A lot of the buzz leading up to the 2023 Boston Marathon focused on Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, who broke his own world record in the Berlin Marathon in September 2022 in a blazing 2:01:09. Many wondered, how would the GOAT fair on the Boston route? On its brutal downhills that shred up your legs in the first sixteen miles, then the 4.5 miles building uphill to the epic Heartbreak Hill, peaking at 20-21 miles before the final descent into Boston—all with characteristically unpredictable weather and competing against the greatest runners in the world. 

As it turned out, Kipchoge, who led the tight lead pack for more than half the race, began to fall back at around mile 16, ultimately finishing in sixth place, and three minutes behind Evan Chebet, also of Kenya, who finished in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 54 seconds to become a back-to-back Boston Marathon champion.

As excited I was for Chebet, who ran an awesome race and crossed the line at Copley Square with a stride that was pure beauty, I was eager to hear what Kipchoge would have to say for himself. If you haven’t heard Kipchoge speak, he speaks like a mystic. This seems fitting for him, as he is a devout Catholic, and deeply spiritual person. He has been known to end his races by kneeling down, bending his forehead to the ground, crossing himself and praying in Thanksgiving. This is what he had to say:

“I live for the moments where I get to challenge the limits. It’s never guaranteed, it’s never easy. Today was a tough day for me. I pushed myself as hard as I could but sometimes, we must accept that today wasn’t the day to push the barrier to a greater height. I want to congratulate my competitors and thank everyone in Boston and from home for the incredible support I am so humbled to receive. In sports, you win and you lose and there is always tomorrow to set a new challenge. Excited for what’s ahead.”

As inspiring as he is as a winner, I believe that his words are all the more inspiring when dealing with defeat and disappointment. For anyone who lives for the moments where they get to challenge the limits, knowing that success is never guaranteed, it’s crucial to stay excited for what’s ahead.

In the very same race, Assistant Chaplain Grace Carroll ran a personal marathon record of 3:10.24, surpassing her best time by twelve minutes! When asked about her race, she expressed gratitude for her teammate from the New Haven Roadrunners Club, as the two ran together and held each other “accountable in a race/course that is often defined by how patient one can be in the first half.” Running patient for the first half requires intense focus, calm and discipline. If you were tracking Grace’s splits, how fast she ran each mile, you would have noticed that she gradually picked up the pace over the course of the race. When most runners fall apart towards the end, Grace closed the last two miles in 6:49 and 6:43, consecutively. That’s pretty sick. Reflecting on her amazing race, Grace said that “to get to the finish line healthy after such a fun build made the race, especially the last 10k in a downpour, such a celebration. I was very aware during the race how special this opportunity was, and how many people don’t get this chance. I was having so much fun that I almost didn’t want it to end!”

We also had some excellent performances from three of our student-athletes this past weekend. Yale Running Club runners, Marcus Lisman and Alicia Cazares both achieved personal records in the Newport Marathon. Alicia ran 3:40.01 in her first marathon ever, handily breaking the four-hour threshold. And Marcus ran 2:49:08, an outstanding time and a coveted BQ (Boston Qualifier). We’re excited to see what exciting challenges lay ahead for these two Yale marathoners.

And finally, for something completely different. Jack Barsody, GRD ꞌ23 took second place overall in his powerlifting meet this weekend, completing a 520 lb squat, 350 lb bench, and 505 lb deadlift, PR-ing all three events.

Congratulations to Grace, Alicia, Marcus, and Jack. They remind us that, as Kipchoge says, “athletics is not so much about the legs. It’s about the heart and mind. If you believe in something and put it in your mind and heart, it can be realized.”