Interview wth Susan Chepkemei
by Cecil Harris

Susan Chepkemei at the 2004 ING New York City Marathon.
Photo by: Alison Wade
New York Road Runners

Like a fine wine, Susan Chepkemei of Kenya gets better with age. This past April, eight years after her marathon debut, Chepkemei ran a personal-best time of 2:21:46 and finished third at the Flora London Marathon. Chepkemei, 31, shattered her previous PR by 90 seconds. She has five top three marathon finishes in London, and she finished second in the real,- Berlin Marathon in 1998.

However, despite being among the world’s best marathon runners and one of the great road racers in history, Chepkemei has yet to win a major marathon.

At the ING New York City Marathon, Chepkemei has finished second an unprecedented three times. In 2001, only countrywoman Margaret Okayo defeated her. The 2004 race produced a memorable duel with world record-holder Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain that Chepkemei lost by three seconds—the closest women’s finish ever. In 2005, she seemed poised for victory until stomach problems late in the race led to her runner-up finish behind Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia.

Chepkemei has also done her share of winning, capturing four medals at the IAAF Half-Marathon Championships and many titles at major road races in the U.S. and abroad. Her half-marathon PR of 1:05:44 is the second-fastest ever by a woman. She’s from West Pokot, Kenya, also the home of Tegla Loroupe, the New York City Marathon champion in 1994 and 1995.

Chepkemei has 10 points in the World Marathon Majors series standings, thanks to her third-place showing in London. Two days before ING New York City Marathon 2006, she spoke with Fast-Women.com at the famed restaurant Tavern on the Green in Central Park, mere strides from the finish line of a race she’ll compete in for the fifth time.

Fast-Women.com: How disappointing has it been for you to finish second at the ING New York City Marathon three times?
Susan Chepkemei: A little disappointing, but not that much. When I remember what happened in last year’s race, I ask myself, “How would I have felt if I could not finish the race? How would I have felt if I could not finish in the top five?” To not finish or to not finish in the top five, that would have been a big disappointment. But I finished the race, and to come second was good. My confidence is still there, and I’m just looking forward to winning this race.

FW: How much do you think about last year’s race? You were in position to win before you encountered stomach problems.
SC: When I reached 40 kilometers [24.8 miles], I was sick. Something happened. I remember thinking, “What is happening to me? Why is this happening to me?” [She shakes her head]. I was going for the victory.

FW: How long did it take you to get over that disappointment?
SC: It took some time, but always I say, “Maybe that was not my time. Maybe God has something special for me. Maybe this Sunday. Maybe this Sunday is the special day. I don’t know. It’s my dream to win this race one day, one time.”

FW: After finishing second in New York three times and seventh once, how will you feel if you win this race?
SC: I’ll tell you when I win [laughing]. All the emotion [she clutches her heart with her hands] will tell it.

FW: How long does it take you to recover from a marathon?
SC: A month. I always take one month.

FW: Have you trained any differently for this race than for past ING New York City Marathons?
SC: No, not at all.

FW: How many miles a week did you run in preparation for this race?
SC: Well, I trained 120-130 kilometers [74.4 miles-80.6 miles] a week.

FW: Is that typical for you before a marathon?
SC: Yes.

FW: Do you run much on hills to prepare for the Central Park phase of this race?
SC: I do. I train on the hills and on the flat course. You have to be prepared for both.

FW: What do you like about running in New York?
SC: It’s amazing [smiles]. Especially on the streets, when there are so many people screaming, “Keep going.” They do that the whole way. The spectators are so amazing. The people here are fantastic, because all the way, we get their support.

FW: I know that you’re focused on trying to win the race, but do you notice how the neighborhoods change so dramatically during the race, the different ethnic groups that live in New York City, the unique aspects of each neighborhood that you run through?
SC: Well, I don’t know how to differentiate the different groups. But I love the people. They’re excellent. This race, it’s wonderful all the time. It’s like my second home.

FW: New York City is like your second home?
SC: [Smiles] Yes, yes. The spectators here are so wonderful. I just want to say thank you to the organizers for welcoming me back again. I really appreciate it. I’m very thankful to the people of New York for all their support.

FW: You’re from the same part of Kenya as Tegla Loroupe, the first African woman to win a major marathon, and she did it right here at the 1994 New York City Marathon. Did that inspire you?
SC: Yes. I learned a lot from her.

FW: What did you learn from her?
SC: Well, I was young and I was going to school. I told the people, “I’d like to run.” I met somebody who knows Tegla Loroupe. One day, I met with her and I talked with her. She gave me a lot of courage. She said, “You can do it. Keep running.” And I’m here.

FW: Is there competition among the great Kenyan women runners such as yourself, Catherine Ndereba, Lornah Kiplagat, Rita Jeptoo? Is there competition to be the best?
SC: The race is competition, so you have to run like a sportswoman all the time. At the end of the race, you are friends—laughing, chatting, telling stories of how the race went. But the race is competition.

FW: Of course, you want to win. But if you don’t win a race, do you say that you want your countrywoman to win?
SC: I told you, you have to be a sportswoman. Any athlete can win. The best runner that day will win.

FW: Who are the runners that you’re most concerned about in this race?
SC: Always, I don’t look for anybody. I run my own race. As my body tells me to run, that’s how I run.

FW: How big of a celebrity are you in Kenya?
SC: Ever since I ran the [ING New York City Marathon 2004] shoulder to shoulder with Paula, people know me. Many places. They say, “Susan, oh my goodness. You ran a great, great race with Paula.” And last year, when I ran here again and came second I was more popular. And some people, they say, “Who’s the lady, she ran in New York [last year] and she threw up? Oh, she’s a real fighter.” I say, “Oh my goodness. Thank you very much.” I get a lot of support when I run.

FW: Are there girls in Kenya now who are inspired by you?
SC: Yes, there are. They ask me about running because they like to run. They like to know about where I run. They want to run and be better and better.

FW: Do they want to run in the world’s great races as you do?
SC: Yes. Definitely.

FW: What do you remember about your first marathon?
SC: I was a cross country runner. Then I said, “Why don’t I try the marathon?” I tried my first marathon in 1998 and I was second, the Berlin Marathon. I ran 2:28 [2:28:19]. I was so excited, you know. But I was so exhausted, so tired, because I was not used to running the marathon. Then I tried my second one. I ran fantastic. So I stayed with it. I would say my best marathons are London and New York.

FW: What is it about London that you like?
SC: The London Marathon this year I ran my personal best [2:21:46].

FW: So eight years after your first marathon, you’re still running personal bests. You’re getting better with age.
SC: [Laughs]. Yes, yes.

FW: Could you run another personal best here?
SC: That’s what I’m looking for [laughs].

FW: Will your countrymen and countrywomen in Kenya be watching this race?
SC: Oh, yes. The people like sports, especially running. The New York race they will show live. I think it’s eight hours difference. The race will be on in the evening.

FW: Your countrywoman Catherine Ndereba rarely speaks publicly without mentioning God. Are you as spiritual?
SC: Yes. I believe in God. I believe that while I’m running He is giving me power. And always when I finish, I say,” Thank you, God, for giving me this power.”

FW: Your hair in micro-braids, black with blonde highlights, looks beautiful.
SC: Thank you.

FW: How long does it take to do that?
SC: One hour.

FW: You don’t do it yourself, do you?
SC: Oh, no. A specialist in Kenya does this [laughs].

FW: Will you run in New York City again next year?
SC: I hope so.

FW: I wish you success on Sunday.
SC: Thank you.

Interview conducted on November 3, 2006, and posted Novemeber 3, 2006.

Nothing contained herein may be reproduced online in any form without the express written permission of the New York Road Runners Club, Inc.