11/06/2025
EXCLUSIVE: Imagine running your worst marathon in 2:14:36. For most runners, that would be a dream a lifetime achievement. But for Eliud Kipchoge, it’s what he calls a bad day.
At 40 years old, Kipchoge lined up for the 2025 New York City Marathon and crossed the line in 2:14:36, finishing 17th.
No podium, no record, no fairy-tale ending.
Yet, that’s exactly what makes this story so powerful.
Because even the greatest of all time has bad days.
Days when the legs don’t respond, the rhythm fades, and the body says no. But what separates legends from the rest isn’t the time on the clock it’s how they respond.
Kipchoge didn’t make excuses. He smiled at the finish line, congratulated others, and reminded us all that failure is part of greatness.
His “worst” marathon is still a time that 99.9% of runners could only dream of a reminder that consistency, humility, and passion outlast any single result.
So next time your run doesn’t go as planned, remember: even Eliud has off days. And that’s what keeps him human.
