As the old adage goes, age is just a number and at 47, marathoner Mark Kiptoo is a living testament.
Kiptoo, a senior sergeant at the Kenya Defence Forces, has defied the clock in his quest to rewrite the narrative of late bloomers.
He was born and raised in Lugari, Kakamega county in 1978. During his formative days at Lumino Primary and Mukumu Secondary schools, he took athletics, for fun and his exploits never went beyond inter-dormitory competitions.
However, this changed when he joined the Defence Forces in 2001. He started featuring for his unit in track and field and cross country.
“I never ran seriously when I was a teenager. But when I joined the Forces, some colleagues spotted a talent in me and encouraged me to nurture it, which I did,” says Kiptoo.
“A recruit called Samuel Kalia, who joined the Forces as a sportsman, was instrumental in my athletics career. He and other colleagues told me that I have a talent and that if I trained well, I would be a great runner. I took them seriously.”
Interestingly, his bosses in the military also saw his talent and were supportive, putting their faith in him during inter-wing competitions, where he featured for the Technical wing. The others were Fly and Headquarters.
“I saw the need to represent my department very well,” he says. And that is how I started running seriously. It was not an easy task since it required patience, commitment, focus, and discipline,” says Kiptoo
“While at Mukumu, I only played volleyball but never went far with it. I did not have the opportunity to concentrate. We did not have mentors,” he explains.
“After examinations, we took different directions but my dream was to be in the Armed Forces. This dream came true after I was recruited to join the Defence Forces. KDF is an institution that nurtures talent and that is how I grew as a sports person.”
He reveals how he juggled between 200m, 400 and 800m before venturing into 1,500m. He at one time ran all the way to the Defence Forces championships 1,500m final, finishing eighth.
“It had taken me like three years. Just reaching the final was an achievement,” he says.
He ran 1,500m for a year before shifting to 5,000m. He remembers how he found the going tough and was even lapped several times during a competition.
“There was a time I competed at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret. I was lapped and finished in a slow time of 16:30. My coach was not happy but for me, it was an achievement since this is the time the ladies usually post,” he says.
“As a beginner, I still had so many things to deal with like weight, weak muscles and being converted from an ordinary person to a pro athlete. A friend told me that running was not easy and that years later, I would also lap some fellow runners,” laughs Kiptoo.
He then kept his focus and continued with his training, winning a number of races before hitting the international headlines in 2007.
At the World Military Games in Hyderabad, India, Kiptoo won a gold medal in the 5,000m and a silver in the 10,000m races.
A year later, he wore national team colours to the World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland and also made Team Kenya to the 2009 World Cross in Amman, Jordan.
“After Jordan, I started improving in 5,000m, making the national team to the 2010 African Championships and winning a bronze medal. I also made the team to the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, where I won a bronze medal,” says Kiptoo.At the 2012 African Championships in Port Novo, Benin, he won the 5,000m title and a silver in the 10,000m.
“Running and winning medals for Kenya was a great achievement,” he says. “I was also privileged to win two gold medals and a silver — setting the 5,000m military record that still stands to date. Nobody has threatened it. I am challenging the young men to try and improve on it.”
In 2011, Kiptoo was keen on competing at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, but this never came to be.
“During the national trials, someone broke into our bus and stole our property. My shoes were among the stolen items and I had to run in borrowed shoes. They were uncomfortable and, therefore, I could not run well, thus missing out on the top places,” laments Kiptoo.
Two years later, Kiptoo transitioned to road running and finished second in his first 42km race — 2013 Frankfurt Marathon.
“With fast young runners coming on track, I decided to move to the marathon. My first marathon was in Frankfurt, where I won a silver medal in 2:06:16, behind compatriot Vincent Kipruto. I returned to Frankfurt the following year and won the race in 2:06:49,” he explains.
Kiptoo’s exploits in distance running continued, finishing second at the 2015 Rotterdam Marathon and third at the 2016 Eindhoven Marathon.
“This journey has been successful but when I was at the peak, I picked an injury that sidelined me for a while. Sometimes we push our bodies so much that we end up injured,” he says.
“Unfortunately, just as I had recovered from the injury, the coronavirus pandemic struck, forcing us to remain inactive for a long time. On return, I went to the 2023 Zurich Marathon in April, which I won with a master’s record of 2:09:12 for men above 45 years.”
On October 8, Kiptoo won the 3-Lander Marathon, leading Kenyans to a podium sweep. He clocked 2:09:15 for the win as Japheth Kosgei ( 2:11.08 ) and Hammington Kimaiyo 2:11:55 finished second and third respectively.
“It was painful to miss a new master’s record by just three seconds. I realised I was just three seconds shy after entering the stadium for the finish but it was too late. Nobody had told me I was on world record pace. There are are no pacemakers in 3-Lander so you can imagine how big I would have become had I set a new record,” regretted Kiptoo.
He says the 3-Lander Marathon is quite interesting since it is run in three countries — Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
“The event starts in Germany at Lander City, passes through Breskens in Austria then it enters Switzerland before finishing at Breskens. It also runs along the Baltic Sea,” explained Kiptoo.
On his longevity, Kiptoo says he has, over time, learnt how to condition and command his body.
“I always tell my body what it can achieve and there is a lot that you need to do. I realised that whatever we put in our body is what will come out in terms of training. But don’t train too much, listen to your body too. If it requires some rest then do it but training should be on a daily basis,” he narrates.
“Through commitment, focus, and discipline, there is much that we can achieve as long as we don’t rush the process. If you know that you have a race in May next year, start training now and your body will respond. If you are going down, the body will communicate and then address the matter as fast as possible. Also, consider what you feed your body with. Maintain a diet.”
Kiptoo says the biggest challenge to an athlete is injuries. “Once injured and you are down, even sponsors will run away,” he says, adding that it is crucial for local corporates to move into supporting upcoming sportspersons as opposed to joining them once they are on top.
“I want to encourage local sponsors to come on board and support young talents. We have individuals who have the talent which will, at times, take some time to be realised. It is only when one wins a race that cooperates come on board... but along the way, they were nowhere,” he says.
He adds that the country and elite athletes need to take care of young talents since running is like planting a tree. “I am privileged to be an ambassador for Complete Sports and I don’t take it for granted. I realised that the brains behind the facility want to develop a complete athlete; mentally, physically, and spiritually, giving an athlete the right and truthful information,” he says.
“It is important to tell the truth that here I am, I am an athlete like you. I was also young in my career but I grew by following the right track. The issue with performance is possible for them. I ran 5,000 in 12:53 — my personal best time. I always tell them to trust the process and they will achieve,” he says.
On drugs and rampant doping among Kenyan athletes, Kiptoo says: “Abusing drugs, taking alcohol and other vices is not good. Have mentors who have prospered and who you would like to live like.
He also wants county governments to be in the forefront in supporting and nurturing upcoming athletes.
“Let them not invest in towns but in the villages where the majority of the sporting talent comes from. We have coaches and teachers who could help the young ones, especially during the current long holidays,” he explains, adding that it is at this young level that the athletes should be taught commitment, perseverance and patience.
“There is a lot that is involved just like in building. You need a firm foundation. Follow the process of curing and some stages. For good running, some muscles have to be strong enough, which requires time. I normally give three years of constant training without focusing on the past results,” he concludes.
Mark Kiptoo profile
Year of Birth: 1978
Place of Birth: Lugari, Kakamega County
Education
1992: KCPE at Lumino Primary School
1996: KCSE at Mukumu Secondary School
Military career
1997: Joins Kenya Defence Forces
2005-2006: UN Peacekeeping Mission in Burundi
2006: Promoted to Corporal
: Promoted to Sergeant
: Promoted to Senior Sergeant
Athletics Honours
2007: Winner 5,000m, Silver 10,000m World Military Games
2010: Bronze 5,000m African Championships
2010: Bronze 5,000m Commonwealth Games
2011: Winner 5,000m World Military Games (Games record of 13:06.17)
2012: Winner 5,000m Africa Athletics Championships
2013: Winner Darica Half marathon
2013: Winner Frankfurt Marathon
2015: Silver Rotterdam Marathon
2016: Bronze Eindhoven Marathon
2023: Winner Zurich Marathon (Masters’ record)
2023: Winner 3-Lander Marathon