Kenyan all-time great Hellen Obiri will run the 2023 Boston Marathon on April 17, 2023.

What to Know:

– Hellen Obiri is a two-time Olympic silver medalist, and the only woman to win a World title in Cross-country, indoor and outdoor track, is widely regarded as one of the best long-distance runners of her generation. She has won numerous world championships and holds the Kenyan national record in the 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters, and half marathon.

– Boston will be her second career marathon. Obiri's marathon debut in New York City last year did not go as well as she had hoped and finished in sixth place in 2:25:49.

– She bounced back to form in the same city on March 19 and won the NYC Half in a course record of 67:21.

– Obiri arrived in New York from Kenya but will now travel to altitude in Colorado to continue training with the On Athletics Club.

What her coach is saying:

Before the NYC Half, her coach Dathan Ritzenhein told CITIUS MAG that “the door was open” to the possibility of a late entry into a spring marathon. The decision to run Boston was made following her victory in New York.

"Physically, I think she's ready for it," coach Dathan Ritzenhein told CITIUS MAG after the NYC Half. "Mentally, we've got to make sure she's really turned on for it. The marathon is not something you can just go into and just hope to do well."

What Obiri is saying:

“Like a marathon, you can’t lose hope,” Obiri told CITIUS MAG after the NYC Half. "Last year was my debut and I do probably believe that if I get a faster course, I could do it very, very well. I’ve never lost hope in my training. I’ve been training so well.”

Recently reunited with her family in the United States:

– Obiri put in a seven-week training block ahead of the New York City Marathon in Boulder. Her husband and daughter remained in Kenya awaiting their visas to travel to the United States. They finally got their visas to travel ahead of the NYC Half and will now stay with her in Colorado.

“Now she has that peace and if we get her in a really good environment, she’s ready to take off,” Ritzenhein says.

Who Else Is Running Boston:

– The Boston Marathon elite women’s field is arguably the deepest in the race’s 127-year history. Nine women have personal bests under 2:20:00. Ethiopian record holder Amane Beriso is the fastest woman in the field with a 2:14:58 personal best from December’s Valencia Marathon.