The story of Rodah Tanui Jepkorir, the fastest woman to run through the streets of Buenos Aires

There is no woman in history who has run faster than Rodah Tanui Jepkorir on the streets of Buenos Aires. The Kenyan holds the Buenos Aires marathon record with 2h 25m 26s, obtained in 2019, and now she has revalidated it, claiming the 42k title again in 2022, with a time of 2h 26m 50s.

He is not one of the more than 8 thousand amateur athletes who on this occasion ventured into the challenge of completing the most demanding athletic test. At 31, Rodah has a professional career and has visited numerous cities to compete in different long distance races: 10k, 21k, 25k and marathon, his specialty.

She arrived in Argentina with all the benefits of an elite athlete and with the latest Adidas equipment and shoes. However, like the Argentine winners, the Buenos Aires painter and electrician José Félix Sánchez (31) and the Buenos Aires psychologist Xoana Zurita (35), Rodah also has a great history of victories and many sacrifices behind it.

Rodah was born in 1991 in the county of Elgeyo-Marakwet (400 km from the capital of Kenya, Nairobi), in the Rift Valley, which is located at 1,200 meters above sea level and is the birthplace of many of the world’s greatest athletics talents.

Quickly, at school, they discovered his speed and endurance and started a more professional training. “In Kenya we run, there aren’t many other sports,” he says Clarione at the post-victory lunch. Your menu? Just white rice and a lemon tea.

The victory and the time obtained by Rodah deserve more than just a year and a half ago their first daughter, Tiana, was born.

In 2019, her manager, an Italian citizen, spoke to her and informed her that all international competitions had been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Then Rodah realized that this was a good time to be her mother.

And in this 2022 he resumed training, in view of the Buenos Aires marathon, a well-known and ideal place to return to major competitions with a good record, thanks to the high speed of the circuit.

“I did a retreat. It was hard in the morning and easier in the afternoon. Every day is different … but in a week I do 180 km in total. And I train 6 days a week”, says his preparation.

And he quickly clarifies: “The preparation was tough for my daughter and me, because she needs a lot of attention.”

In the previous days he did “just” 15 km. Thursday and 18 km. on Fridays. Together with their compatriots, they chose to train in the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve for their passion for running on dirt roads. “I really liked the landscape of the park”it states.

On Saturday he only collected his registration number for the Parque Sarmiento Exhibition, visited the Plaza San Martín al Retiro with his partner Sharon Cherop (who finished in third place) and then rested.

Rodah, in perfect English, his second language after Swahili, the most widely spoken language in Kenya, points out that the 42k in Buenos Aires, organized by the Fundación Ñandú, were very difficult in the end, especially the climb of the Illia Highway. but that he particularly appreciated “the support of the public and the various shows” that took place at various points along the route.

“Argentina has a ‘superstar’ like Messi and a lot of culture. It is a beautiful and pleasant place. People are very generous and welcoming. “he replies with simplicity and diplomacy, the same one that has shown to accept with a pure smile the more than 100 photographs that have been requested of him since the end of the marathon.

-Did you know that you are the fastest woman to run in Buenos Aires?

-Really? Wow … It’s really an honor for me and I feel very privileged. Thanks Argentinian!