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Hellen Obiri won both the Boston and New York marathons, writing a historic chapter in her sport.
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Her dedication, genetics and commitment have led her to excel in different distances, dispelling common beliefs.
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After a difficult start, Hellen learned patience and turned weaknesses into strengths, achieving success.
On thetop step of Boston and now New York. Hellen Obiri won the oldest of marathons and six months later also the world’s most attended. In one year, the athlete who joined the OAC(On Athletic Club) team in 2022 has written an important chapter in the history of the sport.
Before the marathon
Already the holder of world indoor, outdoor and cross-country titles Hellen is the first woman since 1989 to win both the Boston and New York marathons, beginning to shatter the belief that an athlete cannot excel at all distances.
Predisposition, genetics but also a lot of commitment and sacrifice make her excel in every challenge she decides to try her hand at. World champion and winner of two Olympic silver medals in the 5000m she competed in the 1500m, 3000m and then also tried her hand at the 10000m until she landed at the queen distance, the 42km and 195m. A gradual and respectful approach to the marathon.
Dream on
On the same roads where she managed “only” a sixth place in her distance debut a year ago, Hellen got her revenge by moving up the five places in the standings that separated her from the top step of the podium, taking the victory in 2 hours 27 minutes and 23 seconds. In this year Hellen never stopped dreaming, continuing to work hard to fulfill her dream.
Be patience
In a marathon it’s about patience.
Hellen learned this to her cost. After last year’s experience, which she calls “terrible,” she worked to turn her weaknesses into strengths. The first sign that the road he was on was the right one came in April with his victory in his first major circuit marathon in Boston.
In New York she was in no hurry, running along with the group of top female athletes by keeping up with their pace, strangely “slow” if you look at their standards, waiting until the end of the race to try to strides and put herself in the lead, as agreed with her coach Dathan Ritzenhein. She had patience and was rewarded for it.
In New York it’s not about time, it’s about winning the race.
These are the words of a mature athlete from whom we should all take a cue and example.
All eyes On her shoes
If Carrie Bradshaw, the darling of the TV series Sex and the City, ran through the streets of the city with her Manolo Blanik on her feet, our Hellen paraded down First Avenue wearing On CloudTri 1s. This shoe, designed and conceived for triathletes, is the same one that also carried her to victory last April in Boston.
Definitely related to the On Cloudboom Echo 3, there is still an aura of mystery surrounding this new model as there is still no timely information on the shoe’s features. They are currently used not only by Hellen but also by Ironman world champion Gustav Iden.
A new generation of women
Tigist Assefa setting a new women’s marathon world record in Berlin. Hellen Obiri winning first Boston and then New York. Cover women and increasingly strong athletes who can make headlines on par with a Kelvin Kiptum or a Tamirat Tola who set a new course record in New York.
A new generation of determined young women determined not to go unnoticed.
