PUBLISHED 04/01/2008
Catherine Ndereba, four-time Boston winner (2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005)
Runner's World: What did winning feel like? Pleasure? Pain? A combination of the two?
Catherine Ndereba: It's a combination of the two, both pain and pleasure. It sometimes took enduring pain to get to the finish, as one year when it was so hot that I was very dehydrated. To win Boston, it means a lot. For one, I achieved my goal after a long effort of training. But after winning, I felt like I'd got it all. When you aim for something, when you take that shot and make it, you feel really great because you got it right. Winning there means a lot to me because it's one of the most prestigious races in the world ... it's like conquering the world. None of the other marathons in the world is like Boston, with its long traditions.
RW: What part stands out in your mind the most?
CN: The Heartbreak Hill ... naturally! This is because once you are done with those hills, you can count yourself as a winner. You're almost finished!
RW: Was there anything negative about it?
CN: You get involved in many programs which require lots of time. This takes away from time spent training, resting, or with family. When you go to Boston and have to participate in many of the press functions and other programs, this adds pressure to perform well. But of the many programs I have to do, I never get tired of the school programs. I just LOVE being around the children and LOVE to encourage them. Their questions always motivate me and are always fun to answer. And I get to be a true Kenyan: to talk about my country and my culture.
