EXCLUSIVE | Hellen Obiri: Moving to the United States Was the Best Decision for Me

When she signed for her new sponsors, On Sports, after an end to her relationship with Nike for over 12 years, Hellen Obiri was given an opportunity to move her training base from Ngong, on the outskirts of Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, to the United States.

She welcomed the idea with both hands, and after close to one year of experiencing a new life and new challenges, the Olympic bronze medalist says she has fully settled in.

Obiri switched to ON after announcing she would be departing track to compete in the marathon, and she has embraced her new competition. She won practically everything there was to win on track, both indoor and outdoor and in Cross Country. 

She spoke exclusively to Telecomasia.net from Boulder, Colorado, about her ambitions, success so far, and the challenges of a new life.  

She is a two-time world champion in the 5,000m, a one-time winner at the World Relays, a one-time winner of the world indoor championships in the 3,000m, a commonwealth champion in the 5,000m, a two-time African champion, and a World Cross-Country champion.

Since moving to the Marathon, she has won Boston twice and New York once.  

Generally, how has life in the United States been, since you moved there?

Honestly, it has been great since I came in, and every day has been better. Sometimes, it is challenging when you move from home to a new place and need to quickly adjust to several things, like weather, change in time zones, new friends, and all, but it was a challenge that was worth taking.

As an athlete, the biggest challenge is that you have to adapt to a new training routine and partner and this usually becomes the most difficult path.

However, I am glad that I found people who were really willing to help me settle and I also moved to an area where there are several Kenyans and they helped me feel at home away from home.

How significant has the change been, and what are some of the challenges that you have had to face both as a person and an athlete?

The first thing here is that people usually train on their own. In Kenya, I was used to training in a big group that was mixed with both men and women, and it usually helped me a lot to push my limits and get motivated. It is not easy to give up when you are in a group, especially when you are doing long runs.

Here, it has been really different. When I have a few people to train with, most are not marathoners. Most of the athletes compete in the half marathon, moving downwards. So on my long runs, it can get lonely sometimes.

Training without pace setters and partners is not easy. But you have to be mentally strong, self-aware, and self-motivated.

In terms of personal life, I am glad because I have some Kenyan neighbors here like Edna (Kiplagat) who is a very experienced Kenyan marathoner and has lived here for a while. These people have now become like family for me.  

Talking about family, there were trending photos and videos after you came from the Olympics, where your neighbors had a surprise party for you. How did this make you feel?

I was so shocked and excited. Americans like parties and surprises a lot and I don’t even know who told them of my return schedule from Paris. I was tired from the long flight but the love and care they showed me that day really gave me strength.

The Olympics were quite special for you, since it was your first ever in the marathon and you won bronze. How was this for you?

This felt like a gold medal for me. Seven weeks to prepare for a marathon, and you finish on the podium, is not a mean task. I had picked up an injury just after Boston, and I had actually given up on competing at the Olympic Games. It was less than two and a half months to the Olympics, and all indicators were that I could not recover in time to train and compete.

Initially, the doctors had said that I needed four months before competing at a marathon. That was in June. But luckily, I got a very good physiotherapist and some more doctors who really worked on me well and gave me a window to see if I can be ready.

I trained only for seven weeks, and to get a bronze medal after that was a real victory for me. Of course, I would have loved gold. But looking at the circumstances, I absolutely don’t have regrets.

I have won silver and bronze medals on track from the 1500m to the 10,000m, and I have yearned to get gold. It wasn’t possible, but it is achievable in the future.  

Now all your focus is on New York in November. How are the preparations kicking in?

After the Olympics, I took some time to rest and now I feel stronger and rejuvenated. I have started my training on a low tempo because noting the injury problems I have had this year, I want my body to pick up naturally.

So far, so good; I feel physically okay, and I trust that things will be okay.

And just like Boston, you are looking to make it back-to-back titles in New York?

Definitely, everyone enters into a competition to win it. But, it will not be easy. The elite field is quite strong because it has athletes I have competed against in several races and they have proved to be strong. There are the likes of Sharon (Lokedi) who I have raced four times now, Vivian (Cheruiyot) Edna (Kiplagat) and the Ethiopians as well. It will not be easy.

But I trust my process, I trust what I am doing in training and I will do my best on the race. As the defending champion, there are lots of expectations of course. But in marathon, we are always told to be patient and run our race.   

Looking at how relatively new you are in the Marathon, are there things you have learned or areas you feel you want to improve in?

I have learned to regulate my training. This year especially is going to be tough because this is going to be my third marathon. Mostly it is about recovery and listening to your body and respecting it.

I am also trying to improve my speedwork a bit more.

Looking back at the year you have had, winning Boston and then a bronze at the Olympics, would you say it has been satisfactory for you?

Every year has its ups and downs and this year, I have had lots of challenges. I had an injury in my hip at the start of the year just before Boston and I didn’t train as well as I would have wanted but luckily, I won. Towards the Olympics again, I was hampered by injury.

As an athlete you always have to be ready for these challenges because they make you stronger. I can say I am happy with how things have gone and I am looking to make it even better.

Finally, looking at the near future, what are your ambitions?

In the short term, I am looking at representing Kenya at next year’s World Championships. I also want to improve on my personal best times and run faster.

My biggest goal, though, is when the United States hosts the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. In four years, I believe I will still have the legs to give out my best for the country and I want to try and go for that Olympic gold.