NEW YORK CITY MARATHON

November 7, 1999

Joseph Chebet

JOSEPH CHEBET: Maybe. I would like to recognize New York City Marathon for inviting me to this race and also the members and people of New York for their good job all the way from the start to the finish. Maybe what I can say on that -- maybe if I start for maybe let's say from Central Park after we, me and Castro we fight along the park. Castro started to push and I was trying to close the gap. So I think he tried more than three, four times trying to open the gap that I was closing. Then finally when I saw him that he was a bit tired then I tried to open the gap. So I used a lot of energy trying to leave him maybe for a distance. Then after that I was supposed to relax, I did, then I supposed to (inaudible) then I was supposed to gain. So after me, tried to relax a bit, then it was to the finishing line. So maybe if it was another two, five kilometers I was supposed (inaudible) to relax a bit, then try to -- then I was supposed to (inaudible) -- there was no problem on that.

JOSEPH CHEBET: What I remember last year I think I-- (inaudible) my coach tell me that that training was not enough so was supposed to help me, so I add one month training. Because my coach tried to (inaudible) then same thing he tried, that I used this time that because I remember when I was in Boston, I tried to chase very hard the mile from (inaudible) so I needed last time that I was with him, same time to save my training was for Boston, I keep myself (inaudible) because last year I was just a bit in the last 500 meters, my training was a bit different from last year.

JOSEPH CHEBET: Maybe this year what I can say, because this year and last year, this year is great event because this year they say that maybe the maximum they say (inaudible) was supposed to be 64, maybe 64 something, so this year was not supposed to go faster, (inaudible) so I think I was just relaxed because I tried -- I will not be maybe last year maybe sometime I was supposed to go in front, lead for a short time, then go back, but this year I didn't do anything so I was just behind (inaudible) last time when I was with the Castro, then I tried to push then the time Castro maybe this year. (inaudible) I didn't go there I was just --

JOSEPH CHEBET: Maybe. I don't know because one kilometer to the pack, I didn't (inaudible) why was Castro, Kagwe I think with somebody that come to (inaudible) -- that is not the time I didn't see behind, so I was just watching because Castro was the lead (inaudible) I have no time to look back because the time you look behind you lose something or some contact, and I learned that you can go.

JOSEPH CHEBET: I think I am very much happy because being second two times and maybe now the lead, I say thank you to the organizers. I think give me an invite this year so I can -- (inaudible) even my family very happy, because when I go to Kenya they tell me why, why, why, (inaudible) Boston. I was big. In Kenya, they are happy with me so I am also very happy.

JOSEPH CHEBET: Maybe what I can say, maybe from just Central Park I saw Castro was very strong, he was trying to take the pace very high, so I tried to feel the pain, but I say he is going to tell me (inaudible) I was thinking twice but why, because I was still very strong, so I say (inaudible) that the time when I because he opened three times. When he open, I closed the gap. So that is the time I think maybe this man I can beat him. All the time when he wants to leave, I close him. Maybe I was even go 500 meters, that is not the time you can beat him. (inaudible). I understand Castro is very strong the last 500 meters that is maybe the place I was worried but not in the middle of the pack.

JOSEPH CHEBET: When I go to Kenya they tell me you are strong, you are strong, they are always happy. They tell me that you keep on training, keep on going to New York, then you will win. Show they are all happy with me.

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