Inside the NB 42K Porto Alegre with Eliud Kipchoge
From prepping to interview the legend to record-breaking runs, here is full coverage of the Kenyan icon's visit to Brazil.
Go behind the scenes at the New Balance 42K Porto Alegre featuring marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge. Explore details from exclusive meetings with the two-time Olympic champion, elite race results, and key improvements announced for future editions.
Eliud Kipchoge's visit to Brazil for the New Balance 42K Porto Alegre energized the country's running community. The capital of Rio Grande do Sul was featured on the Eliud Kipchoge Running World Tour, a global initiative by the two-time Olympic champion to raise funds for his foundation by competing in and attending races across different continents. The Stemma Sports team covered every step of the journey, following his routine, official events, and behind-the-scenes moments during this historic visit.
Preparing to interview the greatest marathoner in history
Conducting interviews and moderating panels with a sports legend requires meticulous preparation. In the days leading up to the trip, Fabio Bessa immersed himself in Kipchoge's biographies and training logs, tracing his journey from his early track career to the sub-two-hour marathon project and his current achievements.
To ensure communication flowed seamlessly on stage, preparation included conversation sessions with a Nairobi-based tutor on iTalki to tune into Kenyan English nuances, alongside pronunciation drills with a British coach. The itinerary centered around three major appearances in Porto Alegre: an exclusive gathering for guests at Golden Lake, a lecture for over 1,000 attendees at PUC-RS, and the official press conference.
Five facts about Eliud Kipchoge's career
During preparation, the team highlighted five key facts that illustrate the mindset and legacy of the world-record holder in endurance sports:
- Voracious reader: At his training camp in Kaptagat, Kipchoge spends his downtime reading. His most frequently cited favorite is Spencer Johnson's Who Moved My Cheese?.
- A two-decade partnership with Patrick Sang: Their relationship began when a young Kipchoge approached the coach asking for training advice and workout plans rather than an autograph.
- Track pedigree: At age 18, he won the 5,000m World Championship title in Paris (2003), defeating legends Hicham El Guerrouj and Kenenisa Bekele, before earning Olympic 5,000m medals in Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008).
- Marathon dominance: He made his 42.2 km debut in Hamburg (2013) with a time of 2:05:30. He went on to win back-to-back Olympic golds (Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020) and broke the official world record twice in Berlin: 2:01:39 (2018) and 2:01:09 (2022).
- Family support on the course: His wife, Grace Sugut, recently took up marathon running—debuting in Cape Town and traveling to Porto Alegre to complete her second 42 km race.
Expo studio, podcasts, and elite meetups
Set up at Parque Harmonia, Stemma's studio at the marathon expo hosted dozens of guests throughout the week. Special episodes featured Rodrigo Thomazelli (from Companhia dos Cavalos, who went on a run with Kipchoge along the Guaíba shore), runner Jamal Solfane, and established names such as Paulo Paula, Marlei Willers, and athlete agent Luiz Felipe Posso.
The studio also hosted a discussion on youth athletic development with Marilson dos Santos, coach Adauto Domingues, Juliana, and young Miguel, exploring how to introduce kids to sports and the pressure of carrying famous running names.
During the press conference moderated by Fabio Bessa, elite Brazilian and African runners broke down their race strategies. When answering a question from Renan Telles about his message to the next generation, Kipchoge emphasized that "running is life" and that the sport delivers discipline, health, and tangible opportunities for social transformation to young people everywhere.
Race Sunday: men's course record and Fábio de Jesus' debut
Sunday began with rain, but the damp conditions did not slow down fast times on the pavement. Shadowing the elite pack from media motorbikes, the team tracked an aggressive pace from the opening kilometers.
The overall men's victory went to the Moroccan athlete, who clocked 2:08:50 to establish a new course record and solidify Porto Alegre's route among the fastest in South America. In the women's division, Morocco also claimed the top step of the podium, sealing a sweep for the visiting athletes.
Among Brazilian runners, the standout performance came from Fábio de Jesus in his marathon debut. Coming off a strong sub-1:02 half marathon in Rio, the distance runner finished in 2:10:40 as the top domestic finisher of the day. In the women's race, Mariana de Jesus was the leading Brazilian, crossing the line in fifth place overall.
Logistical challenges and upgrades announced for 2027
Not everything went off without a hitch. Several runners reported confusing course signage at split points, leading some 42 km participants onto the 21 km route, alongside delays of up to two hours retrieving gear from the bag drop in cold and rainy weather.
In response to runner feedback, event organizer Run Sports released a statement detailing structural changes for the 2027 edition. The event will expand to a two-day format: Saturday reserved for the 5 km, 10 km, and 21 km distances, and Sunday dedicated exclusively to the 42 km marathon. The start and finish lines will be unified at a single location, course staffing will increase, and a dedicated contact channel (42kpoa@runsports.com.br) was launched to support participants.