John Korir is leaving little to chance as he prepares for another assault on the Valencia Marathon slated for Sunday, 6 December.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe two-time Boston Marathon champion revealed his punishing training schedule as he targets a place in distance-running history.Korir will return to the Spanish city as the defending champion with an ambitious goal of breaking the two-hour barrier.AK Boss reveals factors behind Kenya’s successful bid for 2029 World ChampionshipsHis preparation has been built around a demanding combination of volume, speed and endurance, with the 29-year-old putting in between 45 and 48 kilometres on a typical training day.That workload translates to between 250 and 270 kilometres every week as he builds towards Valencia.“My preparation for Valencia is going well. I do 45 to 48 kilometres a day and 250 to 270 kilometres per week,” Korir said.##NAJAVA_MECA_9980513##The heavy mileage forms the foundation of his campaign, but Korir is not relying on endurance alone.“I have been focusing on both speed and endurance,” he added.It is a combination he believes will be crucial if he is to challenge for more than another Valencia title.Agnes Ngetich smashes women-only half marathon world record in CopenhagenThe Valencia course is renowned for its fast conditions and has become one of the preferred stages for elite marathoners chasing exceptional times. For Korir, it presents an opportunity to test just how far his current form and preparation can take him.“Any time I get in Valencia, I will be happy, but my prayer is to run sub-two hours,” he said.Korir already knows what it takes to win in Valencia. He claimed last year's race in 2:02:24, pulling away from Germany's Amanal Petros, who finished second in 2:04:03, while Norway's Awet Nftalem Kibrab was third in 2:04:24.##NAJAVA_MECA_9981543##This time, however, the challenge is considerably greater.Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha is expected to headline a formidable field. Kejelcha became the second man to officially dip below two hours for the marathon when he clocked 1:59:41 behind Sebastian Sawe's historic 1:59:30 at the London Marathon.Sawe's performance made him the first man to officially break the two-hour barrier in a record-eligible marathon, raising the possibility that the mark could face another challenge in Valencia.Why Tuwei wants environment at heart of Kenya’s 2029 World ChampionshipsKorir is keeping his own target deliberately guarded.“For now, I cannot talk about what I will be going for in Valencia, but I am praying to God for good health and to be injury-free,” he said.His confidence is understandable given the form he has shown this year.##NAJAVA_MECA_9980515##Korir began his 2026 campaign by winning the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour men's 10km race in 29:44 on Saturday, 14 February, beating Amos Kiprotich and Silas Senchura.He then produced one of the standout performances of his career at the Boston Marathon on Monday, 20 April, breaking the course record with a personal best of 2:01:52. Tanzania's Alphonce Simbu was second in 2:02:47, while compatriot Benson Kipruto finished third in 2:02:50.But Valencia will demand another level of performance.How Kenya will profit from billions invested in hosting 2029 World Athletics ChampionshipsKejelcha arrives with immense momentum after smashing the half-marathon world record in Buenos Aires with 56:51, while Kenya's Alexander Munyao adds further depth to the elite field.Munyao has also enjoyed success in Valencia, finishing second in 2:03:11 in 2023 and third in 2:03:29 a year earlier.
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