Interview with Patrick Makau

By Rachel Wallack

Kenyan Patrick Makau, 23, is a soft-spoken young man, but a fierce competitor. His record for half-marathons this year has been flawless; he’s won four. And his 58:56 performance in the 2007 Vattenfall Berlin Half-Marathon earned him the title of third-fastest man in history; he also clocked 27:27, his fastest time, for the first 10K of this race. Out of six professional 10K races, he’s won five.

Makau will make his New York debut at the Healthy Kidney 10K in Central Park this Saturday.

New York Road Runners: You currently live and train in Ngong, Kenya. Did you also grow up there? And has it been safe to train there lately?
Patrick Makau: Yes, I train there, in N'gong. It’s a very safe place. I grew up in Machakos in the eastern part of Kenya.

NYRR: The half-marathon has been your race this year. Do you feel ready to take on a shorter race—the 10K—this Saturday?
PM: In the 10K, I won’t have any problems. I’m prepared. I’m ready to run very well.

NYRR: You have shown your strength in shorter races before; have you done anything special to train for the 10K this time?
PM: For this, I have been training. I have been doing a lot of speed work—fartleks and track sessions, so I have good speed and endurance. I think it will be a good event for me since I ran my last half-marathon almost one month ago. It means I am strong and I’m ready.

NYRR: What is your plan for this race?
PM: My plan is to run very well and have a good race. I race for myself. Everything will be okay.

NYRR: Do your recent successes, in the half-marathon in particular, give you confidence for this race? Do you still feel you must prove yourself?
PM: First of all, you have to be confident in yourself and in your own God. You have to train, to believe in yourself, and to trust in your God. I already proved myself. I have been training as a professional since the year I finished high school, 2004. In May of 2004, I started traveling abroad to races. I can do it.

NYRR: I’ve heard you compared to your compatriot, Moses Tanui, and his record-setting 59:47, which broke the one-hour barrier for the first time in the half-marathon in 1993. Do you see yourself following in his footsteps? Or, do you have any other running heroes?
PM: I’m proud of myself and I hope, in the future, I will keep doing well. Me, I just train almost all the days. I don’t have any footsteps I’m following. I can suggest it’s the grace of God.

NYRR: Is there anything else on your mind as you get ready for Saturday’s race?
PM: I am very happy for the race organization [NYRR] because they know that I’m able to make it and that I’m ready to do their standard.