Reigning New York City Marathon champion Mary Keitany has termed coronavirus pandemic as a devil in the world of sports especially in athletics world since she is undergoing ‘self-quarantine.’
The former world half marathon champion and silver medalist who was to compete at the Boston Marathon in April pulled out of the race due to an injury but admitted that the athletics circles will be highly affected by the pandemic since the majority of races have been called or postponed.
She said she is in self-quarantine because she can’t train with others as she trains once a week, which is not good at all.
Speaking on Saturday, the three-time London Marathon winner said as much as she did not have a race this season, it is a devil in the making as majority of athletes will not be competing hence killing the industry.
“This is a bad disease that is killing athletics across the world. In my case, we have a chain of commands like the managers, race organizers and me at a personal level. There not match for me to do since the virus has cost the world,” said Keitany.
The marathon who claimed her 4th New York Marathon champion title said training has also been affected immensely since you can’t train as an individual but a group to gauge your speed and endurance.
“As I prepare for the forthcoming races, I can’t train on my own. I need other athletes for support and speed work,” she added.
She felt for athletes who had prepared for some that were alter cancelled due to the world pandemic.
“I imagine that time when you are ready to run for a given race then you can’t run yet you are so fit for it after a long period of training. The said race is cancelled, it kills the morale of all athletes,” added the former world half marathon record holder at 65:55.
The Elgeyo Marakwet based runner at Mororia Village is praying that when the next season knocks the pandemic will have come to an end.