Science or hard work? New mothers breaking athletics records
Mary Keitany of Kenya crosses the finish line to win the Pro Women's division during the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon in Central Park in New York City on November 2, 2014. PHOTO | ALEX TRAUTWIG |
What you need to know:
- Keitany, who is married to another runner, Charles Koech, is planning a major assault on the world record at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
- Kiplagat, 27, who won silver medals in 5000m at the 2006 World Junior Championships, took a break in 2008 but came back in 2009 to win the World Cross Country senior women’s 8km title and the 2009 World Half Marathon title.
The 2011 and 2012 London Marathon champion Mary Keitany made a breathtaking return from maternity leave for the second time to win the New York City Marathon in November.
Former World Championships 5,000m and 10,000m Vivian 'Pocket Rocket' Cheruiyot is also preparing for a return after taking a maternity leave that saw her fail to defend her world titles last year in Moscow.
Keitany's case is not unique — Catherine 'The Great' Ndereba, Florence Kiplagat, Lydia Cheromei, Lucy Kabuu and Uganda’s Dorcas Inzikuru are some of the other female athletes who have staged some of the magnificent comebacks after such breaks.
But does giving birth make an athlete perform better than before?
Keitany, the 2009 World Half Marathon champion, brushed aside stiff challenge from Jemima Jelagat Sumgong in the last 700m after having stayed shoulder-to-shoulder in the last seven kilometres to win the NYC Marathon in 2:25:07 on November 2.
Kenya’s Mary Keitany (centre) celebrates with the first-place trophy alongside second-placed Jemima Sumgong (left) and third-placed Sara Moreira of Portugal during the presentation of the 2014 New York City Marathon on November 2. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The 32-year-old Keitany, who warmed up for the NYC Marathon with victories in the Ottawa 10km race and Great North 21km run upon return, had given birth Samantha Kerop.
On return from maternity leave in 2008, Keitany won the World Half Marathon title, set a new world record at the 2010 Berlin 25km, broke the World Half Marathon record before winning two London Marathon titles, with the 2012 victory coming with a new Kenyan record of 2:18:37, the third fastest ever after 2:15:25 set by Briton Paula Radcliffe in 2003 in London and 2:18:20 by Russian Liliya Shobukhova’s in Chicago.
WORLD RECORD
Keitany, who is married to another runner, Charles Koech, is planning a major assault on the world record at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Cheruiyot, who celebrated her 31st birthday on September 11, resumed training in June. Cheruiyot gave birth to a baby boy, Allan, who turned one year last month.
“I am back in full swing. I feel great that even if I leave this house to some place I know that there is someone precious at home watching over me,” said Cheruiyot, who has been training in Eldoret. “My body has responded well to training and I can’t wait to pound the terrains and track,” she told Nation Sport.
Cheruiyot said she is focused on securing a place in Team Kenya for the World Cross Country, where she intends to reclaim her title. “I also hope to get a chance to compete at the World Championships, where I should focus on (the) 5,000m race alone,” said Cheruiyot.
Both the World Cross and World Championships will take place in China in March and August, respectively, next year.
“I wasn’t disappointed after I missed Moscow since what I was expecting was priceless,” said Cheruiyot. “I want to concentrate on track and cross country in the next two years before I turn to road races after the 2016 Rio Olympic Games,” said Cheruiyot adding: “Good wine matures with age.”
Vivian Cheruiyot celebrates after winning silver in the women's 5,000m during the Olympic Games final at the Olympic Stadium in London on August 10, 2012. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
She said that cross country running is the best build-up to track running. “I still have enough speed to do well and achieve some more on the track. I want to run as much as I can on the track before finally moving to the marathon, because I know that once I move there, it will become harder to continue running well on the track again," she explained.
Athletics Kenya doctor Victor Bargoria said the strong comeback after birth is something worth noting, but at the same time, from a scientific point of view, it’s not a statement with certainty. “It should be subjected to a medical study before commenting on it,” said Bargoria “Success is a much factorial thing not hinged on one particular thing.”
GOOD TRAINING
Bargoria said he has discussed the topic with athletes before but it’s about focus, determination and rest period. “You realise one takes more than one year's rest and definitely should come out stronger with good training,” said Bargoria.
The birth of her daughter, Jane, in 1997 signified the rebirth of Ndereba, who went on to win two world marathon titles, two Olympic marathon silver medals, a record five Boston Marathon and two Chicago marathons, including a world record (2:18:47) in 2001.
“Giving birth sort of reenergises the body and one performs better since she knows very well someone is at home. There is nothing special but just hard work and good diet,” said Keitany. “One comes out much better with a fresh and settled mind than before."
Keitany said she started training seven months after giving birth and her performance after the maternity leave speaks volume. “Resuming training is tough in the initial stages since it’s like when an athlete finishes the race. She can vow never to run again but in the end she is back on the road the following day.”
Ndereba said for a strong comeback one needs to take time off with the baby. “Someone should breastfeed her baby until she feels strong enough for return,” said Ndereba. “One just can’t give birth today and start running after one month. A quick return could have its own consequences like back pain that would be detrimental.”
From second left: Rachel Ruto, Deputy President Wiliiam Ruto's wife, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, Douglas Wakihuri and Catherine Ndereba participate in the First Lady's Half Marathon in Nairobi on March 9, 2014. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Kiplagat, 27, who won silver medals in 5000m at the 2006 World Junior Championships, took a break in 2008 but came back in 2009 to win the World Cross Country senior women’s 8km title and the 2009 World Half Marathon title.
Kiplagat followed up with her maiden marathon victory at the 2011 Berlin Marathon in 2:19:44 before reclaiming the title in 2013 in 2:21:13. She then broke the World Half marathon record by a significant margin at the Barcelona Half Marathon in February 2014, running 1:05:12 to beat Keitany's old mark by 38 seconds. Kiplagat also broke Keitany's 20km World Record with a time of 1:01:56 in the race Barcelona race.
Joyce Chepkirui (foreground) celebrates winning after a sprint on the final stretch as Florence Kiplagat (centre left) falls over the line in an unsuccessful effort to hold onto first place in the final of the women's 10,000m at Hampden Park during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, on July 29, 2014. PHOTO | ADRIAN DENNIS | AFP
After Kabuu won the 2010 Commonwealth Games 10,000m gold and silver in 5,000m in New Delhi, she left the competitive scene to give birth and made a grand return with victory at the 2011 Delhi Half Marathon in a personal best of 1:07:04 before she made her debut over the marathon distance at the 2012 Dubai Marathon — a race she completed in 2:19:34, the ninth-fastest time of the race's history.
She won the 2013 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon with a personal best of 1:06:09, just 19 seconds off Keitany's world record, which was later shattered by Kiplagat in Barcelona.
Cheromei came back from maternity leave to win the 2008 Rotterdam Half Marathon with a course record of 68:35 before winning the 2008 Amsterdam Marathon on her debut over the distance.
