NAIROBI, Kenya, March 27- Former Chicago champion and 2:03:06 marathoner, Moses Mosop, is set to compete at the May 11 2014 Volkswagen Prague Marathon after recovering from his latest injury set back that forced him out of Boston.
“Life of a professional marathon runner is paved by challenges, hardships and opportunities and through that process I’ve got a chance to compete in Prague and be part of celebrations of 20th edition of this IAAF Gold Label Road Race.
“After an injury during my preparations for 2014 Boston Marathon, I thought that my spring marathon season is over before it started, but after consultation with my management team I’ve learned about interest from RunCzech and Prague Marathon organizers,” Mosop, who won the 2007 World Cross senior silver medal said in a statement released by his management, International Athletics Consultancy (IAC).
Mosop was in the elite field for the April 21 Boston race where he made his name in the 2011 edition when he blasted to 2:03:06 to follow compatriot, Geoffrey Mutai, who astonished in 2:03:02, across the tape for second although the course elevation drop ruled their times as official world records.
“I’ve heard good stories about racing in Prague and Czech Republic from several top athletes and friends and I am more than happy to compete in Prague and my goal is to achieve 2:06 or 2:07 time and then take onto some fast and shorter road races in USA during summer before World Marathon Majors’ event in autumn,” the 2011 Chicago Marathon champion added.
He was injured in the first week of February, after a fartlek session on a slightly downhill course, where he felt pain in his right knee and as time passed the pain increased.
Mosop visited an established physiotherapist in Eldoret and was instructed to cease running for period of two weeks, which negatively affected his preparations for Boston, causing subsequent withdrawal from the race.
Injuries have blighted the world 30,000m record holder having finished only three races in the past two years, a sixth finish at the Paris Half Marathon and third placing at Rotterdam Marathon in 2012 and in 2013, an eighth finish on his return to Chicago.