A Brief Chat With Lawrence Saina

By Toby Tanser

Lawrence Saina does not make the print of the start list of this year’s Boston Marathon.  In fact on Monday past, when most Boston marathon runners were starting to look at the weather forecast Saina was in Eldoret expecting to go to Europe for some races.

With a bad bout of malaria, Patrick Ivuti, who was in great shape (watch out for him in another race soon) was pulled from the Boston field, and there was an opening. And so Saina packed his bags.  Miracles do happen, and although Saina was 5 minutes behind Robert Cheruiyot in the last 38km training run, he feels the magic of coming to America can make the difference.

Runner’s World:  Did you know it was a similar story for Cosmas Ndeti the first year he ran, and won, here?
Lawrence Saina:  I can win it!

What gives you that confidence?
Why not?  I have trained with him (points to Robert Cheruiyot), I have run with him, I have raced with them.  Why not now me?  You know for Kenyans when we see a runner from our district he is winning big races, so we come into running knowing that we too can win.  I remember a boy I would meet in school races, then I hear he has won the New York Marathon, stories like this encourage us to try the sport when we have nothing else to do.  In Kenya there are not many jobs other than farming, and if you don't have the land to farm...

So no surprise to you, but you would be the real dark horse winner, but you are not new to the game of marathons…
No, in fact I am the fastest man on Portuguese soil. I won Porto Marathon in 2:09 and no one has ever run faster. In fact I took down the old record by three minutes.  I came to running in 2002.  I had finished school in 1999 and was hanging around home for two years when I thought why not try, I could run in school.  So I began running.

You used to race against Martin (Lel) in secondary school, right?
Yes, he is my good friend. Sometimes he’d win, sometimes me, when I was at Kisamoei.  Then I went, in 2002, to a time trial in Kapsabet as the Rosa team were opening a camp there.  It was 35km and a man called Clement won, Martin was second, and I was third, so I was taken into the group.  And of course seeing how he trained and how I train gives me good hope for the race.

So you have been in the group at Kapsabet training with Ivuti, Lel, and Cheruiyot under Claudio’s guidance?
Yes, every long run, I was there.  Every speed work, I was there.  If you take the training from Martin and Robert, you have my plan.

How did you do in the 38km last long run?  How close to the big guys are you in training?
I ran 2:07 and it felt OK. I was a little behind Cheruiyot, but I know on Sunday I will be there hanging behind just watching, and then… maybe I can go!

Then you’ll be pulled from the race, because you’ll be in the Women’s Trials if you are racing on Sunday!  Talking of which, will you watch?
I mean Monday… yes, I heard there is a ladies race here; no, I will be relaxing I hope in my hotel room, getting ready for Monday!

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