Sharon Lokedi Talks Her Experience Winning The 2025 Boston Marathon

Forbes

29-04-2025

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 21: Sharon Lokedi of Kenya celebrates after winning the 129th Boston ... More Marathon Women's division on April 21, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by)
At the 2025 Boston Marathon, Sharon Lokedi created history. The Kenyan runner won her first Boston Marathon while setting a new course record in the event. However, this win wasn't an easy one for the 31-year-old. Apart from facing competition in the face of Hellen Obiri, she also overcame previous unmet expectations and doubts by winning the 129th edition of the marathon. After placing ninth at the 2024 New York Marathon, Sharon took a break and returned with a transformative mindset. While maintaining her training, she also transformed her thought process of taking on the event.
Notably, Sharon, who signed with Under Armour in 2019 right after graduating from Kansas University, also worked with the brand to provide feedback on the shoes that she trains and races her marathons in, including the Under Armour Velociti Elite 3, which she wore an unreleased version of and won in during this year's Boston Marathon.
Following her incredible feat, Sharon spoke to me in an interview about her experience winning the Boston Marathon. Sharon also shared her ways to maintain her confidence while training and competing at such events.
Paras: You managed to beat the previous record of 2:19:59 held by Ethiopia's Buzunesh Deba, which stood tall for more than a decade. Can you tell me what this grand achievement means to you?
Sharon: It means a lot. It means a lot career-wise and just, you know, running-wise, just everything, because sometimes when you're training and you're running, you just want to achieve something. And then when you go to the start line and you run so well and you get to win and you get to have the record, it means a lot. It gives you so much confidence, and, just going forward, it just makes you so excited and look forward to what's more. And, you know, it just makes it that, just shows everyone or just shows people that anything is possible. You just work hard and put your head to it.
Paras: You broke a record while claiming your first Boston Marathon win. But your training did not change much while preparing for this marathon. Do you feel after becoming the number one, there will be a few changes or some aspects you'd want to focus more on that can help you break your record in the future?
Honestly, like, going forward now, it's just, you know, just staying true to what I've been doing and following the things that I've always been doing because sometimes, like, the trainings that you do are built from, like, the work that you've done in the past or, like, what you continue to do. So, yeah, going forward, I want to be able to go and run again and run fast, and, you know, but I have to focus on things like recovery or just getting stronger and getting faster because the competition out there is not easy.
These races that we go to, they are always like we get the best of the best in the world. And even though I won, I'm still going to work hard, and I'm still going to, you know, train hard just to get out there to be able to get a better time or, like, to win more, you know, to represent, for like, World Championships or Olympics. You know, there's always something. So just always just staying focused and working hard and just being true to myself and my teammates and my coaches and, just doing anything that's possible to be the best that I could be.
Kenyan long distance runner Sharon Lokedi embraces a supporter after wining the women's race during ... More the 129th Boston Marathon on April 21, 2025, in Boston, Massachusetts. The marathon includes around 30,000 athletes from 129 countries running the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston, Massachusetts. The event is the world's oldest annually run marathon. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)
Paras: Previously, you admitted that there were instances where you had felt a lack of confidence, but in a recent interview, you spoke about how your "doubts were a little bit less," and you were more confident about this year's Boston Marathon. What key factors contributed to this transformative shift in your mindset?
Sharon: When I started training, I competed towards the end of last year at the New York Marathon, and I got ninth, and because, you know, you have certain expectations for yourself, you just want to be in a certain position or around a certain time, and being ninth, I was still very proud of it, but I also felt like I needed to figure out something, so when I came back, I took a longer break. Then when I started training for Boston, I just focused more on, like, you know, taking it time by time.
Sometimes I like the workouts that emulate the marathon, so when I do those workouts, I make sure that I am walking like, 'You know, okay, this is going to be how the race is going to be.' And sometimes, you know, when I start to, like, feel like I am holding back, like I'm tired of something, then I just try to remember things like a race where I ran well, and that usually helps me to push harder and stronger
So when I got to this race, I just knew I had done this in training. I've worked on, like, the little things that have always pulled me back, so it's just like any other day. I'm just going to go out there and try what I've been working on in practice and see how that goes. And when we go to the race, and apart from, like, the chill and the anxiety and everything that comes, deep down I was like, you know, no matter how it goes, just believe in yourself, just, you know, just be confident because you've done the training and done all the workouts that I thought worked great, and the half-marathon that I did really boosted my confidence, so even with that, there are, like, other things that make it feel like this might be a challenge. But then I reminded myself, "OK, you're here for a reason, and you're here to run and to compete, so just put yourself out there and just go for it.
So even like later in the race when I was feeling like, Oh God, this is going to be so competitive, it's going to be so tough, it's about to be the same thing that always happens to me, but then I was like, No. So, I feel like it's always just talking to myself and trying to fight the negative consciousness that's always like, Hold it, like hold it, you still can't do it, still so far away. So, I had that in the back of my head.
But I was just like, no, just stick to it and go, what, no matter the pace, stick to it, stay as long as I can. I think I even told my mom, Even if I pass out, fine, then I'll just pass out as soon as I cross the finish line, but I'm going to fight as hard as I can. I think that just going through it and reminding myself that and knowing that you're so strong you can do so, yes, those are some of the things that helped me achieve and cross the finish line quicker and faster.
(L-R) Netherlands' Sifan Hassan, Kenya's Hellen Obiri, Ethiopia's Amane Beriso Shankule, Ethiopia's ... More Tigst Assefa cand Kenya's Sharon Lokedi compete in the women's marathon of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on August 11, 2024. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP) (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
Paras: As you mentioned, the competition. You have consistently seen Hellen Obiri alongside you at the New York or Boston Marathons over the past few years. At the 2024 Boston Marathon, Obiri claimed her second consecutive title, leaving you behind by eight seconds. But this year you were able to win against Obiri. What does that accomplishment mean to you?
Sharon: She's a very fierce competitor. So every time I know I'm going to compete with her, I have to be in my best form and in my best shape. So it's like one of those race that you just train, hoping that, you know, things would turn out different or depending on the day that you had. And yeah, I've always been like, She's always got me. But, you know, it happens, and I never lost hope or anything. I just wanted to keep working and then keep, aiming for that win because it's not easy. She has so much foot speed. And so I just have to figure out a way to work on getting faster and, you know, and being very competitive all the way through.
And, you know, I'm really happy that I get to do this with her because I feel like she brings out the best in me. And yeah, like, in a way, sometimes she wins; this time I win. So it's just, like, a really good, friendly competition. So I am really looking forward to racing more with her. And yeah, she's awesome. She's also my friend. So we just try and work on things and just figure out how we can be better and how we can help, you know, inspire other generations and other people out there too.
Paras: You both represented Kenya at the the Boston Marathon. And it was your first win against Obiri since the 2022 New York Marathon. Can you walk us through any pressure you actually felt at the event and how you dealt with it?
Sharon: I mean, it's different because I feel like we both started running marathons together. And so in this field, given that there's so much of, like, the women that are running so fast and everything, you know, just being with her, I feel like it's always good because every time I know I'm like, I know this is going to be a good day or it's going to be a good race, and in a good way.
I think it helps us get stronger. And, you know, it's like it's good when we go to the competition because we know for sure we'll have to battle it out all the way toward the end or whatever it is. Most of the time, we're always also helping each other because we just want to get fast. Everyone wants to get the time or, you know, a certain position. So, yeah, in a way, I don't think it's pressure. I think it's more like every time I see her name or we decide to run a race, I'm usually happy because I know for sure it's going to be a good one. So I see it as a way of just having to be out there with my friend competing and, you know, making each other proud and strong.
Sharon Lokedi winning 129th Boston marathon
Paras: Your performance was also highlighted by wearing Under Armour's Velocti Elite 3. Can you tell me about how your partnership with Under Armour works and what role Under Armour racing shoes have played in your journey?
Right out of college I signed with Under Armour, back in 2019, and then I was not even doing the road running, and as soon as I started doing the road running, I felt like they've always been supportive; they've always tried to, like, involve the athletes and be a part of, like, your growth and everything. For me, they've been a part of me since I started really doing professional running, and even when I started doing road running, they've always been there and always like, Oh, what do you need? And we're going to get this for you.
And when in 2022 they started the Velociti Elite Shoe, I was the first one to have it try it on, and you know, see how it feels, and you know, they are more personal to the athletes than anything, and I think that helps us because it's like even when making the shoe, like, we feel we're a part of it, so they'll bring you the shoe, you try it on, and then you give them the feedback, and then they're going to change it. It's always like there's communication between us and them. I feel like that as an athlete is all you need because if you have people that are always there for you and want to support you in anything, I feel like it's just what helps you be the best athlete you can be.
For me, when I started doing marathon running, we had the first version of Velociti that I ran in New York and won the New York City Marathon. Then I ran all the others, like I went back to New York, I went back to Boston last year, and I even went to the Olympics in it. The version of the Velociti Elite 3 that I was wearing at this marathon was the one that I've always liked and tried. I have had it for a little bit longer, like six months, I think, and if it's just played a big role, I knew what I was getting back from the shoe and all that stuff.
And it even got to the point that whatever you need as an athlete, if you need a recovery product, you need a nutritionist, and if you need a sports psychologist, anything that you need there, like, they'll provide for us, and that's, like, something that not most people get, and that's why I feel, like, so lucky to be part of, like, this big company like Under Armour that, you know, is always supportive and always there for the athletes.