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gandan long-distance sensa- Joshua Cheptegei's Golden
tion Joshua Cheptegei clinched
another gold medal at the 2023
World Athletics Championships 2019 and the current world
U in Budapest, Hungary, solidifying 10,000m record in 2020. The Triumph and Marathon
his status as one of the all-time greats in the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso,
world of distance running. Cheptegei dom- a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, is
inated the 10,000m race, finishing in a swift renowned for its fast course and has produced Debut in Valencia
27:51.42, leaving Kenyan Daniel Simiu Ebenyo impressive times in recent years.
and Ethiopian Selemon Barega trailing in his Before making his marathon debut, Cheptegei
wake, crossing the line in 27:52.60 and 27:52.72, has also embraced noble causes in his home
respectively. country. The United Nations Development Pro-
Cheptegei, the reigning world record gramme (UNDP) collaborated with the Joshua
holder in both the 10,000m and 5,000m, Cheptegei Development Foundation (JOCDEF)
attributed his victory to meticulous to launch the UNDP Elgon Half Marathon, a
preparation and training, lauding his sporting event aimed at promoting the Elgon
coaches for their role in his success. His region in Uganda as a premier tourism destina-
triumph in Budapest not only added another tion. This initiative emphasizes the importance
gold medal to his impressive collection but of climate action and biodiversity conservation
also marked his third consecutive world in the region. Set against the backdrop of Mount
10,000m title, putting him in the same league Elgon National Park, the marathon will take
as legendary distance runners like Haile place in Mbale City on October 28, 2023, offering
Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele, and Mo Far- races of 5km, 10km, and 21km. Interested partic-
ah. ipants can register for a 30,000 UGX fee, which
With a debut marathon in Valencia on includes an official running kit, medals, and
December 3, 2023, Cheptegei is set to potential prizes. Notably, various government
expand his horizons beyond the entities and private sector companies, including
track. He expressed his ex- the Ministry of Tourism and the Uganda Tour-
citement about the new ism Board, have rallied behind this initiative,
challenge and hinted at his further solidifying Cheptegei's impact beyond
aim to participate in track the track.
events at the 2024 Paris
Olympics. Valencia holds
a special place in Chep- This competition serves as a platform
for talented travel writers to hone their
tegei's heart, having set two craft while illuminating the unspoiled
world records there—the geographic beauty of Uganda.
former world 10km record in