With the New York City Marathon just days away, the king of marathons, Eliud Kipchoge, is gearing up for one final chapter in his legendary career. “It’s time for me to go there and get a Seven Star [award] before embarking on my new journey of running for other things—running for a purpose,” declared the two-time Olympic champion. On November 2, the Kenyan icon will take on the streets of New York for the very first time, his grand finale on the world’s most iconic stage. After decades of dominance, records, and quiet discipline, Kipchoge is ready to trade the chase for medals for a new pursuit.

Kipchoge’s pursuit of excellence is nothing new; the athlete has been achieving greatness for years. He is one of the very few runners who will be enshrined in the Seven Star Hall of Fame, which honors athletes who have completed all the World Marathon Majors: Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. To date, Kipchoge’s most successful destination has been Berlin, where he has claimed victory five times, including setting two world records.

With the New York Marathon, Kipchoge’s illustrious competitive journey will reach its final chapter. After this race, the marathon king plans to shift his focus toward running for a cause, a new purpose that awaits him beyond the finish line. When asked by Olympics.com if this would indeed be his final marathon, the Kenyan legend didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely yes!” he declared firmly, confirming his decision to step away from Marathon Major racing after November. “A lot is in store, which I will roll out after New York… it will be an interesting journey… to do other things,” he highlighted before describing some of his dream endeavors.

“I will run even 50 kilometers in Saudi Arabia,” he said. “I want to do that extreme thing that can make somebody work hard and also get partners (sponsors) to rally for a cause.” By no means is he leaving running; rather, he is making a change. Stepping beyond the competition, he plans to channel his passion into inspiring others to run, explore, and embrace the sport that shaped his legacy.

He also plans to conquer an icy land not many would think conducive to running. “I will run in Antarctica!” declared Kipchoge. “I now want to do that extreme thing that can make someone work hard.”  We’ll just have to wait and see which of Antarctica’s 3 marathons (Ice Marathon, the White Continent Marathon, and Antarctica Marathon) Kipchoge attempts.

Widely hailed as the greatest marathoner of all time, Eliud Kipchoge began his marathon journey in 2013 after transitioning from distance running. In a dream debut, the two-time Olympic gold medalist stormed to victory at the Hamburg Marathon, marking the start of an era. Between 2014 and 2019, he dominated the roads with an incredible streak of 10 consecutive wins. With over 15 victories in just 18 starts and multiple world records to his name, Kipchoge stands unmatched, yet even legends carry their share of regrets.

Eliud Kipchoge reveals the biggest regret of his career

With decades of running etched into his legacy, Eliud Kipchoge has achieved nearly everything an athlete could dream of, from Olympic glory to redefining the very limits of marathon running. At peace with his journey, he embraces both triumph and failure with grace. While most elite marathoners today are in their 20s, Kipchoge remains unshaken at 40, continuing to command respect on the world’s grandest stages.

“To still push at my age is really good, I am showing people that age is just a number,” he said. “I am happy because my age still handles the training well. I am still training with the younger ones. That’s my happiness…Anybody who starts a marathon and finishes will not be the same, mentally.” Long-distance running has been his playground, a stage where he’s conquered almost everything. Yet, it’s the realm of distance-running records that has eluded him—his only unfinished chapter.

He further added, “Pushing through that pain, the experience of running over a long time…it’s different. I always feel I missed the world record for 5000 meters. I wish I could have done that and maybe run a 10-kilometer world record on the road. In the marathon, I did not miss anything.”

But even the missed opportunities were all just part of the journey. Now, he has one last chapter to go as he aims not just to finish his first New York Marathon but to finish on the podium. He hasn’t podiumed since he won the 2023 Berlin Marathon. Can he do it for the last time? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.