The current marathon world record stands at an astounding 2:00:35 set by the late Kelvin Kiptum during his stunning victory at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.
Kiptum’s run eclipsed the previous mark of 2:01:09, held by the legendary Eliud Kipchoge from his 2022 Berlin triumph.
Kandie’s best time in the marathon ( 2:06:46 ) came at the 2024 Berlin Marathon, where he placed 13th.
Despite that gap, the 28-year-old believes Valencia offers the perfect stage to make his mark.
“I want to attempt the marathon world record in Valencia, which is the final major race of the year,” Kandie declared.
Valencia has been a good hunting ground for Kandie, having shattered the World Half Marathon record there in 2020, clocking 57:32.
However, Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo narrowly snatched the record a year later after posting 57:31.
Kandie’s dominance in Valencia remains undisputed as he holds two back-to-back victories in 2022 ( 58:10 ) and 2023 ( 57:40 ).
While the Valencia Marathon has yet to produce a world record, it boasts a reputation for blistering times.
Kelvin Kiptum ran the fastest-ever debut marathon there in 2022 with 2:01:53.
Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma clocked an impressive 2:01:48 in 2023 while last year saw Sebastian Sawe mark his marathon debut with a swift 2:02:05.
Achieving a world record requires meticulous preparations and Kandie is leaving nothing to chance.
“Going for the world record means I have to commit to extra mileage and train more intensely,” he emphasised.
To sharpen his edge, Kandie has shifted his training base from Iten to the challenging terrain of Ngong, which he says offers ideal conditions for building strength and stamina.
“I have shifted to
Ngong for the last three months
and it’s terrain is much different
from that of Iten.”
“Ngong is where I will get enough stamina and strength that is vital for the road races,” he added.
Kandie will first test his readiness for the 2025 season at the Seoul Marathon on March 16.
“My target is the Seoul Marathon which will be my first Marathon of the year. I intend to use it as a build up for more explosive results this year,” Kandie noted.
Kandie Kicked off his 2025 with an emphatic victory at the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Cross Country Championships last Friday clocking 29:24.8.
Having fully transitioned to road racing, Kandie says his days on the track are largely behind him, except for occasional appearances for his employer, KDF.
“I have shifted to the full marathon. I might run for my employers but will not be participating in the track this year,” he said.
He revealed that transition in sports was key to attaining more glory.
“Sports is about transition. The natural evolution of an athlete’s career is a big reason for my shift. As we grow older we leave the track to younger, hungrier athletes,” he remarked.
