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Resilience defines Cynthia Limo's marathon debut win, overcoming loss and adversity with a powerful performance that inspires and uplifts.
The 2016 World Athletics Half Marathon Championships silver medalist Cynthia Jerotich Limo added another extraordinary chapter to her remarkable journey as she clinched victory in her marathon debut at the Honolulu Marathon on Sunday.
Limo's marathon journey began with a strategic approach that showcased her discipline and meticulous planning.
Running alongside Ethiopians Sintayehu Tilahun Getahun and Kasu Bitew Lemeneh, she patiently waited through the early stages of the race, hitting the 5km mark in 18:17 and slightly picking up the pace through the 10 km mark in 35:59.
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The halfway point came and went with no significant changes (1:16:43), and the 30 km mark passed in 1:50:05.
It was after the 30km aid station that Limo began to pull away, leaving Lemeneh behind.
Limo and Getahun then ran together for the next 5km segment, showcasing the incredible endurance they had built over time.
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At 35km Limo made her move, steadily increasing her lead. By the time she reached the 40km mark, her lead had ballooned to a commanding one minute and 38 seconds.
Limo finished strong in 2:33:01, running the second half of the race slightly faster than the first and leaving Tilahun in her wake, who finished in 2:35:16.
In her own words, Limo described the decisive moment, saying, "When we got to 35 kilometers, I felt that I was still strong and I knew it was only seven kilometers that remained, so I had to do it by myself. I tried to push and push. I am so pleased."
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Limo's impressive marathon debut can be attributed not only to the high mileage she logged during her training in Kenya but also to the speed she honed while competing in various American road races throughout the year.
These included notable wins at the Cooper River Bridge Run 10km in Charleston, South Carolina, the Carmel Half-Marathon in Indiana, the Toledo Half-Marathon in Ohio, and Philadelphia's Broad Street Run 10 Mile.
Reflecting on her marathon success, Limo emphasized the importance of mental fortitude, stating, "I can say that it was not really so hard to do the marathon. It is a matter of making up your mind that you can do the training. And I am so happy that I did that."
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What makes Limo's victory even more remarkable is the adversity she has overcome to reach this point.
She took a seven-year hiatus from competitive running, during which she faced the unimaginable loss of a child and battled depression.
It seemed like a comeback was out of reach, but her determination to support her family and her unwavering spirit kept her pushing forward.
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From 2012 through 2016, Limo dominated the racing circuit, finishing first or second in an astonishing 43 out of 51 races.
Her list of accomplishments includes numerous victories in races ranging from four miles to 20 kilometers, with 2014 standing out as a year of exceptional success when she won 12 out of 13 races.
Limo's roots are firmly planted in Iten, Kenya, where she resides with her husband, who is a teacher, and their daughters Ann, four, and Rebekah, two.
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Tragically, their eldest daughter, Blessed, was born with a spinal birth defect and passed away before her second birthday.
In 2023, Cynthia Jerotich Limo returned to the world of competitive running, putting in the hard work and dedication to regain her form in Kenya.
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