Motivated by Motherhood

Published by NYRR on October 23, 2015

At the starting line of last year’s TCS New York City Marathon, Mary Keitany was feeling nervous, unsure about how her body would react to the 26.2 miles ahead.  

Sure, she was a two-time winner of the London Marathon, her 2012 time of 2:18:37 making her the second-fastest woman in history behind only the great Paula Radcliffe. And yes, she had already run New York twice, finishing third both times. But this would be her first marathon in more than two years: in April 2013, she gave birth to her second child, Samantha, who joined her older brother Jared, born in June 2008. Was she ready?  

Just 2:25:07 later, her body had answered with an emphatic “yes,” as Keitany held off not only a brutal wind but also her Kenyan compatriot, Jemima Jelagat Sumgong, for a three-second victory.  

Keitany, who at 33 will return to defend her TCS New York City Marathon title on November 1, shares her story with us via email.