Running tips for marathon hopefuls from a Kenyan champion: motivation, avoiding injuries, mindset and more
- Professional marathon runner Lukas Wambua Muteti has raced across Asia for the last decade, and shares his skills in training sessions in Hong Kong
- He says many people starting out jump into group sessions with experienced runners, something that is unlikely to end well
With cooler weather and high-profile races coming up in Hong Kong – including this month’s Oxfam Trailwalker and the Hong Kong 100 in January – it is the perfect time for city residents to take up long-distance running.
Beginners, however, may be unsure of where to start and how to avoid injury. That is why professional Kenyan marathon runner Lukas Wambua Muteti addresses both concerns in the coaching sessions he holds for would-be marathon runners in Hong Kong.
Muteti, who comes from a family of coffee bean farmers, started his running career in 2008 and has since won a number of prestigious international marathons. During his coaching sessions, the 34-year-old shares training tips from Kenya, a country known for producing world-class runners.
Here is what he has to say about warming up, posture, mindset and more.
How Kenyan runners train
Muteti says the first month at Kenyan running camps is focused on strength and muscle building, followed by a second month concentrating on endurance. Once athletes near race readiness, the focus shifts to speed. By the time a race kicks off, the runners have a solid foundation of running behind them.