Kenyan John Korir has three goals when he lines up for the Chicago Marathon in Illinois on Sunday, October 12; to defend the title he won in October last year, improve on his personal best time, and get money to support a scholarship programme.
Asked whether he will make an attempt on the world record, Korir, 28, was hesitant, only saying: “I am going to compete as I aim for something special.”
The 47th edition of the marathon, which has attracted top long-distance runners in the world, will start and end in Grant Park on a course that has produced six world records, several national records and a number of personal bests.
John Korir celebrates after winning the 2025 Boston Marathon on April 21, 2025.
Photo credit: Reuters
The men’s course record, also the world record time (2:00:35), was set by the late Kelvin Kiptum, who set the time on October 8, 2023. Korir, who trains in both Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia counties, told the Nation Sports that training has been more intense compared to when he was preparing for the Boston Marathon in April.
“I feel I’m in good shape after finishing my training programme. I am ready for Sunday,” he said. “I have been on my training programme for the last three months.” He added that he is “not under pressure despite the rich field I am going to encounter because I have prepared well”.
“As Eliud Kipchoge would say, no human is limited. That is my motto going into the race. I will push my limits and see what comes out,” said Korir, who has a personal best time of 2:02:44, the second-fastest time in the Chicago Marathon history.
Given that the Chicago Marathon course is flat compared to the Boston Marathon, he said he decided to increase his training sessions, sometimes running up to 270km in a week.
“My coach normally asks me to start slow and go faster in the second part of the race. That is what I will do Sunday as I aim for better times ,” said the marathoner.
John Korir, two-time Los Angeles Marathon champion stretches at Chapkanga in Uasin Gishu County on October 04, 2022. Korir will compete in Chicago Marathon this Sunday.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
His other motivation going into the race is to support a scholarship programme for students at Transcend Talent Academy in Cherangany, Trans Nzoia.
The academy was started by his brother to support students who are talented in athletics but are from poor backgrounds.
As has been the case, he will donate 10 per cent of what he gets from the race to the programme.
“My target is not just to win and defend my title. I also want to help those kids from poor backgrounds so they can benefit in sports and education. I am working hard because of them. When I win, they will also be happy,” said Korir, who is also the brand ambassador for Bingwa Coffee.
The Kenyan has two of the Abbott Marathon Majors titles under his belt, having won the Chicago Marathon last year and the Boston Marathon on April 21 this year.
His brother, Wesley Korir, won the Boston Marathon in 2012. In the Sunday race, Korir will face compatriots Timothy Kiplagat (2:02:55), Amos Kipruto (2:03:13), Cybrian Kotut (2:03:22), Philemon Kiplimo (2:04:01), Geoffrey Kamworor (2:04:23) and Daniel Ebenyo Simiu (2:06:04) in the race.
Also in the running are Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo (2:03:37), Germany’s Bashir Abdi (2:03:36), Ethiopian Huseydin Mohamed Esa (2:04:39) and American Galen Rupp (2:06:07).
