Edwin Kiptoo: 'No one is undefeated forever'

After his loss at the VnExpress Marathon Da Nang, Kenyan runner Edwin Kiptoo admitted he's facing performance challenges but asserted he's not ready to stop.

"I'm not injured, and I haven't lost my motivation. This is sports – there are wins and losses. The important thing is what you learn after each race," Kiptoo said after returning to Malaysia to recover.

Kiptoo crosses the finish line looking exhausted. Photo: Duc Dong

Kiptoo crosses the finish line looking exhausted. Photo: Duc Dong

Kiptoo finished second in the 21km race at the VnExpress Marathon Da Nang on 20/7 with a time of 1 hour and 13 minutes, over a minute slower than the winner, Vong Vanh Long. This was the first time the Kenyan athlete was surpassed by a young Vietnamese runner.

"I considered a DNF (Did Not Finish). The high temperature, humidity, and hot sea breeze drained me," Kiptoo shared.

The Da Nang loss marks Kiptoo's third consecutive failure to win a VnExpress Marathon in eight months, following a second-place finish at the VM Hanoi Midnight 2024 and third place at the VM Volvo All-Star 2025. He previously held an undefeated streak with three consecutive wins in Hue, Quy Nhon, and Da Nang in 2024.

"I'm aware of suggestions that I'm overexerted and my tactics are predictable, but everything is still under control. I know when to stop and when to keep going," Kiptoo stated.

Highlights from the VnExpress Marathon Da Nang 2025.

Explaining his decision to register for the 21km race instead of his usual 42km, Kiptoo said he wanted to reduce pressure and recover after a series of races. Some experts believe he aimed to avoid Huynh Anh Khoi, a runner currently in top form for the full marathon.

However, even in the 21km race, Kiptoo faced formidable young competitors. He struggled, even dropping out of the top 3 in the first 9 km, only picking up speed from the middle of the race.

"The two young competitors started very fast, which surprised me. After the 10 km mark, I gradually regained my pace. But in the last 5 km, as my energy was depleted, Long surged powerfully, and I couldn't keep up," Kiptoo added.

The Kenyan runner poses with Vietnamese runners at the VM Da Nang 2025 expo. Photo: VnExpress Marathon

The Kenyan runner poses with Vietnamese runners at the VM Da Nang 2025 expo. Photo: VnExpress Marathon

Vong Vanh Long, born in 2003, has participated in several VnExpress Marathons but hadn't achieved a victory. Before the Da Nang race, Long wasn't considered a serious rival to Kiptoo. However, frequent competition against African runners seems to have boosted the confidence of young Vietnamese runners. The home-field advantage and Long's effective pacing strategy secured his win.

"I'm happy to compete with young athletes like Long and Tuong (Le Dinh Tuong, who led for over half the race but fell behind after km 17). They've made significant progress in the past few years. This is good for the future of running in Vietnam," Kiptoo commented.

After the Da Nang race, Kiptoo returned to his training base in Malaysia to recover and prepare for upcoming races. The 1987-born athlete expressed his fondness for Vietnam and its people, but explained that Malaysia offers better training conditions with stadiums, less traffic, open spaces, and a more comfortable climate.

Lan Anh - Hai Long