Alexander
Mutiso (Kenya)
PB: Half : 57:59 , Full ; 2:03:29
He belongs to a Japanese corporate team and holds the fourth fastest half marathon time in the world. In December 2022, he made his marathon debut at the Valencia Marathon, achieving an astonishing result of 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 29 seconds, placing third overall.
Let's delve into the secrets behind the strength of Mutiso, one of the world's top fighters.
story
Q. Please tell us about your childhood memories.
A. My elementary school was a kilometer away from my house, and I walked to school barefoot every day until I got shoes. I loved football back then, and I often played barefoot with my friends.
There was no school lunch, so I had to go home to eat lunch.
Q. What was your daily life like at home?
A. Every day after school, I had household chores to do. This included going into the forest to gather firewood for dinner, and since there was no running water at home, I had to go to the river, two kilometers away, to fetch water. (I would carry 2.5 liters of water in both hands.)
Q. What inspired you to start track and field?
A. My older brother was a track and field coach, and he advised me to give it a try, which was the initial inspiration. I was also very inspired by the success of fellow athletes from my hometown, including Patrick Makau, who was active in marathons at the time.
Q. What do you value most when competing?
A. What I have always valued is discipline. When I was a junior and living in training camp, I lived and trained together with other players. Even back then, the coach would create training menus for me, and I would try to complete them every time. Even when the target times were fast and it was tough, I would still try to complete the menu. In other words, for me, completing this training menu reliably is what discipline is all about.
Even now that I've switched to marathon running, I still receive a weekly training schedule from my coach and follow it every day.
Q. What does family mean to you?
A. For me, my family is what creates an environment where I can concentrate on my sport. Of course, they support me with meals and household chores, but the most important thing is that they protect me from things unrelated to my sport. The time I spend with my family becomes my recovery time for the next training session.
In that sense, they are a truly important person to me.
What does a Kenyan bracelet mean to you?
The Kenya bracelet is an accessory that symbolizes being a Kenyan athlete. The Kenyan flag design constantly reminds me of my home country, and it has become a cherished lucky charm during my daily training and races.
