Kipsang returned to the field only recently after a long injury lay-off. He suffered a hamstring injury in his right leg soon after winning the Rotterdam Marathon in 2008, where he registered a personal timing of 2:05:49 seconds.
After being away from action for nearly two years, the 34-year-old runner made his comeback at San Diego in October and finished the race in just about two hours and 15 minutes.
Now Kipsang, who is yet to qualify for the London Olympics, says he has fully recovered and eyeing to finish Sunday's race in 2:08 or 2:09 hours.
"After the San Diego race, I took a break for two weeks and have been preparing for this race ever since. I am fully fit now and will try to finish the race in 2:08 or 2:09 hours," said Kipsang, who arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Kipsang, who hails from Eldoret, feels the weather will not be much of a problem for him in his quest for a good timing.
Revealing one of the 'secrets' of Kenyan runners who have been dominating marathon events, he said many athletes from the country practiced at a hill near Eldoret.
"To run there is very tough right from the start to end. It has 24 corners that are challenging. Many Kenyan athletes practice there. I go there twice a month," he said.
"My best timing at the hill is 1:23 hours. However, the last two times I have crossed it (post injury) in 1:26 and 1:32 hours," he added.
The Ethiopians and Kenyans will renew their rivalry once again, with Siraj Gena leading a talented bunch of Ethiopians and the Kenyan challenge spearheaded by names like Laban Moiben, Bernard Kosgei, and former world champion Luke Kibet, who has a best of 2:08.32, and Kipsang.
While the men's field has nine Gold Label athletes, with personal bests of below 2:10, the women's field has seven, with personal bests of below 2:30.
Makda Harun, who at the Venice Marathon ran a fast 2:27.30 in October 2011, and Fatuma Sado, who came in second at the Istanbul Marathon with a best of 2:28:01 in 2011 head the Ethiopian charge.
"This year is the strongest field ever in the men's category. Change in course will, hopefully, beneficial to our athletes and if the weather gods are kind to us, we will see some good records," said Ian Ladbroke, Elite Athlete co-coordinator,
The richest marathon in Asia, the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2011 has an enhanced prize purse of US $340,000, an increase of US $15,000 over what was on offer last year.
Photograph: (L to R), Elite athletes' co-ordinator Tim Hutchins, Kenya's William Kipsang, Ethiopia's Fatuma Sado and Ian Ladbroke in Mumbai on Thursday.