RBR Podcast: Lelisa Desisa wins NYC Marathon

Lelisa Desisa is man who is focused on the marathon.

In fourteen marathon starts, Lelisa has been on the podium ten times. Desisa has won Boston twice, yet, had not won in New York. The man had come close.

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Lelisa Desisa battling Geoffrey Kamworor, photo by PhotoRun.net

In 2018, just after 23 miles, Shura Kutata falls back and Lelisa Desisa is leading, with Geoffrey Kamworor in tow. Kamworor had won NYC last year, and he looked ominous. Desisa and Kamworor were battling together for two miles. Just about 40k, Desisa sprinted away, hands held high, arms pumping, like a high schooler racing the 100 meters.

We expected Kamworor to pull Desisa back, but, he was not! Kamworor, we would find out later, had back pain as he battled Desisa through Central Park. Desisa sensed the break and took off!

Then, Shura Kitata woke up and went by Geoffrery Kamworor, and pushed up to Lelisa Desisa. Desisa sensed Kitata coming and somehow, held him off! There was only two seconds separating Desisa and Kitata at the finish as Lelisa Desisa took the win in 2:05:59, the second fastest time in NYC history!

Here’s my update on the race, done just after the elite finish, before my update for BBC radio.

Author

Larry Eder
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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