Douglas Wakiihuri: First Kenyan to Ever Win a Marathon Shares Training Tips for Athletes 

Douglas Wakiihuri
1990 Commonwealth Games - Men's Marathon Champion Douglas Wakiihuri during an interview on July 30, 2022.
PHOTO:
Courtesy
KBC
Twiitter

Kenya has been registering mixed results in its latest athletics events sparking mixed reactions on what could be ailing the revered powerhouse.

In the ongoing Commonwealth Games, Kenya managed two medals in the men's and women's marathons, Bronze and silver respectively. 

Speaking on Kenya Broadcasting Corporation - KBC, the 1990 Commonwealth Games - Men's Marathon Champion Douglas Wakiihuru faulted the country's training tactics. 

Also Read: Commonwealth 2022: Kenyan Athlete Disqualified Over Govt's Blunder

Wakiihuru who was the first ever Kenyan to win a marathon noted that the coaches should focus on available resources and assets during training.

According to reports, all teams representing Kenya have been in camp for at least five weeks a strategy that Wakiihuru does not support. 

“I think we should improve on that (training) because for me I think one year should be the minimum training for a championship event.  

“These will give the athletes and coaches as a team time to get acquitted to one another. The longer the time we spend together the better everyone as a team  

“You do not just make a team in five months, you just put people together who have very different personalities, different feelings and with different coaches to be under one coach,” Wakiihuru noted. 

Wakiihuru is also a running coach to Kenya's First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta, training her for her Beyond Zero marathons. 

The retired athlete was honored by President Uhuru Kenyatta back in December 2021, after he was awarded the ‘Order of the Golden Warrior-OGW’.

Also Read: How to Watch the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Kenya