GOAT’s playlist! Eliud Kipchoge discloses what he enjoys listening to and it’s a surprise choice” helps him push beyond the limits during preparations for his races.
Eliud Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic marathon winner, has acknowledged that he enjoys pop and country music, which he says helps him train effortlessly. Although training can be quite taxing on the body and mind, the 15-time marathon winner claims that it is somewhat easier when he listens to great music. Kipchoge enjoys calming music because of this, and his playlist features some unexpected selections.
“I am a big, big fan of Kelly Clarkson,” Kipchoge said in an interview with Runner’s World.
“I listen to all the music of Kelly Clarkson. The first song goes, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. That’s what gets me running. I still push on and push on, because I have discovered that running cannot kill me – it makes me stronger.”
Besides Clarkson’s hit Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You), Kipchoge, who is an ambassador for leading electronics brand Shokz, also enjoys tunes from country music legend Kenny Rogers, with his 1979 hit Coward of the County, being his favourite.
I’ve been motivated more because I can listen to the music which motivates me. That’s the only way in which I can run fast. I can finish the run in a happy way, you know – and at the end of the day, you really feel that you are energetic.”
The marathon legend has numerous accolades on his CV as besides winning 15 marathons, 11 World Marathon Majors, he is also the first man to run a marathon under two hours during his INEOS 1:59 Challenge that was executed under controlled conditions in October 2019.
Kipchoge has, however, seen his powers wane in the last one year, finishing sixth at the 2023 Boston marathon before recovering to win in Berlin, but 2024 has been more difficult with a 10th place finish in Tokyo after which he dropped out of the race at the Paris Olympics at the 31km mark.
